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Is A Gurdwara Private Property


ajbrown183
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Hi Im new to this group and would like some advice. Im a white man living in UK. I recently went to a Gurdwara in Birmingham West Midlands for some Langar as I was homeless and was hungary. I was told that white peole are not allowed in here and if I did not leave the police would be called as its private property and if I returned I would be arrested for tresspassing.

Thank you in advance for any replies and comments.

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Hi,

could you be specific about which Gurdwara it was ? Of course if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or smoking at the time no matter whether you are homeless or not the Gurdwara will not let you in . It is after all the rules for the whole congregation and we don't allow those activities in respect of our Guru , Guru Granth Sahib ji. You should not be barred for colour or religion/non-religion.

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Hi Im new to this group and would like some advice. Im a white man living in UK. I recently went to a Gurdwara in Birmingham West Midlands for some Langar as I was homeless and was hungary. I was told that white peole are not allowed in here and if I did not leave the police would be called as its private property and if I returned I would be arrested for tresspassing.

Thank you in advance for any replies and comments.

Hi i do not drink or smoke but i just had to check which Gurdwara it was.

GURU NANAK NISHKAM SEWAK JATHA on Soho Rd

Am very sorry for their conduct, what they did was wrong.

Anyway you should seek help at http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/homeless

Or visit other Gurdwaras in Birmingham

Gurdwara Bebe Nanaki

Phone: 0121 551 3489

Address: 189 Rookery Road, Handsworth

Birmingham

West Midlands

B21 9PX

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Bhatra Singh Sabha & Community Centre

Phone: 0121 440 2387

Address: 248-250 Moseley Road, High Gate

Birmingham

West Midlands

B13 0DG

Gurdwara Yaadgar Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed

Phone: 0121 554 803

Address: 4 Holyhead Road, Handsworth

Birmingham

West Midlands

B21 0LT

Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara And Community Centre

Phone: 0121 440 2358

Address: 221 Mary Street, Balsall Heath

Birmingham

West Midlands

B12 9RN

Guru Ram Dass Singh Sabha Gurdwara

Address: 495 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath

Birmingham

West Midlands

B12 9BX

Ramgharia Sikh Temple

Phone: 0121 773 0389

Address: 25-29 Waverley Road, Small Heath

Birmingham

West Midlands

B10 0EG

Shri Dasmesh Sikh Temple

Phone: 0121 523 6059

Address: 305 Wheeler Street, Lozells

Birmingham

West Midlands

B19 2EU

Shri Guru Ravidass Bhawan

Address: Union Row, Handsworth

Birmingham

West Midlands

B21 9EN

Singh Sabha Akaal Darbar

Address: 521-527 & 535-537 Park Road, Hockley

Birmingham

West Midlands

B18 5TR

Singh Sabha Gurdwara

Phone: 0121 551 1248

Address: 80 Somerset Road, Handsworth Wood

Birmingham

West Midlands

B20 2JB

Ramgharia Sikh Temple

Phone: 0121 236 5435

Address: 6-9 Graham Street

Birmingham

West Midlands

B1 3LA

Source - Gurudwaras in West Midlands

http://www.worldgurudwara.com/V2/UK/WestMidlands.asp

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The very principle of langar is that it is open to everyone regardless of caste, creed, color etc. It is disappointing that the Gurdwara turned you away.

Howrver this particular Gurdwara are known to have particularly rude and arrogant workers (paid workers not sewadars). Someone should report this issue to Bhai sahib ( their spiritual leader).

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Hi Im new to this group and would like some advice. Im a white man living in UK. I recently went to a Gurdwara in Birmingham West Midlands for some Langar as I was homeless and was hungary. I was told that white peole are not allowed in here and if I did not leave the police would be called as its private property and if I returned I would be arrested for tresspassing.

Thank you in advance for any replies and comments.

Hello my friend, i can 1million % assure u, that you are not allowed in not because you are white. Many many gurdwaras all over the world have and allow people of any colour and religion. The only reason that u r not allowed into a sikh place of worship (gurdwara), is if u have been smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs, prior to entering a gurdwara. In my local gurdwara, rastafarians, polish, chinese and black ppl enter everyday for langar and a place of shelter.
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AJ Brown,

I am normally at the GNNSJ gurdwara most mornings at the weekend doing sewa in the langar hall and as far as I know all are welcome.

Not a lot of white people come in to have langar, but the ones that occasionally wonder in are welcomed , some sewadharas can be bit abrasive but I find them like that to all people,

I normally make it my business to be extra polite and helpful to anyone new to the gurdwara or langar hall, I would like them go away with a good impression of us.

I do not know what happened on the day you visited. All I can think is that maybe you looked a little dishevelled and a bit menacing. I know that is no excuse but some Indians can be very silly and get jumpy,but please do not be discouraged and try again.

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  • 3 months later...

The same thing happened to me at the same Gurdwara. I was learning about Sikhi (and still am) and went to the Gurdwara on a Sunday morning. I think it takes a lot of courage to go to a place where you obviously stand out and was very anxious when going. I was told i couldnt come in and then said why and was told because i had been drinking and smoking. I dont smoke and hadn't had a drink all weekend so was very upset at being turned away. I did complain as i know it wasnt the right thing and lots of good did happen as a result of that (made Sikhi friends, started doing Simran in mornings with Sangat, attending Arkdand Paths etc). So ironically if i didnt get turned away from the Gurdwara i wanted have learnt so much about Sikhi. The itself Gurdwara purposely has 4 doors (North, East, South and West) so that people are welcome from any direction and background so you shouldnt have been turned away. I would go again and if you want someone to come with you just send me a private message.

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Hi i do not drink or smoke but i just had to check which Gurdwara it was.

GURU NANAK NISHKAM SEWAK JATHA on Soho Rd

I grew up going to this Gurdwara from when it opened in the late 70's and the unfortunate truth is people will have good day's and bad day's and it would appear that a Gurdwara is no different, I would say that don't let one bad egg taint your view.

The very principle of langar is that it is open to everyone regardless of caste, creed, color etc. It is disappointing that the Gurdwara turned you away.

Howrver this particular Gurdwara are known to have particularly rude and arrogant workers (paid workers not sewadars). Someone should report this issue to Bhai sahib ( their spiritual leader).

Claiming that everyone who works at a Gurdwara is rude and arrogant is a pretty large accusation, i've been to plenty of Gurdwara around the world and have met good and bad people there, i've never let it taint my view, i'm not biased in anyway, GNNSJ has it's faults like all other Gurdwara's but faults can only be rectified when you do something positive about them, if you have an issue, report it.

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