Why go to gurudwara

How is a meal of this scale even possible? What does the kitchen look like? Who does the cooking? Who does the dishes?? UNDER 30? Our group of six travellers, from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, is led into the langar community kitchen where a mass of volunteers work each day, turning hundreds of kilos of rice, flour and lentils into delicious local cuisine; the air is hot and thick with the scent of spices.

My first impression is that I am in a kitchen that caters exclusively to giants; a man on a step ladder wipes his brow, leaning against a wooden spoon the size of tree branch as he takes a break from stirring the dahl simmering in the largest pot I have ever seen. Nervous to intrude on the workers, I am grateful to have Varsha to guide us through and explain the various cooking stations. My favourite is the roti table, where a group of women sit shoulder-to-shoulder on tiny stools, laughing together as they roll, knead and cook endless mounds of dough.

Freshly made roti at the temple. Photo by Santhosh Varghese. One of the volunteers, Am, invites me to sit next to her and join the diligent hands working to keep up with the many mouths arriving in the hall. She is amused by my clumsy handling of the dough and encourages me to mimic her quick technique.

Sitting here, I feel welcome and at home; I forget about how busy the streets outside are. Through her words I come to realise the importance of this tradition; the Langar is not merely a place for sustenance, but a way of creating healthier communities. After helping in the kitchens, we return to the Gurdwara , where men and women with brooms and buckets of water are cleaning the floor to prepare for the next group of diners, which we will be a part of. I grab a plate and cup and follow everyone else into the huge hall.

Eating in the Gurdwara feels like being at a humble, quiet and incredibly civilised restaurant. A woman smiles from across the row, while the man on my left, seeing me struggle to use my hands as cutlery, silently demonstrates the technique of bending index and middle fingers to scoop up the food, then using your thumb to neatly push it into your mouth. The ritual of sharing food is an intensely human experience that exists across cultures, time and space.

Visiting the Sikh temples in India is a vivid memory and one that makes me smile each time I return to it. When reflecting on the value of travel, I believe the moments of human connection mean more than all the historical sights we could ever hope to visit. They remind us of the immense power and global existence of community.

I went to India to roam the mountains and see the sunset over the Taj Mahal, but when I think about my time here, it is of sipping masala chai with hundreds of strangers and women teaching me how to roll roti. Interested in exploring India? Check out our full range of small group adventures here. Rose Alateras wishes that she could take her typewriter around the world and capture stories but unfortunately it is quite heavy and a little bit noisy.

Rose dreams of converting a van into a home and following the sun and is very proud of keeping all her plants alive.

Reading this brings back such wonderful memories of India, as I too, went to this Sikh temple along with one in New Delhi the first time I visited India. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cushions and seats are not allowed. No-one should sit with their feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib. Anyone who walks round the Guru Granth Sahib or the Gurdwara must do so in a clockwise direction.

Towards the end of a service karah prasad , a sweet vegetarian food that has been blessed, will be served. This should be taken and received in cupped hands as a gift of God.

Sikhs do not have ordained priests and any Sikh can lead the prayers and recite the scriptures to the congregation. A Granthi must be fluent in reading Gurmukhi and must be properly trained in all aspects of looking after the Guru Granth Sahib. They are expected to be an initiated member of the Sikh Khalsa who lives a life that exemplifies the ideals of the Khalsa. Sikhs don't have a general official liturgy that must be used in a Gurdwara, although there are rules for particular ceremonies.

Other hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib are then sung, accompanied by instruments. This hymn-singing is called Kirtan and is an essential part of Sikh worship.

A sermon or talk, usually based on a theme from Sikh history, comes next. The congregation then stands with eyes closed facing the Guru Granth Sahib for prayer Ardas. During the prayer the word Waheguru Punjabi for 'praise to the Guru' is often repeated. After the prayer, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at a random page and the hymn found at the top of the left-hand page Vak or Hukam is read.

The text is considered to be a relevant lesson for the day. After the service, food is offered to the congregation. This consists of Parshad and a more substantial meal in the Langar. Parshad is a sweet made from equal quantities of wheat flour, sugar, and clarified butter. The first five portions are given to Khalsa members in memory of the Panj Pyares the first five members of the Khalsa. After that parshad is served to everyone without distinctions of rank or caste.

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This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. The Gurdwara Last updated Gurdwara A Gurdwara is the place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship.

The purpose of a Gurdwara It's a place to learn spiritual wisdom It's a place for religious ceremonies It's a place where children learn the Sikh faith, ethics, customs, traditions and texts A Gurdwara is also a community centre, and offers food, shelter, and companionship to those who need it. Gurdwaras are managed by a committee of their community. Inside the Gurdwara There are no idols, statues, or religious pictures in a Gurdwara, because Sikhs worship only God, and they regard God as having no physical form.

The free food kitchen, or Langar Every Gurdwara has a Langar attached to it where food is served to anyone without charge. Flying the flag Gurdwaras fly the Sikh flag outside. Anyone, of any faith, can visit a Gurdwara and will be made welcome. Before going into a Gurdwara All visitors to the Gurdwara should remove remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the main hall. On entering a Gurdwara Sikhs will bow to the Guru Granth Sahib as the first thing they do, touching the floor with their forehead.

After bowing to the Guru Granth Sahib a Sikh will greet the congregation in a low, quiet voice with the words: Waheguru ii ka Khalsa, sri Waheguru ji ki fateh. The Khalsa owes allegiance to God, sovereignty belongs to God alone. A typical service A Gurdwara service Sikhs do not have ordained priests and any Sikh can lead the prayers and recite the scriptures to the congregation. Sermon A sermon or talk, usually based on a theme from Sikh history, comes next.

Hukam After the prayer, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at a random page and the hymn found at the top of the left-hand page Vak or Hukam is read.