Places of Worship

A Gurdwara is the place used by Sikhs for worship. Gurdwaras also serve as community-centres, and is also used for performing the birth, marriage and death ceremonies of the Sikhs. A free kitchen (langar) is always a part of the Gurdwara. The word 'Gurdwara' literally means the house of the Guru. Sikhs believe that because the Gurdwaras house the Guru Granth Sahib, they house the actual Guru. For this reason, in Sikhism, Gurdwaras deserve the utmost respect.

The use of the word Gurdwara started in late eighteenth century, when the Guru would be present himself and his followers would visit for darshan. Prior to this periods, simple rooms set aside for memory of Gurus were used for satsang. At the present, there are about 700 Gurdwaras in UK and similar numbers in the US and Canada. In total, there are over 3,000 outside India.

Definition of Gurdwara: The installation place of Guru Granth Sahib and meeting place of Panth or Sangat (congregation) is called 'abode of the Guru' or Gurdwara. Since Guruship is bestowed on Guru Granth and Panth by the Tenth Master, the Sikh religious places has come to be known as Gurdwaras as distinguished from Dharmsala as all places of religious worship were known earlier. So the Gurdwara means such a public place of worship where Guru Granth Sahib is installed.

Most of the historical Gurdwaras are founded at Places sanctified by the visits of Gurus. "Wherever my Satguru goes and sits, that place is beautiful. The Guru's disciples seek that place and take and apply its dust to their foreheads." (GGS, p540). Other historical Gurdwaras are dedicated to the memory of a number of Sikh saints and martyrs. Besides, the Sikhs have constructed the Gurdwaras wherever they have been. It is correctly said at wherever there are Sikhs, there are Gurdwaras also. And it is difficult to imagine Sikhs without their Gurdwaras. These are the integral part of Sikh faith. It is not the building but the gathering of the Sikhs in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, which is important and gives the Gurdwara a special place in Sikh life.

The Gurdwaras are the traditional centres of the religious, political, social and cultural life of the Sikhs. Gurdwaras im