Before going to the Gurdwara, most Sikhs shower or bath but there are sinks in the washing area so people can wash their hands. This shows respect and also cleanliness, another important part of Sikhism. Shoes are also removed prior to entering the Diwan Hall. This is for two reasons, most importantly to show respect for the Guru Granth Sahib and also to keep the carpets clean.
All Gurdwaras have a cooking and eating area. The Langar is a very important part of Sikhism. It is an honour to prepare the meal as it demonstrates Sewa (service to others), a thing Guru Nanak taught considerably. Everyone eats together, again to show equality, because when Sikhism was started the caste system was very strong and high caste people wouldn't eat with lower caste people, as they felt they were inferior and were paying for their sins in a previous life. The Gurus would not see people unless they accepted the fact that everyone is equal and joined in with the Langar. It also shows that God feeds physically as well as spiritually. Karah Pashad is shared, again to show equality and unity. It is sweet, to show God's sweetness and kindness. It also shows that no-one leaves the Guru's presence empty handed, either physically or spiritually.
b) What is the importance of the Gurdwara for Sikhism and the Sikh Community?
The Gurdwara is very important to Sikhism and the Sikhs who worship there. Since Guru Nanak set up the first Sikh community, Kartapur, in 1521, there has been a sort of Gurdwara for Sikhs to worship in. The original Gurdwara was Dhamsala, meaning place or seat to worship. In the mornings and evenings, Nanak's followers formed a congregation (Sangat) and sang hymns and said prayers. These began to be held in people's homes and eventually temples began to be built by the Gurus in the places that they visited and in places of special significance. These temples were what are now known as Gurdwaras.
The Gurdwara has played a large part in the development of Sikhism. To begin with, they were a place for the first followers of Sikhism to meet and share ideas. This allowed the religion to grow and develop. During times of persecution, Gurdwaras allowed people to meet up and talk about their beliefs. It also offered sanctuary to them from their persecutors. The Gurdwara also offers the chance for people to demonstrate some of the principles of Sikhism. For example, the Langar allows people to show their belief in equality and by serving in the Langar, Sewa (service to others) is practised. The fact people all sit together in the Diwan Hall again shows the Sikh teaching that everyone is equal. It also shows that those who visit the Gurus are nourished physically and spiritually. When the Guru Granth Sahib came into being, it gave Sikhs a place to keep it and hear people reading from it.
The Gurdwara is also very important to the Sikh Community. As well as letting them show equality and Sewa, the Gurdwara also offers support to people in their day to day lives, as it allows them to meet with other Sikhs, which would be especially helpful when Sikhs are in the minority of the community they live in. It also organises Punjabi lessons for the young people, which help them to understand the scriptures, if Punjabi is not their first language. It also gives the community a central focus point for celebrations, such as weddings, Khalsa instructions, and naming ceremonies and also for melas, such as Baisakhi and Gurpurbs. These give the Sikhs a sense of unity, as the whole community is involved in both the major events in someone's life and also involves them in the Gurdwara.
c) "It is not really necessary for a Sikh Community to have a Gurdwara"
In some ways, I do think that it is necessary for Sikhs to have a Gurdwara.
A Gurdwara is the place which contains the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This means that it is the main place of worship for Sikhs. At the same time it gives Sikhs a central meeting place where they can gather together. This is important because it gives Sikhs an opportunity to meet God, with support from other people who share their beliefs. These people can also offer support if someone has problems, for example, if others are prejudiced against them or if they had personal dilemmas. This gives Sikhs a sense of belonging, as the Gurdwara is run and paid for by the community which they are part of. The Gurdwara also gives Sikhism a sense of identity, as it clearly shows their belief in their faith. The fact it has the Nishan Sahib outside shows that Sikhs are proud of their faith. The Gurdwara is also a place where Sikhs can hold their festivals and rites of passage, another thing that involves Sikhs in the community. Many Gurdwaras teach Punjabi. This helps young Sikhs, born outside of India to understand the scriptures and also to remember their roots. Belonging to a Gurdwara gives Sikhs links to other Gurdwaras all over the world, reinforcing the idea of a large Sikh community which people can belong to.
On the other hand, in some ways I do not agree that Sikhs must have a Gurdwara. Guru Nanak said that Sikhs have three main responsibilities: - to remember God at all times and lead an ethical life (Nam Jappo), to earn an honest living and not be a burden to others (Kirat Karo) and to share one's wealth with others (Wund Chhako). All of these can be done without going to a Gurdwara, so it could be argued that Gurdwara isn't really part of Sikhism. Sewa (service to others) could be done anywhere and Guru Nanak also said that God is everywhere. When Guru Nanak was rebuked for sleeping with his feet towards the sacred Kabba in Mecca, because it was seen as disrespectful, he replied "Please turn my feet in a direction which the House of God is not". When his feet were turned in the other direction, the caretaker who had scolded him was astonished to find the Kabba in the same direction. Nanak said "You can now see that the House of God is in every direction. He dwells in every place." so therefore the Gurdwara is no more holy than anywhere else. The Guru Granth Sahib can be moved so people could meet at others' homes, which would still give a sense of community and keep the feeling of belonging.
In conclusion, I would say that a Gurdwara isn't really necessary to Sikhism, as everything which is done there could happen elsewhere, but I also think that a Gurdwara is a good thing to have as it gives the community a focal point in which many community events can happen in. It is also easier for things to be arranged for the community if they have a central base, which the Gurdwara provides.
