Darbar Hall Seperation

[hsingh8963]

What is the reasoning for woman to sit on one side and men on the other... I have never seen anyone stopped from crossing sides... Im just wondering what the reasoning is?...

[jkvlondon]

What is the reasoning for woman to sit on one side and men on the other... I have never seen anyone stopped from crossing sides... Im just wondering what the reasoning is?...

Waheguru ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh

The reason I was told was because of focussing the mind to message of bani rather than opposite sex (kind of like the muslim women having to stay behind the men in the mosque ) but that is bogus as you look in any darbar hall the guys are all chilled listening to bani without the kids hassling them and the Women's side the women are constantly tending to the kids demands . where is the equality ?

In India people sit in family groups at Gurudwarey there and no one bats an eyelid , whereas my own experience when my boys were very little (2 years and twins premature -1month age) when we sat as a couple at the back of the hall with our three kids in the UK, a man physically manhandled my husband during kirtan darbar to try and move him to the "men's side". I think if you sit together the kids will be more settled and not running back and forth pulling sangat's dhian which is a good thing plus you are less likely to think of others if you are with your family.

[hsingh8963]

Separation***

[kharkusingh1996]

during Sikh camp evening divans the kids of both genders sit together and chit chat for hours. I do see a real reasoning behind this is to focus on kirtan/bani/simran while not being distracted by opposite sex.

[hsingh8963]

Yeaaaaa I was just curious lol.... It makes sense... Its just that I had heard some feminist saying that it is a result of gender inequailty....

[hsingh8963]

Yeaaaaa I was just curious lol.... It makes sense... Its just that I had heard some feminist saying that it is a result of gender inequailty....

[savinderpalsingh]

more is that some people dont look at women in bad way and some do , and to prevent many things from happening .

and a lot of gossip .

genders sit differently .

so we all can concentrate more

[imhosingh]

Think its more of a reflection of the so-called weaknesses of peoples minds and cultural influences. From experience I find nothing nicer than sitting with family (not seperated on different sides of the darbar hall). Another thing is that in some Gurdwaras you have separate shoe areas, with their own access to the darbar hall, which reinforces this separation. Personally, I find it a nonsense, when i've been to church's they don't seem to have a problem with connecting in the presence of other genders.

Indeed if you have a problem with being around the opposite gender then the gurdwara setting should help you to overcome and control these thoughts.

The sad thing is that the separation continues in the langer hall too, with many halls having 'implied segregation'. I've had it where as a man I've been asked to move as an area was supposedly for women & bibi's.

[savinderpalsingh]

its not bad if there is separation , its actually good. maybe you are raised in western environment and you are looking at our traditions with western views, but thats how none of it works.
there are people who can control their thoughts and eyes and kam , then there are people who get easily distracted . its good to have separation

next thing someone will say

"if western has joined bath why do we have separate "
imho its just stupid to look at older traditions with western views .

sitting with family max like 90% time isnt good you gossip about here and there . things keep poping up in mind.

separation makes it difficult and enforces to concentrate

[JagsawSingh]

its not bad if there is separation , its actually good. maybe you are raised in western environment and you are looking at our traditions with western views, but thats how none of it works.

I think you may have become a bit confused Savinderpal.

As someone else pointed out a few messages earlier, this 'tradition' of separation is entirely a 'western' invention....having been invented in UK, Canadian and American Gurdwaras. Our 'tradition' in Punjab and India has always been for men and women to sit together as a family unit on whichever side they want.