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I have a mystery to share with you all: What is this place depicted in this painting? This is a painting kept in the collection of the Himachal State Museum of a supposed gurdwara dating to ca.1875. Interestingly, B.N. Goswamy in his book (which actually uses this specific painting as cover-artwork) claims it is possibly the interior of the Darbar Sahib/Harmandir Sahib (“Golden Temple”) in Amritsar. However, it is immediately obvious that is not the case, as the layout/structure/architecture of the space does not resemble the interior of Darbar Sahib at all. So where could this place be? One can wonder. A possible identification made by the Twitter user Ontheperiphery9 is that this may be the interior of Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi! This is an interesting suggestion. Whilst Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib underwent extensive Kar Seva renovations in the 20th century, one does find superficial similarities in the layout/architecture of the current gurdwara & whatever gurdwara is depicted in this historic painting. How about you, what are your thoughts/theories on the identity of this space? Does it perhaps still exist or has it been lost to time in the various renovations/remodellings of Sikh sacred spaces in the years since this painting was made? Image 1) Painting as displayed in the Himachal State Museum Image 2) Caption of the painting at the museum Image 3) Cover of B. N. Goswamy’s book, which uses the painting as cover-art Image 4) Caption provided in the book for the painting Image 5) Photograph of the interior of the modern Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, notice any similarities to the painting?

In my opinion, all Gurdware should follow only the Sikh Rehat Maryada, be named after Gurus or their local area only and have no pictures of Sants in them. They should never do "Aarti Aarta" with lamps or anything. They should look like this: 1) Named only like "Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurdwara" or "Crystal Palace Gurdwara" if there are no other ones in the area 2) Should ignore the concept of "sects" completely. There should be no mention of Nihangs, Naamdharis or anything. Just act like they don't exist and focus only on the teachings of the Gurus 3) Should follow Sikh Rehat Maryada - eg: NO BHANG for Nihangs and no meat on the premises to honour all faiths who eat there (even though Sikhs can eat meat outside the Gurdwara) 4) Be completely ritual-free as Maharaj recommended. Therefore, there is no need for "Aarti-Aarta" with trays and lamps. Guru Nanak Dev Ji told us this is not necessary. No need for joht lamps, dhoop or anything like that. Only focus should be on the Gurus. 5) There shouldn't be pictures of any "Sants" or "Baba" who never met the Gurus. Baba Deep Singh Ji, for example, would be fine but no modern day figures like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala. Only pictures in the Gurdwara should be of the Gurus or the people they personally met and trusted like Baba Deep Singh Ji or Bhai Mardana Ji. This way, Sikhi remains "pure" imo. We just focus strictly on the Gurus and avoid anything "ritualistic"

The Babe Ke gurdwara is still in turmoil more than a year after the "executive committee" perpetrated shocking levels of beadbi on the Guru Granth Sahib. Just received the following message. === Waheguru Ji Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh On Thursday 28th July, at Gurdwara Babe Ke Blackdown Leamington Spa, 2 females carried out an unprovoked assault on a 70-year-old lady, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur Dhinsay who has served the Babe Ke sangat for more than 30 years. Another female sangat member has also come forward having been verbally abused and intimidated by the same two females and this information has also been passed onto the police. This is just the latest in a long line of verbal abuse and physical assaults on members of the Babe Ke sangat. The Gurdwara cannot possibly move forward if we cannot safeguard the elderly and vulnerable, or sangat at large. The sangat has a right to feel safe and secure when attending the Gurdwara premises. As trustees (Harminder Singh Dhinsay and Surinder Kaur Sahota), we are deeply committed to placing the Gurdwara on a proper footing and to put measures in place to safeguard the sangat. We will keep you informed directly of other issues that affect the sangat and the ongoing police investigation to this assault. This issue has brought at least one more person forward who has also been the subject of assault. If you have experienced or know anyone who may have been victim to any verbal or physical abuse at Gurdwara Babe Ke at Leamington Spa, Hockley or Snitterfield, please do come forward and let Harminder or Surinder know the details so this can be passed onto the police also. Please feel free to forward this on, and ask others who wish to stay reliably informed, to contact us so that we can add them to our news list. Trustees: Surinder Kaur Sahota, and Harminder Singh Dhinsay -------- ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ । 28th July ਦਿਨ ਵੀਰਵਾਰ ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ ਬਾਬੇ ਕੇ ਬਲੈਕ ਡਾਊਨ ਲਮਿੰਗਟਨ ਸਪਾਵਿਖੇ 2 ਔਰਤਾਂ ਨੇ 70 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੀਬੀ ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੋਰ ਢੀਂਡਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੂੰਹ ਜੁਬਾਨੀ ਤੇਸਰੀਰਕ ਬਦਸਲੂਕੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਬੀਬੀ ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੋਰ ਢੀਂਡਸੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ 30 ਸਾਲਾ ਤੋ ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ ਬਾਬੇ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦੀਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ । ਇਸ ਘਟਨਾ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਕਈ ਵਾਰ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਹੋਰ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਮੂੰਹਜੁਬਾਨੀ ਤੇ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਬਦਸਲੂਕੀ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ। ਹੁਨ ਇਕ ਹੋਰ ਬੀਬੀ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਕੋਲਸ਼ਿਕਾਇਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ ਕੇ ਇੰਨਾਂ ਦੋਨਾ ਅੋਰਤਾਂ ਨੇ ੳਸ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਮੂੰਹ ਜੁਬਾਨੀ ਬਦਸਲੂਕੀਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਡਰਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਧਮਕਾਇਆ ਹੈ॥ ਜੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਅਪਨੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੇ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਅਤੇ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਦੀ ਚਾਰ-ਦਿਵਾਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸੰਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਕੀਫ਼ਾਇਦਾ। ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਰਗੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਅਸਥਾਨ ਤੇ ਹਰ ਇਕ ਇਨਸਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਖੁੱਲ ਹੋਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਮਹਿਸੂਸਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਬੀਬੀ ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੋਰ, ਟਰੱਸਟੀ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਨਾਤੇ, ਅਸੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਾ ਕੇਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਬਾਬੇ ਕੇ ਦੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਵੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਿਖੇ ਸੇਵਾਅਤੇ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਆਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਅਪਨੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰੇ। ਅਸੀਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਯਕੀਨ ਦਬਾਉਂਦੇ ਆਂ ਕੇ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਅਜੇਹੀ ਗੱਲ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਜਾ ਅਸਰ ਸੰਗਤ ਤੇ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਸੀਂ ੳਸ ਗੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ । ਅਸੀਂ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਕੇ, ਜੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਇਹੋ ਜਹੀ ਕੋਈ ਵੀਘਟਨਾ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਸ਼ੇਅਰ / ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਕਰਨੀ ਤਾਂ ਕੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਇਸਤਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਜੜ ਤੱਕ ਜਾ ਸਕੀਐ, ਤੇ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੇ ਪੀੜਤ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਨੂਇਨਸਾਫ ਦਿਵਾ ਸਕੀਏ । ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਸ ਸੁਨੇਹੇ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗੇ ਭੇਜਣ ਲਈ ਬੇਝਿਜਕ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰੋ, ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰਾਂ ਨੂੰਜੋ ਭਰੋਸੇਯੋਗ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਸੂਚਿਤ ਰਹਿਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰਨ ਲਈਕਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਅਸੀਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਨਿਊਜ਼ਲਿਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਕਰ ਸਕੀਏ। ਟਰੱਸਟੀ: ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੀਂਡਸੇ

Hello everyone, I had some questions about gurdwaras matrimonial services. I am 24 yr old sikh male living in UK, only recently started using the matrimonial services. My family are quite religious and well read in sikhi but I admit I am not ,however I love my religion and am essentially using the services as an extra channel in the hope of one day meeting someone. However, I'm a bit confused about something... when i see some of the things on the matrimonial lists; I feel like it kind of defeats the whole messages of our religion. For example, I read some of the preferences of the people on the matrimonial list and they write things like- I am jatt and only seeking jatt, I am doctor only seeking doctor, must be educated above masters. Isn't the whole point of our religion that we are all equal whether it is through caste, social status, social class, occupation etc? I mean I'm no expert but I believe sikhism was created because we didn't believe with the caste system in Hinduism however gurdwaras matrimonial services all over UK are blatantly promoting it. Am I the only one who thinks this way? For example, our religion was created to promote the idea a poor farmer can marry a rich person and still be equals; but the gurdwaras are not even promoting this message, they are allowing this backwards mentality and criteria to continue. Thanks

I really miss listening to new ragi jaths at the gurdwara but because of covid no one is coming from India , iv notied that because jathas aren't coming to the uk I'm not going gurdwara often to listen to kirtan just listing online, because at my local gurudwara gng Smethwick the committee dont really change the jatha is harjit Singh metha , I really want to listen to good kirtan im willing to travel please can you tell me what kirtan jathas are in your local gurughar iv heard the uk has some good jaths who live here but there no real information please share what jathas are at your local guru ghar iv even heard that there are some hazoori ragis that live in the uk too I honestly hope that they come from india and good jaths come that can give us raag kirtan

I had some prashaad from the Gurdwara at home and went away for a week and forgot about it. I've come back and it's now gone off/expired. What do I do?

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/news/a36274393/princess-anne-opens-sikh-community-centre/

Beautiful old Gurdwara in Pakistan. The wood work was from Kashmir while the glasswork came from Belgium! A Pakistani architect talks about the design and artwork of the Gurdwara. I think she's going to be renovating the building.

Hi I just want to put out a reminder that all Gurdware are sacred places. Please remember that when visiting any Gurdwara. I think people are getting a bit of a lax attitude. 1. If you are going, try your best to dress cleanly and smartly, just like you would if you were going to any place you respect. Also to dress in a respectful manner. 2. Before entering, remember to enter with a humble and clean heart/attitude, with respect for Guruji and God. You should enter with you head bowed. 3. Turn off your phone or put it on silent. Keep silent and don't talk unless necessary. 4. Don't look around or take note of other people. Be polite and respectful. Don't push in front of others. 5. Don't talk whilst Gurbani or kirtan is going on unless it is necessary to do so. 6. Keep quiet whilst eating langar also. 7. Treat the building, the furniture, the facilities etc with respect. 8. Don't judge others, be disturbed by other peoples behaviour or be concerned with people who do wrong or act disrespectfully. Just concentrate on your own behaviour. Any other good points you can think of please add them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIZdmHBhHln/?igshid=pwqvajvshoww

There was a fight in Renton Wa at the local Gurdwara. No idea what this is over, was hoping maybe someone had insight as to what is going on over there? Its apparently due to "religious difference going on within our community" and started a few weeks ago when there was another fight at Gurdwara in Kent.. Could it be related to that wedding that took place in California? https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/police-firefighters-respond-possible-assault-sikh-temple/6YMCWNFHSREE7GMH5PMO7YRRIQ/

What is sangats opinion on graves (no headstones) on the gurdwara premises. Committee is considering buying a church and it has some burials. I personally don't think it is a big deal as long as we are respectful. The burials are out of the way and could be turned into flowerbeds etc with a hedge/fence around them.

https://www.sikhpa.com/pakistan-gurdwara-honouring-sikh-martyr-converted-into-mosque/ Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh Ji gurdwara in Pakistan is being converted into a mosque. Shows that Pakistan doesn’t hold any regard for our gurdwaras!

https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/election-for-hsgmc-president-on-august-13-114328

Vaheguru

how to become ragi and granthi in uk? are there any courses requirement any uk based school or is there no system and I will need to go to India

https://youtu.be/Y5B--eZO57I

Waheguru ji ki khalsa Waheguru ji ki fateh I have recently gotten into sikhi, it has been around 3 years since I've started wearing a dastar now I think. Since I've started I have had stages where I have been very religious and then stages where I haven't. Coming from a non religious family at all I find it hard to get guidance from someone close to me. I have two local Gurdwaras one of which I used to go to regularly however they seemed to be very Liberal and hardly any of them were gursikhs and most of them drunk alcohol and such things. The other Gurdwara I have been to a few times but they dont make me feel welcome at all they stare at me and act abnoxious to me. I have recently started going to another gurdwara outside of my town which is around a 20 minute drive but I literally know no one there and as I'm going alone it makes it a lot harder to try to meet new people and being an introverted person makes it more difficult. If anyone could suggest any ways of making new friends that are gursikhs that would be great thanks

Hi Redoptics posted this link on another thread: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bhai_Nand_Lal_Rahitnama What I found particularly interesting was this bit: The Sikh desirous of Guru’s Darshan,Should go and have the Darshan of Granth Jee,(14)After ablution early in the morning,he should judiciously undertake its three circumambulation,(15)DohiraWith folded hands he should be seated, seeking my audience,And after paying obeisance to Guru Granth Jee, listen to the celestial exposition.(16) I just thought it was an interesting (somewhat lost?) tradition to make three circumambulations of SGGS. Is this still done anywhere?

https://www.indy100.com/article/andy-street-sikh-mosque-gurdwara-conservative-m The gaffe is a possibility as Dr Jasjit S tweet makes clear, we haven't educated others with Sikhi terminology, but wth is a n1gger Kirtan...that's a new one!!

Beautiful old gurdwara built during the Sikh empire by Baba Bir Singh Naurangabad. Baba Bir Singh was a warrior. Most of these old Gurdwareh have been demolished. Have no idea if this Gurdwara is still standing or has been demolished.

Which historic gurdwaras do you really want to go to? I really want to go to tarn taran sahib, I have never been, with wahegurus kirpa I will go some time in the future. It's one gurdwara that I really want to go to I have been harmandir sahib so many times but never been tarn taran sahib.

Gurdwara Shaheed Singh Singhnia in Lahore marks the site of execution of thousands of puratan Singhs . The Gurdwara was built with efforts of UK sikhs And singhnia during Mir Mannu's time . Gurdwara marking the shaheedi of Bhai Taru Singh is also nearby . The Gurdwara is built on top of Shaheedganj mosque where execution of Sikhs used to happen.

Fed up of Gurdwara politics, how the older generation treat youth and tension in general. Want to take a small break from gurdwara. Ps not just a problem at one particular gurdwara but is happening everywhere