Saturday, July 11, 2015

Our visit to a Sikh Temple

On Tuesday June 30th we visited the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara and Sikh Temple in Leicester.
We covered our heads, removed our shoes, washed our hands and were ready to be shown round the temple.
We saw morning prayers and on Tuesdays there are singers and musicians playing whilst people give their offerings to the Guru Granth Sahib.The Guru Granth Sahib is kept under a special canopy in the Gurdwara.
As the scriptures are being read, the reader or an attendant will periodically wave a chauri over the scriptures. This is a sign of respect for the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib which is treated like a living Guru or teacher.




 Prashad, the sacred pudding of Sikhism, is made from equal parts of butter, sugar and flour. This delicacy is served as a sacramental offering during Sikh worship services. Here those who wanted to try some are collecting the offering.



Most enjoyed it, if we did not like it then it was collected from us to be fed to the birds and the fishes- so nothing was wasted.

We then explored the museum and saw lots of rather gory paintings- depicting the battles that happened to the Guru's over the years.

Ethans head covering came undone so he was shown how to turn it into a turban-this then lasted the rest of our visit.

Looking at the 5 K's -the Sikh Symbols.

Some models of Sikh  temples from around the world.




                                             Learning more about the Sikh religion and beliefs.
asking and answering any questions

The 5 K's - we knew them all.

  • Kesh (uncut hair)
  • Kara (a steel bracelet)
  • Kanga (a wooden comb)
  • Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear)
  • Kirpan (steel sword)


Being shown the  Kirpan

Looking ( but not inside as it was a sacred place) where the Guru Granth Sahib 
 rests-its like a 5 star bedroom complete with air conditioning.
Refreshemnst served in the Langar Hall.Food is cooked by the members of the community and served by members of the community, to all people at the Gurdwara. The idea is to demonstrate equality of all people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or race.

sitting on the floor and sampling the curries

rice - sweet like a pudding as we found out



water to drink

everyone tried something




some rather liked the rice 

We were made to feel very welcome .




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