Visiting Gurdwara

[Shivaji]

Namaste all.

I've been invited by Punjabi friends of mine to visit a Gurdwara later this week sometime. I really don't know all that much about Sikhism, and I certainly don't know a lot about visiting a Gurdwara, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me how a typical service in a Gurdwara goes, and if there's anything non-Sikhs should do (or can't do) while visiting a Gurdwara?

[Mehtab Singh]

2 of my Hindu flatmates visited the Gurdwara with me 2 weeks ago. They said it was an amazing experience. You cannot take any intoxicants inside (like a cigarette pack in your pocket...if you smoke that is). Take a bath in the morning and wear clean clothes (which I am sure you already do). Take a piece of cloth or a big hankerchief with you to tie on your head, unless you want to use the one available at the Gurdwara. Remove your shoes and socks when you enter, wash your hands with soap. If there is an arrangement to wash your feet as well, then thats even better. Depending on your devotion, you might want to offer (NOT donate) some small amount of cash at Gurujee's feet. When you enter the Darbar, bow to Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and very respectfully with both hands place the cash where others have offered it as well. I prefer to take the bheta (offering) with me inside and not open my wallet in front of Gurujee's saroop. It ticks me off when people do that. Also, like I said, very respectfully place it there with both hands. I've seen people throw it with one hand. Bloody I saw a kid once kick a dollar bill because it didn't fall at the right place! After this, if possible, watch your back and walk backwards and sit down among the male members of the sangat which should be on your right usually. This is done so that you don't turn your back to Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Most people don't bother, but then again its a question of devotion. During the entire period that you are seated in the Darbar, don't chit-chat or laugh with your friends. 2 weeks ago someone was sitting behind me and was laughing. I thought it was my flatmates but they had gone to the washroom. I turned around and gave that guy a look and signalled to keep silent. Suddenly I realized it was not my flatmate. I felt weird, but he freaked out. I then whispered to him "I thought its someone ese". 2 minutes later he wasn't there. I felt bad, although I didn't do anything wrong as these 2 guys had laughed loudly. So just stay silent and if they have English translations of what is being recited, please follow it. That will multiply the intensity of your amazing experience. After the keertan is over, everyone stands up for Ardas. Then karah parshad is distributed. Enjoy and relish it! Then another small ardas is done, and the saroop of Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is taken to a separate place. This is called Sukhasan. Some say Gurujee has been "put to bed". Then proceed to Langar hall where FREE (extremely delicious and Indian) meals are served to everyone. Let the sewadaars (the ones doing the sewa) offer you the different food items, and they will ask you before they offer you anything. Take whatever you want, as much as you want, and as many times as you want. There is no end to it! But do NOT start eating unless they announce it with a BOLAY SO NIHAAL...SATSRIAKAAL! Enjoy the Langar, and promise yourself that you'll come back.

Please forgive my mistakes. Others please add what I may have missed.

[Shivaji]

Thanks a bunch Mehtab Singh! This will come in handy when I visit Gurdwara. By the way is there any sort of Sikh greeting akin to "Namaste"?

[Jkaur]

Normally sikhs should greet each other with:

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA

WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

But you might also hear people greeting each other with SAT SRI AKAAL.

[Mehtab Singh]

Thats right. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh is the actual Sikh greeting while Sat Sri Akaal is a war cry. However you'll find over 95% of Sikhs (especially those who haven't been baptized yet) greet each other with Sat Sri Akaal. You can greet them any how. Sat Sri Akaal would sound normal, but Fateh would take them by storm! So upto you :2singh2:

[Tejvir]

i remember when, i had to leave darbar sahib, and i was walking backwards, and i stumbled over those wooden lil desk things (don't know what their called)

So I've stopped walking backwards and faced the way I walked out of no disrespect to Maharaj.

[Jkaur]

I remember that happening to me in one of the gurdwara in Singapore.. Quite Embarrasing when you fall over in a darbar pack with sangat looks at you falling

[Shivaji]

I just want to thank everyone here for all the advice you gave. Finally getting to visit the Gurdwara was quiet an experience.

[sikha]

why should a non-sikh bow to Guru Granth Sahib? Bowing/kneeling is an act of submission, and if a non-sikh does not submit to Guru Maharaj, then there is no point in kneeling.. it will just become an empty ritual

[Shivaji]

why should a non-sikh bow to Guru Granth Sahib? Bowing/kneeling is an act of submission, and if a non-sikh does not submit to Guru Maharaj, then there is no point in kneeling.. it will just become an empty ritual

Well, being a Hindu I obviously don't see the Guru Granth Sahib as being infallible, but I do have enough respect and love for what it teaches to express this by bowing down to it.