On Sunday I went to the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib with my friends and fellow interns, Melanie and Ross. I had seen pictures from the day before, when two other interns visited, but the scene that awaited us was a bit different. It had been quite and not crowded when the others went. We arrived to masses of people at the Gurdwara for a religious ceremony. I am not sure if it was a holy day or just that Sundays are the big day for going to worship in the Sikh faith.
Either way it was an incredibly cool experience. The architecture was beautiful, the people were warm and welcoming, and the ceremony we observed was fascinating. We waited in line under a canopy to enter the Gurdwara and then filed in the line up to the front, or rather the center. In the center of the Gurdwara there was a platform surrounded in gold and covered with a canopy. On the platform sat a man, who I assume was the leader of the ceremony. Off to the side were three musician-singers. The religious music they were making was beautiful to listen to.
When I finally reached the front of the line I took my cues from the others around me and prostrated myself in front of the fence that surrounded the platform area. I also made a donation as so many of the Sikhs were doing.
Not only was it fascinating to see and participate in the ritual – ritual studies was my focus in my undergraduate studies of religion – but it was fascinating to see a new type of temple. In studying religion it is inevitable that the symbolism and architectural choices when creating temples, churches, or any other kind of holy site are discussed. I’ve always found the choices that religious communities make about what their physical, spiritual space will represent very interesting. I’ve read that the golden domes featured on Gurdwaras are meant to represent an inverted lotus flower as a symbol of the pure life Sikhs aspire to lead. That to me is as interesting as the boat symbolism that is found in many churches to link back to Noah.
I’d like to go back when it’s quiet and not so busy to have the opportunity to speak to someone about the site and the Sikh faith as the others had been able to do. When they visited the day before us someone had approached them to talk about the Gurdwara and Sikhism. They came home with pamphlets and enthusiasm for the religion. I am very pleased to have witnessed the ritual, but I’d also like to learn more about what I saw. I think I will go to Amritsar one weekend so perhaps the opportunity will arise then.
As we left we encountered a man I assume is a Nihang – a member of the semi-official warrior-monk class of Sikhs. He was dressed in indigo robes and turban, an orange scarf, and carried a spear. We all took pictures with him. Speaking of pictures, Melanie and I had our photos taken with many families as we left as well. They were particularly keen for photos with us holding their babies. I think I was photographed holding five different babies! I was not prepared to be such a spectacle. I don’t mind in the least having my photo taken, or holding babies, but I never thought so many people would want their picture with me, or even to just say hello and shake my hand.
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