Historic moment for Gisborne’s Sikh community: Celebration at temple opening

The Gisborne Sikh community have after a number of years of planning finally opened the first gurudwara, or temple, in Gisborne.

On Sunday April 14 the Sikh community (Sangat) came together in this historic moment and to celebrate Vaisakhi, Khalsa creation day.

This marks an extremely important celebration in Sikhism for all Sikhs around the world as it is commemorating the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji forming the Khalsa panth.

Gurudwara Sahib Gisborne was blessed to have a large gathering with some members of the Sikh community travelling from outside the region to share in the special occasion. There are approximately 150 Punjabi / Sikh families who live and work here. Every Sunday there will be Path, Gurbani Kirtan, Guru Ka Langar at Gurudwara Sahib Gisborne 7 Solander Street.

Path means reading of the holy texts from the Guru Granth Sahib ji, the holy scripture in Sikhism. The Guru Granth Sahib ji is treated as a living Guru and is a collation of many hymns, poems, shabads from the Sikh guru as well as other writings from many different scholars, including Hindu and Muslim writers. Every Guru Granth Sahib has 1430 pages, and every copy is identical.

Gurbani kirtan is also one of the important aspects of Sikhism that refers to the singing of the Sacred Hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib ji accompanied by music played on the harmonium and tabla.

Guru ka langar Langar is the communal meal shared by all who come to the gurudwara, and it has been a part of Sikh community life since the time of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev ji. Attendees all sit at an equal level on the floor and eat the same food. All food in a gurudwara is vegetarian.

The word khalsa means “pure”. Khalsas are Sikhs who have undergone the sacred Amrit ceremony initiated by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Khalsa baptism ceremony involves drinking of Amrit, in the presence of 5 Khalsa Sikhs as well as the Guru Granth Sahib ji.

A khalsa would give their life to protect the Sikh religion, stand for justice for all humanity no matter the caste, creed, religion or gender, standing for equality for all and that everyone has the right to be respected.