The GurdwaraThe Gurdwara

LO: To describe the Sikh place of LO: To describe the Sikh place of worship. worship.

L6 – Analyse the treatment of the Guru Granth SahibL5- Explain the importance of LangarL4 – Describe the GurdwaraL3 – Identify Key Sikh objects

Gurdwara

Langar – the kitchen and free food that is given inside a gurdwara.

Symbolise – represent something.

Gurdwara - it means the house of doors.

Key words

A Gurdwara – Place of worship

A Gurdwara is the place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship.

The Gurdwara is used for The Gurdwara is used for many different reasons:many different reasons:

• MeetingsMeetings

• Worshipping God.Worshipping God.

• Centre for learning for children and Centre for learning for children and adults. To learn the Punjabi adults. To learn the Punjabi language.language.

• Celebration of important occasions Celebration of important occasions – Weddings and births.– Weddings and births.

• Relaxation.Relaxation.

House of Doors• The literal meaning of the Punjabi

word Gurdwara is the residence of the Guru, or the door that leads to the Guru. It has 4 entrances to show it is always open to all.

A Gurdwara in Bedford

The Four Doors The Four Doors

• 4 doors of a Gurdwara4 doors of a Gurdwara

• These doors SYMBOLISE that These doors SYMBOLISE that people from all four points of the people from all four points of the compass are welcome.compass are welcome.

• There's always a light on in a There's always a light on in a Gurdwara, to show that the Guru's Gurdwara, to show that the Guru's Light is always visible and is Light is always visible and is accessible to everyone at any timeaccessible to everyone at any time

Flying the flag Flying the flag

• Gurdwaras Gurdwaras fly the Sikh fly the Sikh flag flag outside. outside.

• The flag is The flag is orange/yellorange/yellow and has ow and has the Sikh the Sikh logo in the logo in the middle.middle.

In a modern Gurdwara the Guru is not In a modern Gurdwara the Guru is not a person, but the book of Sikh a person, but the book of Sikh scriptures called the Guru Granth scriptures called the Guru Granth Sahib.Sahib.

It is the presence of the Guru Granth It is the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib that gives the Gurdwara its Sahib that gives the Gurdwara its religious status, so any building religious status, so any building containing the book is a Gurdwara. containing the book is a Gurdwara.

Task: Look at the puzzles below. What Task: Look at the puzzles below. What are they trying to teach about the are they trying to teach about the Gurdwara?Gurdwara?

x4

A B C D

A is representing…A is representing…B is representing…B is representing…C is representing…C is representing…D is representing…D is representing…

Before going into a GurdwaraA person should not go in drunk, or carrying

alcohol or tobacco. (A Sikh, of course, would not do either.)

Remove your shoes and wash your feet if they are dirty.

Cover your head.

On entering a Gurdwara • Firstly, Sikhs Firstly, Sikhs

bow to the bow to the Guru Granth Guru Granth Sahib, Sahib, touching the touching the floor with floor with their their forehead. forehead. This This SYMBOLISES SYMBOLISES respectrespect and and submissionsubmission to the truths to the truths contained in contained in the book.the book.

• This is used to run the Gurdwara This is used to run the Gurdwara and the free food kitchen (langar). and the free food kitchen (langar). The offering is NOT charity, but a The offering is NOT charity, but a SHARING of God's gifts. If a person SHARING of God's gifts. If a person has no money or food to offer, they has no money or food to offer, they may offer flowers, or just some may offer flowers, or just some words of sincere thankswords of sincere thanks

• Secondly they place an offering of Secondly they place an offering of food or money in front of the Guru food or money in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Granth Sahib.

Imagine there is a school trip to the Gurdwara.Imagine there is a school trip to the Gurdwara.Name 5 steps that a person visiting should do.Name 5 steps that a person visiting should do.You can use some of the key words below to help You can use some of the key words below to help you.you.shoes hea

dbowofferings

alcohol

money

tobaccoGuru Granth Sahib

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

When entering a Gurdwara, the main thing that stands out is the raised platform, on which the Guru Granth Sahib is placed to be read from during the prayer service.

This platform called a ‘palki’, and it SYMBOLISES respect.

A person always stands next to the holy book or behind it, and waves a fan over it. This is called a ‘chauri’. The chauri SYMBOLISES authority.

Seating in a Gurdwara Seating in a Gurdwara • Everyone sits on Everyone sits on

the floor in a the floor in a Gurdwara. This Gurdwara. This SYMBOLISES SYMBOLISES humility before humility before the Guru Granth the Guru Granth Sahib, and Sahib, and because it gives because it gives everyone a place everyone a place of equal status to of equal status to sit. Most people sit. Most people sit cross-legged. sit cross-legged. Cushions and Cushions and seats are not seats are not allowed. allowed.

Name

Action Symbol

Chauri

Sitting on the floor to show equality Authority

Palki Waving a fan over the Guru Granth Sahib

Respect

Floor Raised platform on which the Guru Granth Sahib is kept

Humility

Symbolism. Match the action to the symbolism

The free food kitchen, or Langar

After every service Sikhs come to the Langar where a free vegetarian meal has been prepared for everybody. Sharing food is important as the Gurus taught that all Sikhs should share their possessions. All the work involved in preparing the food, serving it and clearing up afterwards is called 'seva' which means voluntary, selfless service.

• Although Sikhs are not required to be vegetarian, only vegetarian food is served in the gurdwaras. This ensures that any visitor to the Gurdwara can eat in the Langar.

Complete these acrostics to Complete these acrostics to describe langar and seva describe langar and seva

L SA EN VG AAR

Words you could include:

Sikh Voluntary Anybody Vegetarian

Share Guru Selfless Gurdwara

PlenaryPlenary

Look at the following pictures.

can you tell your neighbour whatIt is or what is going on, andWhere possible what itsymbolises?

What is this?

What is this?

And what does it show?

What is this and what does it symbolise?

What is this and what does it symbolise?

What are these 2 people doing and what does it symbolise?

How are the people sitting and what does this symbolise?