Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple

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The Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple

Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple is a gurdwara in the Wan Chai District of Hong Kong, on the junction of Queen's Road East and Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island.

History

The Gurdwara was built in 1901 by local Sikhs, including Sikhs soldiers from the British Army. This holy shrine functions in its role of providing religious, social, practical and cohesive support to generations of Sikhs in Hong Kong and continues to do so. It is also the center of Sikh community activities. The need for a proper Gurdwara was evident in the early days of Hong Kong and the government allocated land at Happy Valley for the building of the Gurdwara.

Many Sikhs on their way to immigrate to Canada, in what later became the Komagata Maru incident, slept in the Gurdwara and prayed there before boarding the ship in 1914.[1] In the 1930s, with an increase in the size of the local Sikh community, the Gurudwara was extended and rebuilt.

In the early 1940s, during World War II, the Gurdwara was bombed twice, sustaining extensive damage. The then Gurudwara Granthi (priest), Bhai Nand Singh, was sitting in the main hall reading the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture) when he was fatally injured in one of the attacks. However, the Guru Granth Sahib was not damaged. Many Sikhs and Non-Sikhs had sought refuge in the Gurdwara during the attack and some of them also sustained injuries.

After the war, the damaged areas of the Gurdwara were rebuilt by the Sikhs with help from Non-Sikhs as well including assistance of Sindhi Hindus. The Gurdwara was again extended in the 1980s, and linked to Queens’ Road East by a covered bridge, which provides easy access for the devotees.[2]

Role of the Temple in Hong Kong

Since 1841, the size of the Sikh community from the Punjab has grown along with Hong Kong from its infancy as a small fishing port to its present status as a world-class cosmopolitan city. The Gurdwara has co-existed peacefully and harmoniously with the local Chinese community for over a century. Sikhs have participated effectively in the development of Hong Kong and contributed actively to the society of Hong Kong. Sikhs were the first constables of the Hong Kong Police Force in 1844. They also served as civil servants, administration officers, officers of the disciplined forces, professionals, security guards, and in other essential services. Khalsa Diwan Hong Kong having witnessed struggles, war, development, political and social changes continues to perform its traditional functions dutifully by contributing to the religious needs and well being of Sikhs in Hong Kong.

New Building

Over the last few years, the congregation has increased considerably and it is getting very difficult to accommodate many of the services. After assessing the needs, the Managing Committee of the Sikh Temple decided to re-develop the present Langar area and appointed an Ad-Hoc Building committe. The New Building Management Committee is managing all aspects of this huge project.


Services provided

Khalsa Diwan Hong Kong provides many voluntary services both for Sikhs and Non-Sikhs. Voluntary service is a prominent part of Sikh religion. Illustrative models of voluntary service are organized, for imparting training, in the Gurduwaras (Sikh Temples). Its simple forms are : sweeping and plastering the floors of the Gurduwara, offering provisions to and rendering any kind of service in the common kitchen-cum-eating house, dusting the shoes of the people visiting the Gurduwara, etc.

  • Langar (Free meal) : Guru's Langar (kitchen-cum-Eating House). The philosophy behind the Guru's kitchen-cum-eating house is two fold : to provide training to the Sikhs in voluntary service and to help banish all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikhs minds. All human beings, high or low, and of any caste or colour may sit and eat in the Guru's kitchen-cum-eating house. No discrimination on grounds of the country of origin, gender, colour, caste or religion must be made while making people sit in rows for eating. However, only baptized Sikhs can eat off one plate
  • Medical Consultation : Every Saturday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. After consultation the doctor prescribes medication which is available from the pharmacies.
  • Kindergaten : There is a minimal fee's of about $200, but as in the form of donation.
  • Computer Classes : This service is for all ages.
  • Tuition Classes (Academic): This service is for the primary and secondary school students. Tuition is provided on subjects such as Mathematics, English and etc...
  • Punjabi Classes (Language): This service is for all ages but mainly for the kids. Punjabi (Gurmukhi) is the Sikhs mother tongue and the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji" is written in Gurmukhi. Therefore learning how to read and write is very critical for all Sikhs.
  • Gurbani Classes (Religious): This service is mainly for the grown up's who want to learn how to read and understand the meanings of the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji".
  • Music Classes (Traditional Music): This service is for all ages who want to learn how to play the traditional musical instruments such harmonium, tabla and etc... This traditional musical instruments are played when singing the Shabads (hymns) from the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji". Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is compiled in the form of poetry which can be both read and sang.
  • Gatka Classes (Martial Arts): This service is mainly for all ages. Gatka is the Sikh Martial Arts.
  • Library : There is variety of books, journals, periodicals and multimedia material on the Sikh religion and on other subjects.
  • Temporary Stay : This service is for tourists who have no where to stay in Hong Kong, for a certain period of time.


External links


References

  1. ^ Pioneer Sikh East Indian Immigration to the Pacifc Coast from the Punjab http://www.sikhpioneers.org/s_komaphot.html Sikh Pioneers Retrieved 6 July 2013
  2. ^ KHALSA DIWAN (HONG KONG) http://www.khalsadiwan.com/about.htm Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple Retrieved 6 July 2013