First visit to a Gurdwara!!

Ishna · #1 (**permalink**) 28-Jul-2006, 09:46 AM

Oh I'm so excited! This Sunday I'm going on my first ever visit to a Gurdwara!

*jumps around*
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/new-to-gurdwara/14072-first-visit-to-a-gurdwara.html

I'm so nervous! I e-mailled the Gurdwara, and I've arranged with someone there to meet me. He's taking a chunni for me to wear and is going to show me how to wear it. It probably sounds lame that I don't know how, but I've never even been much of a scarf person in general. It's sort of embarrising.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14072

I'm also concerned about my clothes. The man said in the email that I can wear loose jeans... one of my housemates says, "Well, those jeans you're wearing are a bit tight," while the other says, "Yeah, but they're also loose..." so I hope they're okay.

To be on the safe side I went shopping for a nice long shirt that would reach down below my butt... I only found one and it was really tight and uncomfortable. I did find one at home that I forgot I had, but it's got a fairly wide neck. I hope that's not going to be a problem. I'm counting on the chunni covering my neck and stuff.

I'm not so concerned really... I mean it's my first visit, hopefully I'll get a better idea of what to wear after seeing the other ladies there.

*takes a few deep breaths*

OH!! And I'm terrified of approaching Sri Guru Granth Sahib... I mean I desperatly want to, I'm drawn to the idea... but I don't want to giggle, and I've never really bowed at anything... and what's this I hear about prostrating? I mean I don't have a problem with that, but I've never done it before!!

Aaahhh!!! *hides under her desk until Monday*

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And thus concludes the insane, nervously excited ramblings of your resident Aussie noob to Sikhi.

Oh I forgot!! I hope the langar isn't very spicy!!! *hyperventilates*

Arvind · #2 (**permalink**) 28-Jul-2006, 20:10 PM

Dear Ishna,

Your writing brought tears to my eyes. Reason: with the excitement, fear and LOVE, you are looking forward to see Guru Sahib, this longing is very inspirational.

Looking forward to chunni reminded me the day I wore my turban for the first time. I so much wanted to do it, and was feeling so good and tried to show off - look at my turban... and still better.. give some nice Comments.. LOL

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14072
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14072

Only thing which comes to my mind which I want to tell any visitor is - Do not start judging Guru Sahib or Dharma by looking at people (sometimes they are exact opposite of the teachings), just see what wonders those teachings could bring, and have brought already.

Gurbani - Dhur ki Bani

Please share your experience after your visit.

Sincerely, Arvind.

Ishna · #3 (**permalink**) 30-Jul-2006, 11:50 AM

Hi Arvind,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm home now from my first visit! I'll share the experience with you.

I got there early, before many people were there. In fact I was one of the first in the darshan hall. But when I first arrived I went to meet the guy I who was expecting me, only it turned out he was actually a SHE! I didn't know the name "Balbir" was unisex! Hahaha

Anyway, she gave me a chunni/dupatta to wear, just a short one so it would be easier to manage, showed me where to wash my hands and then took me upstairs to the darshan hall.

And I kinda messed up. *blush* But I know what to do next time!

But the hall was absolutely beautiful! And the... erm.. palki?... where Sri Guru Granth Sahib JiJ was was decorated with pretty embroidered sheets of cloth. The place where you put your money wasn't directly in front of where you bow, which I was expecting. Instead there were two recession-sort of things to either side.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14072

Anyway, instead of taking me up the middle and showing me how to bow, Balbir showed me the room and took me straight over to where the kirtan is sung (she was performing today) and got me to sit down while she went to bow and stuff.

Anyway, after a little while the people started coming in and continued to come in for the next two and a half hours until Sri Guru Granth Sahib JiJ was taken away.

One man accidently came in without a rumaal and one of the kirtanees got up and ran over to him. He looked so embarrissed.

The entire service was in Punjabi with the only English being a translation of the hukamnama. So I barely understood a word of it, but it was still good.

Good also was the prashad!!!

After that of course we had langaar where Balbir introduced me to some of her relatives, girls around my age and we chatted and ate and exchanged details and yeah.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14072

All in all a positive experience and I will be going back.

However. There always has to be a "however".....

I was one of three women wearing western clothes. I felt very out of place. Balbir and the girls I met spoke to me separately about obtaining a salwaar kameez, which are beautiful garments and I would indeed like to get one. I'm sure I'd feel more comfortable at gurdwara, and one of the girls assured me that it wouldn't be seen as "pretentious".

Oh and as far as I could tell I was one of two westen women to attend....

And that is about all I can think of to say about the whole thing right now. I was suprised at how many men are shaven, but I was equally suprised at the number of men wearing dastaars.

If anything else comes to mind then I'll let you know!