GURUDWARA
The Sikh Place Of Worship“The Gateway Through Which the Guru Can Be Reached”
Quick facts
| Name meaning | Gur (Guru) + Dwara (Gateway) — “The gateway through which the Guru can be reached” |
| First Gurudwara | Built in Kartarpur, on the banks of the Ravi River, Punjab — by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in 1521 |
| Original name | Dharamsala — used during the time of the early Gurus |
| Name introduced by | Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru |
| Religious status given by | The presence of the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book) inside |
| Open to | Anyone of any faith — all are welcome at all times |
| Managed by | A committee of the local Sikh community |
| No. of entrances | Four doors — one on each side, open to all |
WHAT IS A GURUDWARA
Any place where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed and treated with due respect qualifies as a Gurdwara. During the time of the early Gurus, Sikhs called their places of worship dharamsalas — gathering places where the community could hear the Guru speak or sing hymns in praise of Waheguru.
As the Sikh population grew, Guru Hargobind — the sixth Sikh Guru — introduced the word ‘Gurdwara’. Guru Nanak Dev Ji built the first Gurdwara in 1521 at Kartarpur, on the banks of the Ravi River in Punjab. The term itself comes from ‘Gur’ (Guru) and ‘Dwara’ (gateway in Gurmukhi) — together meaning ‘the gateway through which the Guru can be reached’. Consequently, all Sikh places of worship have since carried this name.
Within a Gurdwara, the Guru is not a person but the sacred book of Sikh scripture — the Guru Granth Sahib. It is the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib that gives a Gurdwara its religious status, meaning any building that houses the Holy Book becomes a Gurdwara.
THE PURPOSE OF A GURDWARA
- It’s a place to learn spiritual wisdom
- It’s a place for religious ceremonies
- It’s a place where children learn the Sikh faith, ethics, customs traditions and texts
- A Gurdwara is also a community centre, and offers food, shelter, and companionship to those who need it.
Gurdwaras are managed by a committee of their community.
INSIDE THE GURDWARA
A Gurdwara contains no idols, statues, or religious pictures — Sikhs worship only God, whom they regard as having no physical form. Additionally, there are no candles, incense, bells, or any other ritualistic objects.
In the main hall — the Darbar Sahib — the sole focus of reverence is the Guru Granth Sahib, the book of Sikh scripture. Sikhs treat it with the same respect they would offer a living human Guru. Each night, the Granthi places the Guru Granth Sahib in a room of its own, then carries it in procession to the main hall at the start of the day’s worship.
During services, the book rests on a raised platform — the Takht or Manji Sahib (meaning ‘throne’) — beneath a canopy called a Chanani or Palki. An attendant waves a whisk or fan called a Chaur over it throughout the service. When not in use, an expensive cloth covers the scripture. Importantly, the reverence Sikhs show is directed at its spiritual content — the Shabad — not the physical book itself.
THE FOUR DOORS
There are four doors into a Gurudwara — one on each side of the building. They are a powerful symbol that people from all four points of the compass are welcome, and that members of all castes are equally welcome. There is always a light on inside a Gurudwara, to show that the Guru’s Light is always visible and accessible to everyone at any time.
Door of Peace
A place of rest and spiritual calm, open to all who seek refuge.
Door of Livelihood
Honouring honest work and the dignity of earning a living.
Door of Learning
A place of education — spiritual, ethical and scriptural.
Door of Grace
God’s grace is freely available to all who enter with humility.
Nishan sahib
The Nishan Sahib is a triangular Sikh flag made from cotton or silk, with a tassel at its end. The name means ‘exalted ensign’, and Sikhs hoist it on a tall flagpole outside most Gurdwaras. The flagpole, wrapped in fabric, is topped with a two-edged dagger — the Khanda.
The emblem on the flag carries the same name — Khanda — and consists of three elements: a double-edged sword in the centre, a circular Chakkar, and two single-edged swords (Kirpans) flanking either side. At the heart of the emblem, the double-edged sword represents the Creative Power of God — the Sovereign Power over life and death. Furthermore, each edge carries its own meaning: one symbolises divine justice that confronts oppressors, and the other symbolises freedom governed by moral and spiritual values.
khanda
| Double-edged sword (Khanda) | Represents the Creative Power of God that controls the destiny of the universe. One edge = divine justice; the other = freedom governed by moral values. |
| Chakra (Circle) | Symbol of the all-embracing Divine Manifestation — without beginning or end, timeless and Absolute. A symbol of oneness, justice, humanity and immortality. |
| Sword of Piri (left) | The Sword of Spiritual Sovereignty — representing the Guru’s spiritual authority. |
| Sword of Miri (right) | The Sword of Political Sovereignty — representing temporal power. Both Piri and Miri must always be in balance. |
VISITING A GURDWARA
In India many Sikhs visit a Gurdwara before work. In Britain 39% of Sikhs go once a week, and while Sikhs do not regard any particular day of the week as a holy day, they usually go to a Gurdwara on Sundays as that fits the UK pattern of work.
Most Sikhs go to the Gurdwara on Gurpurbs, the festivals honouring the Gurus.
Anyone, of any faith, can visit a Gurdwara and will be made welcome.
BEFORE GOING INTO A GURDWARA
All visitors to the Gurdwara should remove remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the main hall. It is forbidden to smoke or take tobacco on to the premises and visitors cannot enter the Gurdwara while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
ON ENTERING A GURDWARA
Upon entering, Sikhs bow to the Guru Granth Sahib — touching their forehead to the floor. This act expresses both deep respect and a willing surrender to the truths held within the scripture.
Worshippers also place an offering of food or money before the Guru Granth Sahib. These offerings fund the running of the Gurdwara and its free food kitchen, the Langar. Importantly, the offering is not charity — it is a sharing of God’s gifts. Anyone without food or money to give is welcome to offer flowers, or simply words of sincere gratitude.
After bowing, a Sikh greets the congregation quietly with the words:
Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa,
Sri Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh.
The Khalsa owes allegiance to God,
sovereignty belongs to God alone
SEATING IN A GURDWARA
Everyone sits on the floor in a Gurdwara. This is to be humble before the Guru Granth Sahib and because it gives everyone a place of equal status to sit. Most people sit cross-legged. Cushions and seats are not allowed.
No-one should sit with their feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib. Anyone who walks round the Guru Granth Sahib or the Gurdwara must do so in a clockwise direction.
Men and women generally sit on separate sides of the hall
SACRED FOOD IN THE GURDWARA
Towards the end of a service karah prasad, a sweet vegetarian food that has been blessed, will be served. This should be taken and received in cupped hands as a gift of God
A GURDWARA SERVICE
Sikhism has no ordained priests — any Sikh can lead prayers and recite scripture to the congregation. However, each Gurdwara appoints a Granthi to organise daily services and read from the Guru Granth Sahib. A Granthi is not a priest but a reader and custodian of the scripture. They must read Gurmukhi fluently and receive full training in the care of the Guru Granth Sahib. Furthermore, the Granthi must be an initiated Khalsa member who lives by the ideals of the Khalsa.
Sikhs follow no fixed general liturgy in the Gurdwara, although specific ceremonies do have their own rules and structure.
KIRTAN
Kirtan is the singing of Gurbani — the sacred hymns of the Guru Granth Sahib — and is considered one of the highest forms of devotion in Sikhism. It is performed in every Gurdwara in the world, every day, without exception.
Professional musicians called Ragis perform the hymns using traditional instruments — the harmonium (a hand-pumped keyboard instrument), the tabla (a pair of hand drums), and the traditional sarangi (a bowed string instrument). The congregation sits on the floor and listens, or joins in singing, with heads covered as a mark of respect.
Certain ragas are sung in the early morning, others at sunset, and others late at night. This connection between music, time and devotion gives Kirtan a living, breathing quality that changes through every hour of the day.
SERMON
A sermon or talk, usually based on a theme from Sikh history, comes next. This is followed by the singing of Anand Sahib, a hymn written by Guru Amar Das, the Third Guru.
ARDAS
The congregation then stands with eyes closed facing the Guru Granth Sahib for prayer (Ardas). During the prayer the word Waheguru (Punjabi for ‘praise to the Guru’) is often repeated.
HUKAM
After the prayer, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at a random page and the hymn found at the top of the left-hand page (Vak or Hukam) is read. The text is considered to be a relevant lesson for the day.
THE CEREMONIAL FOOD: PARSHAD
After the service, food is offered to the congregation. This consists of Parshad and a more substantial meal in the Langar. Parshad is a sweet made from equal quantities of wheat flour, sugar, and clarified butter.
The first five portions are given to Khalsa members in memory of the Panj Pyares (the first five members of the Khalsa). After that parshad is served to everyone without distinctions of rank or caste.
THE FREE FOOD KITCHEN: LANGAR
Every Gurdwara operates a Langar — a free kitchen that serves food to anyone, without charge. The word Langar also refers to the communal meal itself.
All food prepared in the Langar must be simple. This prevents wealthier congregations from turning it into a display of status. Additionally, only vegetarian food is served, ensuring that visitors of any faith — regardless of their dietary requirements — can eat alongside the community.
A typical Langar meal includes chapati, dal (pulses), vegetables, and rice pudding. Fish and eggs are treated as meat and are therefore not served.
