How To Attract New People To The Gurdwara

[Big_Tera]

I have been to a church on a couple of occasions in the past and I have noticed they have alot of leaflets and information on the religion. Most importantly they have leaflets displaying the times of their daily/evening prayer service ect.

Are Gurdwaras doing this at the moment? Also would it not be a good idea to make a flyer that displays Prayer services of the Gurwara then hand it out to the public. ie non Sikhs.

The leaflet or flyer would say something like this.

'Explore/Discover Sikhism'. Then have the date and time of the particular Sikh prayer service such as Kirtan or Rehras. and invite people who are interested in learning more about the Sikhism to come to the Gurdwara. at the same time as handing out the flyer we can give them an introduction to Sikhism about the beliefs and teachings. A good way to start a conversation would be the flyer. We dont need to hire out a stall or anything like. If they dont come to the Gurwara they will still have links on the leaflet about information on Sikhism. Hence they will learn about the religion either way.

This will involve Sikhs all over the UK doing this in their local areas. I also think we need someone at each Gurwara who specifically gives a tour of the for non Sikhs and guides them around. As it can be daunting for non Sikhs to turn up without knowing what to do or. T

This persons job will be to bring new people to the Gurwara and give the an introduction to Sikhism and explain the meaning of the religion.

This wont involve any costs or be a complicated process. just someone in a busy high street handing out leaflets to people to invite them to the Gurdwara.

We should take advantage of the fact that the Gurwara is open to all instead of the churches and mosques where they are unwelcoming to non believers.

[sikhstudent99]

Addressing social issues depression an loneliness an giving people a sense of belonging an purpose is some of the ways

Thats how mormons an christian church's an cults get people

[Guest Jacfsing2]

Addressing social issues depression an loneliness an giving people a sense of belonging an purpose is some of the ways

Thats how mormons an christian church's an cults get people

Why are social issues the only issues you talk about?

The most welcoming thing I've seen at a Gurdwara is an "All-are-welcome" sign, the other things can only help if they bother to go inside.

[ghatak]

Try to bring more people personally with you everytime you visit and tell them briefly about the practices being practised in gurudwaras.

[hrman]

stop fighting inside Gurudwaras ,especially West Gurdwaras.

[Guest Jacfsing2]

stop fighting inside Gurudwaras ,especially West Gurdwaras.

There's not a fight everyday at Gurdwaras or even at every Gurdwara, it's just them Canadian, "moderate", Sikhs fighting the Canadian, "traditional" Sikhs at what they fight about is usually chairs and tables, because those, "moderates" really want to destroy Pangat and equality of Sangat, (even disabled people's chairs and tables have some form of equal level).

[simran345]

stop fighting inside Gurudwaras ,especially West Gurdwaras.

Also same could be said for Gurdwaras in India.

[superkaur]

Make it relevant to people's lives.

End of the day the gurdwara should be a place to recharge the spiritual battery and meet fellow Sikhs but how many gurdwaray are like that these days? And the commitee's that look after them should be serving the needs of the sangat and not serving the needs of their bank account or their own friends and family.

Sahejdhari / mona Sikhs make up 80% of the sikh population yet these people are not even catered for in the gurdwara hence they only come 1-4 times a year during a wedding, vaisakhi or guru nanak birthday gurpurb or new years day.

So gurdwara needs to be centered around their needs more as for new comers into Sikhi like recent converts there is no facility for them. Many westerners are interested in becoming a Sikh but have no idea what to do or have a community to welcome them. What kinda of impression must they get? Sikhi more like a secret society or a race than a religion.

[guptsinghji]

Basics of sikhi are the only people taking such steps of creating leaflets about any Sikh related things. Other people are too busy trying to prove which jatha is better

[Ranjeet01]

Sahejdhari / mona Sikhs make up 80% of the sikh population yet these people are not even catered for in the gurdwara hence they only come 1-4 times a year during a wedding, vaisakhi or guru nanak birthday gurpurb or new years day.

So gurdwara needs to be centered around their needs more as for new comers into Sikhi like recent converts there is no facility for them. Many westerners are interested in becoming a Sikh but have no idea what to do or have a community to welcome them. What kinda of impression must they get? Sikhi more like a secret society or a race than a religion.

Can you elaborate further how a sehajdhari or a new convert is not made to feel welcome in a Gurdwara?

Is there someone stopping a sehajdhari or new convert doing seva or matha tekhing or sitting down in the darbar hall to listen to a katha or to kirtan or doing naam simran? Are they not allowed to partake in langar?