Going to Gurudwara Very First Time

Ps sorry to hear of your stroke. My grandfather suffered one many years ago.
*

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

Tanuki ji

I was scared too. It is OK to be frightened. Mata tek to Guru ji at the front of the sangat was particularly terrifying. So what I did I do? There are a lot of cultural issues involved and I took the western approach. (Though later I still feel foolish when I realized how western of me to do what I did.)

But it worked.

I found 2 people. One for gurdwara A and 1 for gurdwara B and asked them to help me with my first visit. I confessed a complete sense of being that "fish out of water." What do I do?

You don't need to read my whole story. But just this part. Contact someone at the gurdwara and ask to talk things through before you go.
Just see if a member of the management committee or the granthi would be willing to talk to you first when they can spare an hour during the week.Ask if there is someone who would be willing to partner with you for your first visit, go to langar with you, and introduce you to some people there that you can touch base with a second or third time around.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/new-to-sikhism/30372-going-to-gurudwara-very-first-time.html

I know that SPN forum member kaur-1 ji has done this many times for newbies at her gurdwara in UK.

The other thing that someone has already stated. You do not have to start by going when the gurdwara is packed on Sunday afternoon. That is intimidating. The first time I attended I kept stepping on my chunni everytime I did mata tek during prayers and strangled myself. I was sure that the whole room saw it and was laughing at me. In the end it did not matter.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372

So you can go in the evenings for rehras sahib. Maybe they even have an adult discussion group one night a week. If there is a schedule and you get to talk to someone ahead of time that will take a lot of pressure off.

Of course if you strangle yourself with your chuni you also need a sense of humor. You should also watch Sunday Gurdwara service on Sikhet on Sunday because that is a very good introduction. The shots are from an overhead camera so you can see the entire sangat and what is going on from that angle.

Keep us informed. Don't let life get the better of you.

Many thanks!

As I said in an earlier post, I have to be in Glasgow (which is where the Gurdwara is) on Monday, so if I could arrange to speak with someone then just to go over my worries, etc then that would probably help me a lot. I'll make a call and try and sort that. That;s the problem with them not having websites - you can't check for times, or classes, etc.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372

As I've said before too, I don't want to start going regularly and after three months or the like I'm still the 'wee guy in the corner'!

I have checked before for other people. Yes -- that gurdwara does not have a web site. Make sure to find out if they have a schedule posted or available to hand out. Easing into it at an evening service might be the way to go. If you get nervous just think of me and my chuni. You will be fine. You will enjoy it.

I'm getting an image now and it's making me smile, so I'll keep that in mind for when I go along!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372

I'm looking forward to it! You're always nervous first time you do something you've never done before. I'll just keep saying prayers to keep my attention off everyone else - mind you that's what I should be doing anyway!!8-)

SSA,
Tanuki Ji you will be just fine, most of us feel nervous when we do things for the very first time, i remember when i was 13 and i was asked to play the Tabla in the Gurdwara in front of a Sangat of over 200, i was terrified but when i got to play i cannot describe in words how good it felt and the peace i found. I will never forget that day it was probably one of the best experiances of my life as a kid. I wish you the very best.

Yeah, the stroke was definitely physically a big hassle. Still is, for that matter. However, in other ways it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

But that's a subject for another thread, I think.

Tanuki ji, you'll do just fine. Narayanjot ji really knows what she's talking about. At least you won't have to worry about choking yourself on your chunni! (In case you don't know, a chunni is a sort of scarf that women wear.)

Tanuki ji,

Guru Fateh.

You will enjoy this journey of yours as Gurdwara stands for "Portal of learning". If you happen to go to Glasgow, look for Parduman Singh Kohli in the phone book who has been living there for decades. He is from my hometown in Punjab called Ferozepore. He is a family friend and a very hospitable person. He will be a good guide to take you to the Gurdwara. One of his kids is a Policeman and the other one is a famous writer in the UK.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372

He knows me by the name of Teji Malik.

Please share your experience here with us.

Enjoy your journey.

Tejwant Singh

Tejwant Singh -

There are four Gurdwaras in Glasgow, so I may not meet that man personally. However, his children you speak of:

Hardeep is the writer. He is also a broadcaster, and you always see him on TV wearing his turban with a kilt. He's famous for wearing flamboyant colours such as a pink turban and kilt combo and the like. The man is hilarious.

I'm not sure who the policeman is, but he has another son, Sanjeev who is an actor here in Scotland. He is in one the best loved sit coms here called 'Still Game' about old men living on Glasgow scheme (housing estate). He plays Naveed, the corner shop owner. Again, like his brother he is a comedy genius!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30372

Thank you all for your kind words. I will keep you posted.