Gurdwara Etiquette

Welcome to Gurdwara (the name given to the Sikh's place of worship). The term Gurdwara literally means "the door" or "the gateway to the Guru". It is a place where the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy Scripture) is present. It is open to every one regardless of age, sex, caste, or creed and is the centre for congregational worship in Sikhism. It also plays a socioeconomic role in the Sikh community; attached to every Gurdwara is a free kitchen where the Langar is prepared and served.

This section is prepared for the benefit of the first time visitor to the Gurdwara.

This pattern of worship consists of:

Kirtan - the singing of the hymns on instruments (generally Harmonium and Tabla).

Katha/GurbaniVichar - the reading of the Holy Hymns followed by explanation or a sermon or talk appropriate for the occasion.

Ardas - the congregational prayer at the end.

The following etiquette should be observed in the Gurudwara. Before entering the hall:

• Take off your shoes
• Wash your hands
• Cover your head
• Think of the Guru

Upon entering the hall (where the Guru Granth Sabib is present):

Fold both your hands and walk slowly.

Bow humbly and touch your forehead to the ground out of respect for the Guru Granth Sahib.

As you bow, place your offering respectfully before the Guru, it may be money, a flower, or a word of thanks. Any sincere expression of gratitude is equally acceptable to the Guru.

After bowing and offering, sit in the Sangat (the congregation) quietly without disturbing others.

Usually men sit on one side and women on the other side.

Sit comfortably and peacefully, the cross-legged position is commonly used, but do not point your feet in the direction of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Do not talk or chew gum.

The usual sequence of events (a service) in the Gurdwara is:

Kirtan: The singing of the Holy Hymns - Gurbani.

Katha/GurbaniVichar: The reading of the Holy Hymns followed by explanation or a sermon or talk appropriate for the occasion.

Recitation portions of a scripture the Anand Sahib.

The Ardas

You will not be expected to say anything. You will have to join the Ardas (equivalent to Lord's prayer). To join in the Ardas:

Stand straight with folded hands and think of the Guru.

Then sit quietly. The person sitting behind the Guru Granth Sahib will read the Hukam, the Guru's message or Order to the Sangat (congregation).

Upon completion of the Hukam, Karah Parsad is distributed to the Sangat. (This is a sweet pudding made of flour, sugar and clarified butter that is offered as ceremonial food.)

Finally Langar (food from the Guru's kitchen) will be served in a different hall. All are welcome to eat langar.

The following section is from the Sikh Reht Maryada. It describes the complete procedure for funerals.

1. The body of a dying or dead person, if it is on a cot, must not be taken off the cot and put on the floor. Nor must a lit lamp be placed beside, or a cow got bestowed in donation by, him/her or his/her good or any other ceremony, contrary to Guru's way, performed. Only Gurbani should be recited or "Waheguru, Waheguru" repeated by his/her side.
2. When some one shuffles the mortal coil, the survivors must not grieve or raise a hue and cry or indulge in breast beating. To induce a mood of resignation to God's will, it is desirable to recite Gurbani or repeat "Waheguru".
3. However young the deceased may be, the body should be cremated. However, where arrangements for cremation cannot be made, there should be no qualm about the body being immersed in flowing water or disposed of in any other manner.
4. As to the time of cremation, no consideration as to whether it should take place during day or night should weigh.
5. The dead body should be bathed and clothed in clean clothes. While that is done, the Sikh symbols -- comb, kachha, karha, kirpan -should not be taken off. Thereafter, putting the body on a plank, ArdasHotwordStyle=None; Key=Ardas; about its being taken away for disposal be offered. The hearse should then be lifted and taken to the cremation ground. While the body is being carried to the cremation ground, hymns that induce feelings of detachment should be recited. On reaching the cremation ground, the pyre should be laid. Then the Ardas for consigning the body to fire be offered. The dead body should then be placed on the pyre and the son or any other relation or friend of the deceased should set fire to it. The accompanying congregation should sit at a reasonable distance and listen to kirtan or carry on collective singing of hymns or recitation of detachment-inducing hymns. When the pyre is fully aflame, the Kirtan Sohila (prescribed pre-retirement night Scriptural prayer) be recited and the Ardas offered. (Piercing the Skull half an hour or so after the pyre has been burning with a rod or something else in the belief that that will secure the release of the soul--kapal kriya--is contrary to the Guru' s tenets). The congregation should then leave. Coming back home, a reading of the Guru Granth Sahib should be commenced at home or in a nearby Gurdwara, and after reciting the six stanzas of the Anand Sahib, the Ardas, offered and karhah prashad (sacred pudding) distributed. The reading of the Guru Granth Sahib should be completed on the tenth day. If the reading cannot, or is sought not to, be completed on the tenth day, some other day may be appointed for the conclusion of the reading having regard to the convenience of the relatives. The reading of the Guru Granth Sahib should be carried out by the members of the household of the deceased and relatives in cooperation. If possible, Kirtan may be held every night. No funeral ceremony remains to be performed after the "tenth day."
6. When the pyre is burnt out, the whole bulk of the ashes, including the burnt bones, should be gathered up and immersed in flowing water or buried at that very place and the ground leveled. Raising a monument to the memory of the deceased at the place where his dead body is cremated is taboo.
7. Adh marg (the ceremony of breaking the pot used for bathing the dead body amid doleful cries half way towards the cremation ground), organized lamentation by women, foorhi (sitting on a straw mat in mourning for a certain period), diva (keeping an oil lamp lit for 360 days after the death in the belief that that will light the path of the deceased), pind (ritual donating of lumps of rice flour, oat flour, or solidified milk (khoa) for ten days after death), kirya (concluding the funeral proceedings ritualistically, serving meals and making offerings by way of shradh, budha marna (waving of whisk, over the hearse of an old person's dead body and decorating the hearse with festoons), etc. are contrary to the approved code. So too is the picking of the burnt bones from the ashes of the pyre for immersing in the Ganga, at Patalpuri (at Kiratpur), at Kartarpur Sahib or at any other such place.

The Turban is such a crucial article of faith that many Sikhs consider it to be more important that all the other Ks. Turbans may be of any colour, and is tied in many different ways and styles.

Normally older people tend to wear white turbans thus reflecting their aquired wisdom. Safron and deep blue are the colours of battle. In modern society, the colour of the turban is irrelevent.

The section gives detailed explanantion of the initiation ceremony (Amrit sanskar).

Ambrosial baptism should be held at an exclusive place away from common human traffic. At the place where ambrosial baptism is to be administered, the holy Guru Granth Sahib should be installed and ceremonially opened. Also present should be six committed baptized Sikhs, one of whom should sit in attendance of the Guru Granth Sahib and the other five should be there to administer the ambrosial baptism. These six may even include Sikh women. All of them must have taken bath and washed their hair.

The five beloved ones who administer ambrosial baptism should not include a disabled person, such as a person who is blind or blind in one eye, lame, one with a broken or disabled limb, or one suffering from some chronic disease. The number should not include anyone who has committed a breach of the Sikh discipline and principles. All of them should be committed baptized Sikhs with appealing personalities. Any man or woman of any country, religion or caste who embraces Sikhism and solemnly undertakes to abide by its principles is entitled to ambrosial baptism. The person to be baptized should not be of very young age; he or she should have attained a plausible degree of discretion.