Sikhism is a modern and unique religion that gives a message of unity. Yet, for some reason or the other, Sikhs in some part of the world continue to face challenges due to lack of knowledge about religious etiquette and community customs. Sometimes the issue of turban, sometimes of kirpan and sometimes some other religion, in the event of insufficient information being spread by propaganda committees, gives someone or the other an opportunity to become an obstacle. It can be said that this happened in the absence of information and when the Sikhs, through rallies, marches or any other means, conveyed information about their religious customs to those people, many people understood and many of these problems were also resolved. But the latest case is very strange and is related to Nagar Kirtan. Nagar Kirtan, which is known to almost every religion and is associated with the Gurus, also respects and respects Nagar Kirtan, which is a service-oriented event. But in New Zealand, a group made a big fuss by obstructing and opposing the religious Nagar Kirtan. While this fuss was opposed at the world level, in relation to a special community living in New Zealand by which this act was done, the police themselves came forward and stopped the protesters and ensured the safety of the congregation participating in the Nagar Kirtan.
Na ko bari nahi bigana sagal sang hum ka bani ai ||
This line was uttered by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which is recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and it means that a Sikh does not hold enmity with anyone and lives together with everyone, no one is a stranger.
Eku Pita Ekas Ke Hum Barik Tu Mera Guru Hai
This line is from Guru Arjan Dev Ji, which is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib (Ang 611), and it means that God is one and we are all his children, and God is our Guru who shows us the right path, who gives the message of the unity of humanity.
Ek Noor Te Sabu Jagu Upjaya Kaun Bhale Ko Mande ||
This line (Ek Noor Te Sabu Jagu Upjaya Kaun Bhale Ko Mande ||1||) is from Bhagat Kabir Ji from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which gives the message that first of all this world was created from the one light of God.
What is Nagar Kirtan?
Nagar Kirtan is a Sikh religious procession in which the Sikh community collectively sings hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, engages in service (langar), and promotes values of humility, equality, and social harmony. It is peaceful, inclusive, and open to people of all faiths.
What was the whole matter?
The Nagar Kirtan organized by the Sikh community in New Zealand twice in 20 days was stopped, which was condemned all over the world. Earlier, on 20 December 2025, a Nagar Kirtan was organized in Auckland to commemorate the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas. During this, a group of people on the way opposed it. The protesters were also shouting slogans regarding their rights and their land. Last month, on Saturday 20 December, at around 2 pm, a group of about 50 people blocked the Great South Road and tried to disrupt a scheduled public parade (Nagar Kirtan) by members of the Auckland Sikh community.
Then on 11 January this year, this organization did the same thing again. This demonstration was also organized by Brian Tamaki’s organization. At that time, Brian Tamaki had said that New Zealanders have every right to be worried. There is a large-scale infiltration through large-scale immigration, which is coming like a flood into our country. According to Puran Singh, president of the Gurdwara Sikh Organization Tauranga, a Nagar Kirtan was being taken out peacefully by the Sikh community in Tauranga city. During this, members of an anti-immigrant group came and started opposing the Nagar Kirtan.
Puran Singh further said that they have been organizing Nagar Kirtans dedicated to the Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji for the last 12 years. This is the first time such an incident has happened here.
Puran Singh said, “Preparations for the Nagar Kirtan are started well in advance. Applications are made 6-7 months in advance to get the route and other necessary approvals, which also include police clearance.”
“The Nagar Kirtan taken out on January 11 was also approved by the City Council and we were given the time from 11 am to 2 pm.”
A shocking incident has come to light in South Auckland, New Zealand, where some local protesters tried to disrupt a Nagar Kirtan being taken out by Sikhs. The protesters stopped the Nagar Kirtan on the way and started shouting slogans while standing in front. During this, although a tense situation arose at one point, the situation calmed down after the Sikhs showed restraint and the New Zealand police took action.
According to information, the protesters were associated with the Destiny Church of political leader Brian Tamaki, which is a radical organization. According to a media report, the demonstration took place on Great South Road, where police arrived at the scene and moved the protesters and those participating in the Nagar Kirtan away to prevent a disturbance. In a video posted on Tamaki’s social media, people from an organization called ‘True Patriots of New Zealand’ were shown protesting against the Sikhs who were taking out the Nagar Kirtan on the road. In the caption of the video, the leader of this organization, Brian Tamaki, wrote, “This is our land, this is our stand. Today true patriots stood firm in South Auckland, no violence, no riots. Just my young men dancing the haka in person… to send a clear message: let New Zealand be New Zealand.”
In fact, this organization described itself as the protector of the Kiwi way of life that opposes immigrants on a global scale. The protesters were wearing blue shirts during this time, on which slogans like ‘New Zealand first’ and ‘Let New Zealand be New Zealand’ and ‘True patriot’ were written. They were also holding a large banner in their hands, on which it was written ‘This is New Zealand, not India’.
What did MP John Tinetti say about this development?
MP John Tinetti also arrived to join the Nagar Kirtan. He posted on his Facebook page He also shared pictures of the Nagar Kirtan on Facebook.
In a Facebook post, he wrote, “It was an honor to join my Sikh family in this year’s Tauranga Sikh Parade (Nagar Kirtan). It was a wonderful celebration of faith, unity and service.”
“Values like equality, humility and service are values that resonate deeply across New Zealand. We see them in action every day through the incredible contributions of our Sikh community. Feeding the needy, serving as volunteers and helping our neighbors with generosity and compassion.”
“Events like this remind us of what makes our country so special, our diversity, our kindness and our way of walking together as a community.
Need to learn lessons
If this New Zealand organization says that this is New Zealand and not India, then they need to learn lessons from India where despite so many religions, so many castes, so many languages, despite the insults and grievances, people live together, grow and progress. On this holy land, Gurus, Pirs, Prophets were born, gave the message of humanity to the people. From the first Guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Sahib-e-Kamal Guru Gobind Singh Ji, great Gurus were born on this land. And then Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was given the status of Guru, which is accepted by almost all religions. Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar Sahib, the hub of Sikhism, is visited by lakhs of devotees every day, in which people of all religions visit.
In democratic societies, the right to peaceful religious assembly is protected under constitutional and international human rights frameworks. Peaceful processions, when conducted with official permissions and public safety coordination, fall squarely within the scope of lawful religious expression.
Demand for the intervention of the Indian government
The incident that took place in the Tauranga Nagar Kirtan is also being seen in Punjab. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has termed it as painful on the opposition to stop Nagar Kirtan in New Zealand and has demanded that the Central Government should seriously discuss the matter with the New Zealand Government so that such incidents do not happen in future, as every person has the right to do their religious work and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “This is very worrying. Nagar Kirtan is a sacred religious practice of our Sikh community which promotes peace, unity and brotherhood. The Sikh community, which always prays for ‘the welfare of all’, maintained exemplary peace on such a sensitive occasion. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly condemned it and appealed to the Government of India and New Zealand to intervene immediately. Acting Jathedar Singh Sahib of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj has visited some places in Manurewa town of South Auckland, New Zealand. Strongly condemning the incident of mischievous people opposing the Nagar Kirtan being organized by the Sikh community, he has termed it as a challenge to Sikhs and social harmony. He said that some people – led by a person named Brian Tamaki, a controversial leader of a group – have deliberately misused the local traditions of New Zealand and given this challenge to Sikhs with a sense of hatred, towards which the New Zealand government needs to pay special attention and stop such elements who are trying to create bitterness in social harmony. Similarly, many intellectuals of the Sikh community have strongly condemned this act.
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