Gurdwara

The Gurdwara (also Gurudwara, Panjabi ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ gurdu'ārā or ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ gurdvārā, literally: "Gateway to the Guru ") is the prayer and school site of the Sikhs. In addition, the Gurdwara is mostly a social meeting place, open to all people.

The world's most important gurdwara is the Harmandir Sahib ( Golden Temple ) in Amritsar ( Punjab ). According to the distribution of the Sikhs there are most Gurdwaras in India, Pakistan, East Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom, but also on the European continent. In Germany, the Gurdwaras are, inter alia, in Augsburg, Berlin, Bremen, Duisburg, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg ( 3 ), Hanover, Iserlohn, Cologne ( 3), Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich (2 ), Nuremberg, Stuttgart ( 2) and Tübingen. In Switzerland there are in Grod and in Langenthal BE ever a Gurdwara.

Construction

Most Gurdwaras have the following components:

• The Langar, a dining hall for the community. Tables and chairs, it contains only a minority of Gurdwaras.
• The Darbar Sahib. It represents the center of the Gurdwara and houses the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. He usually combines several hundred believers who sit cross-legged on the carpeted floor.
• The Sach Khand. Here the Guru Granth Sahib is kept at night.
• Ancillary areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Larger Gurdwaras have sometimes sleeping quarters for overnight permanent believer.

Visiting a Gurdwara

The following rules apply:

• The consecrated spaces one enters with a head covering, if possible, no cap or hat, but a cloth. Most of which are in Gurdwara available.
• Off before entering the prayer room shoes.
• Strictly prohibited are stimulants! Inter alia Tobacco (cigarette / pipe), alcohol or other drugs.
• Prior to entering the Darbar Sahib wash your hands, and also the feet.
• If possible, sit cross-legged. Conveniently, you can also sit down, but you should never stretch their legs.
• Before Granth Sahib you do not have to kneel or bow. Also donations are freely selectable in magnitude and type. You also need not be provided.
• Is sat in approximate direction of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book.

As a visitor of Gurdwaras who does not know the rules of conduct, it is advised to consult a person familiar with the rules in directions. Finally, the Gurdwaras are not identical constructs, thus resulting in different ways. To meet as many Sikhs, you should - especially in Europe - visit the Gurdwara on Sundays.