It is interesting to notice how we all become the products of the environment we have lived for some time.
As far as I can remember, I only did Seva in the 'Shoe room' with my older brothers in India during the 3-day Gurupurab celebrations. My sisters did is in Langar hall. We used to clean all the shoes. We even used to be served Langar there.
In the diaspora, where self-service is mode de vie, the Shoe Seva has become obsolete. As a result, the self-service shoe room has become dirty because keeping it as a Seva has ceased to be the priority in the 'humility' list of Sikhi, perhaps.
Sock wearing in the Gurdwara is also the creation of the west as we use them all the time. This is not possible in the historic Gurdwaras in India because one has to wade through the water. Somehow, I take my socks off before sitting on the stage if I am sitting with them on in the Darbar Sahib.
I remember quite nitidly that my mum used to wear wooden clogs especially used for the kitchen. One can start doing that in the Gurdwara kitchens so the feet remain clean or any other comfortable shoes.
As far as carrying SGGS on a street, shoes should be mandatory for the safety of the SGGS and the pretence of 'washing' the streets whilst sprinkling water in the front should be banned too.
As far as I can remember, I only did Seva in the 'Shoe room' with my older brothers in India during the 3-day Gurupurab celebrations. My sisters did is in Langar hall. We used to clean all the shoes. We even used to be served Langar there.
In the diaspora, where self-service is mode de vie, the Shoe Seva has become obsolete. As a result, the self-service shoe room has become dirty because keeping it as a Seva has ceased to be the priority in the 'humility' list of Sikhi, perhaps.
Sock wearing in the Gurdwara is also the creation of the west as we use them all the time. This is not possible in the historic Gurdwaras in India because one has to wade through the water. Somehow, I take my socks off before sitting on the stage if I am sitting with them on in the Darbar Sahib.
I remember quite nitidly that my mum used to wear wooden clogs especially used for the kitchen. One can start doing that in the Gurdwara kitchens so the feet remain clean or any other comfortable shoes.
As far as carrying SGGS on a street, shoes should be mandatory for the safety of the SGGS and the pretence of 'washing' the streets whilst sprinkling water in the front should be banned too.
