Sikh Practices

• • The Gurdwara is the Sikh place of worship, sometimes called a temple.
  • The word means ‘the door of the Guru’, and originally it meant the place where Sikhs could meet to see the Guru speak, and to worship God.
  • Nowadays it can be used to describe a place in which the Guru Granth Sahib is read from.
  • The gurdwara is open to all, whatever their nationality, religion and class.  
• • A gurdwara is often has a dome and decorations on the outside.
  • Some gurdwaras however could be a building that has been adapted for Sikh worship.
  • All gurdwaras will have a Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag.
  • The flag is usually yellow or orange (the colour of saffron) with the Khanda in blue, and flies from a flagpole that is often wrapped in the saffron coloured cloth. 
• • Inside the gurdwara there may be many rooms, but the two main areas are the prayer hall (Darbar Sahib) and the langar.
  • The prayer hall is a large space with the takht, palki, manji, and chanani at one end.
  • The walls may be decorated with pictures of the Gurus or verses from the scriptures.
  • There is no seating in the prayer hall; people sit on the floor below the level of Guru Granth Sahib.
  • It is important to remember that the Guru Granth Sahib is regarded as a living Guru, so the features of the gurdwara traditionally reflect the respect and honour in which the Gurus are held.  
• • The takht is a raised platform that is designed to be a throne.
  • The throne on which the Guru Granth Sahib is placed is similar to an honoured seat that one of the Gurus would have been offered.
  • The seat will be covered in fine cloth (rumallas) and usually surrounded by flowers.
  • There may also be an Ik Onkar or Khanda symbol.
  • At the front of the platform, there are places for money and food offerings and a bowl containing karah parshad a sweet food shared amongst the sangat.
  • Near the takht is another raised area where the musicians (ragis) play.
• • The palki is the domed structure used to cover the takht.
  • The canopy may be engraved at the top with verses from scripture or the word Waheguru, which means ‘Wonderful Lord’. 
• • The manji is literally a small bed on which the Guru Granth Sahib is placed during the day in the prayer hall.
  • A white sheet and three pillows are placed on top of the frame on which the Guru Granth Sahib rests.
  • It ensures the Guru Granth Sahib is not damaged during use. 
• The chanani is a large canopy, made of decorated cloth, which is placed over the palki near the ceiling of the prayer hall.  
• • For Sikhs, worship is a way of life. True worship is to keep God in one’s mind and serve him.
  • Calling to mind the name of God is central to Sikh worship.
  • In the Guru Granth Sahib, it says; “Worship and adore Him, and you shall be at peace forever” 
• • Worship (diwan) can include listening and meditating, singing and reciting, working and serving people.
  • It is the approach to all of these things that makes them ‘worship’; it is only worship if these actions are freely chosen rather than forced.
  • Sikhs believe that God is present throughout the universe and so can be worshiped anywhere, but special reverence is shown to gurdwaras and places of pilgrimage. 
• • When entering the gurdwara Sikhs will remove their shoes and cover their heads as a sign of respect before entering the prayer hall.
  • They also wash their hands and may wash their feet as well.
  • They walk towards the Guru Granth Sahib at the front of the hall, bow and touch the floor as a sign of respect to the Eternal Guru.
  • At this point, it is also common to make an offering of money (dhan) to help with the running of the gurdwara and the gurdwara’s work in the community. 
• • Worshippers sit on the floor of the prayer hall so that the Guru Granth Sahib remains at a high level and to show their belief in equality.
  • Men and women usually do not sit together but on different sides of the room.
  • Sikh worship includes the singing of hymns (kirtan) and prayer in which the word Waheguru will be said by the congregation a number of times to show their agreement.  
• • All services start and end with the Ardas prayer, which can be brief or last for up to 15 minutes.
  • Sikhs stand when it is being said and one person stands in front and leads the prayer.
  • A sermon or talk may be given, sometimes by a visitor.
  • A reading at random (hukam) from the Guru Granth Sikh is performed, which provides a divine order (instruction from God) at the start or end of a service.
  • This worship is led by any Sikh, male or female, who is known to be knowledgeable.  
• • Kirtan is the singing of God’s praises and includes shabads (verses) from the Guru Granth Sahib that is accompanied by music.
  • It is believed that in listening or singing kirtan they are inspired in their efforts to focus on the meaning of the words and encouraged to focus on God and his name.
• • As langar and karah parshad nourish the body so kirtan nourishes the soul.
  • Ragis are musicians who sing and play instruments for kirtan.
  • The musical instruments most often played are harmoniums and tabla (drums), but some Sikhs use traditional string instruments or modern guitars to accompany the singing. 
• • The service always ends with the handing out of karah parshad. This is a sweet food, made from semolina, butter, sugar, flour and water and distributed to everyone.
  • The sharing of this food is a symbol of the equality of all. It means that no one leaves ‘empty-handed’; it symbolises what the Guru may offer spiritually to a person.
  • It is sweet as are the blessings that come from God. 
• • The gurdwara is run by Sikhs, most of whom do so voluntarily; preparations for worship services, cleaning, maintenance and organisation are done as part of sewa.
  • In addition to this a gurdwara will be funded by donations and offerings (dhan) from Sikhs.
• • Depending on the size and location of the gurdwara either a granthi or, in larger cities, a management team will manage the finances and administration of the gurdwara.
  • Many gurdwaras are open for 24 hours a day to those of any religion or no religion.
  • As well as a place of worship, a gurdwara acts as a community centre and a base for local voluntary and charitable events. 
• Sikhs believe that worship affects every part of life. Gurdwaras in the UK have a number of facilities that help to serve the sangat and the local community.
• The Prayer Hall (Darbar Sahib):

  Where worship takes place, and all are welcome. It will often be a large empty space with a palki, takht and manji at the one end.  
• The Langar:

  The Langar provides free food and drink for Sikhs and the whole community. All are welcome to eat together and, again, food is prepared, cooked and served by sewadars (Sikhs performing sewa)  
• Toilet and washroom facilities:

  Usually, the first room that you enter in the gurdwara. There is also a safe place for shoes to be kept, hands (and feet) to be washed as well as toilets.
• Rooms for meetings and education:

  • The gurdwara arrange for children to learn Punjabi and Gurmukhi (the script the Guru Granth Sahib is written in).
  • Classes help people to understand the teachings in the Guru Granth Sahib are also available.
  • The language lessons help the younger generations not only continue respected traditions but also to keep in touch with relatives, such as grandparents, who live in the Punjab and cannot speak English.
  • There may also be a room of a library of Sikh literature to help widen their understanding of their faith. 
• Other roles in the gurdwara:

  • In the UK gurdwaras often also act as social centres for the Sikh community, and weddings and funerals often take place in gurdwaras (In India such functions would often be help outside).
  • Other services may be provided too. For example, a firm of solicitors offers a free legal clinic once a week at a gurdwara in Leicester.  

  Some gurdwara’s, especially in the Punjab, may also include a guest room or rooms for travellers or pilgrims to stay overnight, accommodation for the granthi and a health clinic. 
• • Granthi are amritdhari Sikhs, members of the Khalsa, who have special responsibilities in the gurdwara.
  • They may be men or women but are expected to be of good character and live according to the Sikh Code of Conduct, the Rehat Maryada, and therefore show devotion to God and humility.
  • A Granthi must be trained. Most granthis (even if they are from the UK) are trained in the Punjab.
  • There is no ordination ceremony because Granthis are not priests; they do not have higher status than other Sikhs in every way, but they are higher respected.  
• • Granthis arrange the daily religious service, including the reading from the GGS and teach and advise community members.
  • Many granthis live on the premises of the gurdwara and are responsible for its maintenance and security.
  • Some may be paid a small salary in addition to their free accommodation and food.
  • Some may have other jobs as well, but this will depend on their individual circumstances.  
• • The most important work for a granthi is taking care of the Guru Granth Sahib.
  • They arrange the ceremonies to bring the GGS from the rest room to the prayer hall in the morning and return it in the evening.
  • Granthi may also lead kirtan, marriages, funerals and the organisation of the Akhand Path, the continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib.
• • The Guru Granth Sahib contains the writings of many of the Sikh Gurus as well as saints and other spiritually respected writers, including Muslims and Hindus.
  • It is regarded as the Eternal Living Guru, the eleventh Guru.
  • It is therefore treated with great respect and honour.
• The Guru Granth Sahib is called 'Sahib', which is a term of respect, also shown to the ten human Sikh Gurus.
• • Each copy of the original Guru Granth Sahib is identical worldwide, in that their pages, their length and the numbering are the same.
  • It is written in Gurmukhi (meaning from the mouth of the Guru) script.
  • This is one way of showing that the book is sacred; its words do not change, and each copy has the same words on the same page.
• Sikhs sit on the floor for worship so that they are lower than the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Sikhs make sure that they do not point their feet towards the holy book when they are sitting down.
• Worshippers bow before the Guru Granth Sahib as they enter the gurdwara.
• Rumallas, which are decorated cloths, sometimes made from silk, are used to cover the Guru Granth Sahib, when it is not being read.
• There are special customs observed in the gurdwara, in which the Guru Granth Sahib is treated as a human Guru would have been treated.
• • The chauri is a fan that is made from yak’s hair, which is waved from time to time over the Guru Granth Sahib.
  • The human Gurus would have been offered this service in India to provide cool air and to keep flies away.
  • It is a sign of respect from the Guru Granth Sahib and an acknowledgment of its authority.
• • When worship is finished for the day, the Guru Granth Sahib is closed and wrapped in clean cloth.
  • In a procession, it is then carefully carried on the head of an Amritdhari Sikh (to symbolise it is above human ego) to its rest room, where it stays overnight.
  • It is, in effect, put to bed. The room is sometimes called Sach Khand, which means ‘realm of truth'.
  • The following morning, it will be brought back in the same way to the Darbar Sahib for the Prakash (meaning awakening) ceremony, during which mantras are recited and a shortened form of the Ardas Prayer is said.
• • Just before Guru Gobind Singh died, he chose the Guru Granth Sahib to be the final and eternal Guru, who would lead the Sikh community.
  • He said, “Let anyone who wishes to see the Guru come and see the Guru. Whoever wishes to hear the Guru’s word should wholeheartedly read the Granth or listen to the Granth being read”.
  • So, the spirit of the Guru’s, God’s messengers, would be present whenever Sikhs met before the Guru.
• • The Guru Granth Sahib contains the Guru’s teaching about God, who is often described as Waheguru (Wonderful Lord).
  • Sikhs believe that it provides teachings and guidance about ways in which they can approach God and become gurmukh.
  • It encourages meditation on the name of God and keeping God in the centre of one’s thoughts.
  • The Mool Mantra and other daily prayers said in Sikh homes come from the Guru Granth Sahib.
• • The Akhand Path is a continuous ceremonial reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, all 1430 pages, which is usually completed in 48 hours.
  • Readers, men and women, will take a turn to read, and reserves are appointed in case someone is ill or there is an emergency.
  • The reading must be clear and accurate and not too fast so that everyone can hear and clearly understand it.
• • An Akhand Path usually takes place before a festival begins.
  • It can take place at times of great joy or sorrow, for example before a wedding, to celebrate the birth of a baby or on the death of a family member.
  • Karah prashad is distributed just before as akhand path begins and once again when it ends.