Sikhism in Norway: Difference between revisions

There are about 5000 Sikhs in Norway with Oslo being the main centre for the bulk of the Sikh population. Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Gurdwara Sikh Sangat are both located in Oslo and are the main hub of the Sikhi activity in this country. Most of the Sikhs have only moved to Norway in the last 10 to 20 years.

The Sikh community is active in the political affairs of the country and several Sikhs have been appointed to key position in the local government. (see News items below). Many Sikhs are employed as professional in the medical field, engineering and technical services.

The Gurdwaras cater for the needs of Sikh in and around Oslo; Daily and weekly programs are held at the main Gurdwara, Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev located at Alnabru in Oslo. The facility include kirtan, prayers, sermons, Guru ka Langar, etc. A weekly diwan is the highlight of the Gurdwara's activity. Many youngsters visit the shrine regularly to attend workshops and lectures on Sikhism.

Gurdwaras & Organisations

• Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, Alna Bru, Oslo - This gurudwara has been built by the grace of WaheGuru by their shishas (sikhs) living abroad in Oslo and in another cites of Norway.

• Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Alnabruveien 3, post box 207, 0668 Oslo

• Telephone: 0047-22645272 Fax: 0047-22645250 email: [email protected] website: http://www.sikher.no/index.html

• Sikh Center And Gurdwara Organization, Norway

• Shri Guru Nanak Niwas Gurdwara Sahib Drammen

Interfaith Centre

In a document signing ceremony on 8 November 2001, an interfaith coalition composed of the major religious groups here, made a commitment to the principles of religious tolerance embodied in the Oslo Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The action was significant because of the diversity of religious groups that participated and committed themselves to upholding religious tolerance in Norway. 25 groups of different religious faiths that signed the Declaration, and they included religious organizations from a very wide range of perspectives. Ms. Thoresen, who was the head of the event's organizing committee said, "There were representatives of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, humanism and other groups, as well as various denominations within Christianity.

"This was really a very historic event because we've never had such a diversity of groups come together like this before," said Ms. Thoresen.

In the News

Punjabis foray into Norway MCs

Balwinder Kaur
Photo courtesy Oslo SV

Tribune News. Oslo, April 20, 2008

She covers her head with a ‘dupatta’ and uses several Punjabi phrases despite leaving Jalandhar for Europe 32 years back.

For 53-year old Balwinder Kaur, an ethnic Indian Member of the Oslo Commune (municipality), the work has just begun and there is a lot to do for “my community and Norway”, as she puts it.

“I came here with my family in 1980 after spending five years in UK since I left Jalandhar. Over the years, I saw more and more Indians coming here. Many of them faced various problems. So I decided to stand up for them,” Kaur, a schoolteacher by profession, told PTI. Elected in October last year, Kaur belongs to Socialist Left or ‘SV’ party.

For the 3,000-odd ethnic Indians in the capital and over 6,000 across this country, most of whom immigrated in the last decade or so, the representation levels in local bodies have also gone up during the same period.

“At least eight Indian-origin people have entered the local bodies in Norway’s different counties in the last few years. In all, seven of them are from Punjab and one is from Hyderabad.”

Seven Punjabis in Norway’s local bodies

WSN Network

OSLO: Thirty-two years back,Balwinder Kaur was a simple Punjabi woman, like thousands of her compatriots in Doaba, but had dreams, aspirations and understanding of the world around her. Last week, Balwinder Kaur was neck deep into work as an ethnic Indian member of the Oslo Commune (municipality).

A schoolteacher by profession, Balwinder was elected in October last year, and belongs to Socialist Left or ‘SV’ party which currently holds 15 out of 169 seats in the Norwegian Parliament and six out of 59 seats in the Oslo municipality.

For the 3,000-odd ethnic Indians in the capital and over 6,000 across this country most of whom immigrated in the last decade or so, the representation levels in local bodies have also gone up during the same period.

Now there are eight Indian-origin people in the local bodies in Norway’s different counties, and of them seven are Punjabis, the other being from Hyderabad. In fact the ‘Indian Welfare Society of Norway’ is led by a Sikh,Surjit Singh. However, there is no MP of Indian origin.

External links

• newswing.com Indians Stamped Victory in Norway State Polls
• sadapunjab.com Punjabi School Norway Celebrates it Annual Function
• Manvir Singh's blog
• sikher.no Sikhism in Norway
• THE OSLO DECLARATION on FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF bahai.org

Video

• YouTube Video of Vaisakhi celebration in Norway