To get more youths into the Gurdwara I think the main thiing is we need is a friendly welcoming sangaat!
Cos most of my Sikh friends have been verbally attacked for doing something that is against that particular Gurdwara's procedures i.e before entering any room you gotta wash hands etc A Gurdwara in Southall, Havelock Street, bought my mum to tears cos they all just shouted at her for eating Prashad in the Langaar room they seemed more focused on others than listerning to Gurbani, and A women on my last visit there wacked me with a big spoon and chucked a glass on the side, which landed in my Dhaal :|, I think she was having a bad day! But its my local Gurdwara at Uni...I gotta bare the mad sangaat there
And my female friends say they are not comfortable with old men staring at them...cos the tend to hang at enterances or in the Langaar room gossiping! I once went Gurdwara with my sister and all the bibya started telling my mum that her daughter was hanging with "a boyfriend" etc...My Sister ended up getting Shitaar cos My mum didnt beleive her that it was me...she dont go much anymore!
So I think if a Gurdwara provides a welcoming atmosphere, which is contributed to by the sangaat, then youths like my friends will feel more comfortable going!
Also all my Uni mates love doing Simran...but we feel more comfortable doing it away from the Gurdwara, cos our local Gurdwara doesnt really have programmes of these sort, except for once a month for kids who play instruments.
Oh and Bani translated to English is a good thing! I would have gone most life without having a clue what was being said, I speak Fluent punjabi but Gurmukhi I never understood, by reading in English I am now starting to slowly pick up Gurmukhi, every Gurdwara should introduce these projectors...
and those that say parents should teach kids Gurmukhi...I come from a traditional punjabi background and most of my elders in the family struggle to understand Gurmukhi or as I have found out recently dont fully understand the meaning...So how are parents gonna teach if they dont even know. I think most people on the forum come from the above average religious family...but alot of people I know are in the same boat as me.
Sorry if I offended...and the sorry about the rambling I love going Gurdwara but the sangaat does really put you off A white friend of mine once went with me and a women said "did you just come for the food?". I've had bad experiences!
Okey Rant over!