Guru Nanak Sikh Society
1911 Hobart Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 786-2331
Institutional History/Information
In May 1994 at its founding, the gurudwara (Sikh place of
worship) was a residential home. The home was demolished in 2000
and the current larger building was constructed to accommodate
growing numbers in the community. Additional property was purchased
in 2007 to further the expansion of the gurudwara. The diwan hall
is large enough to hold around 500 sangat, or members. The langar
hall is housed in the basement of the facility. There is a full
kitchen located in the langar hall, equipped with all the necessary
elements to prepare large quantities of food. The most recent
additions to the temple include a spacious hall attached to the
original langar hall. This new room was built to accommodate the
growing number of patrons in Indianapolis. There are also plans to
construct a special room to house the Adi Granth within the diwan
hall.
Followers of Sikhism greatly value community service. They
respect the beliefs and opinions of others and reach out to people
in their community regardless of religious background. This can be
seen in their practice of serving langar meals to any visitor who
comes to the gurudwara to observe their worship services.
Service Style
Sikh services are informal and worshippers usually come and go
at their own leisure. Upon entering the room of worship, which is
called the diwan hall, adherents approach the altar with an
offering of money or food. When they reach the altar, they bow down
on their knees and put their heads to the ground, before rising and
having a seat on the white sheets covering the carpet. The service
is primarily led by a group of musicians who sit on a platform on
the side of the altar. Throughout the service, this group chants
sacred prayers accompanied by various instruments. During this time
of musical chanting, the priest is available for individual
conversation at the front of the room to explain the content and
meaning of the prayers. However, at one point during the service,
the priest himself stands to offer a sermon, along with various
prayers and chants. The service is primarily conducted in Punjabi,
one of the many languages spoken throughout India, and the mother
tongue of most Sikhs (especially those in India). Women and men sit
on different sides of the diwan hall with their legs crossed,
leaving an aisle open in the center for additional worshippers to
enter and exit throughout the service.
A special room in the gurudwara is designated to house the Adi
Granth, the principle sacred text of the Sikh faith, which is
treated as an honored guest. Although the book is kept in this room
when services are not in session, during services, the text is
displayed on a specially decorated altar in front of the
congregation. The book is treasured by the members of the temple,
who take turns sitting behind the book, praying over it and
protecting it from dust or other impurities throughout the service.
This is done by waving a chauri, or a duster made of animal hair
over the book. It is important not to show any disrespect toward
the book by offering unclean gestures, such as sitting with ones
feet pointed in the direction of the sacred text.
Towards the end of the service, a sweet, dough-like food known
as karah prasad is taken from the altar and shared by the entire
congregation, signaling the conclusion of the service.
Demographics
Many middle-aged Sikhs in Indianapolis migrated directly from
India; though many also migrated from California. Most of the
children had been born in North America. Many Sikhs are moving from
larger cities around the continent to Indianapolis. The ratio of
men and women at the temple was relatively equal, and there was a
diverse age range amongst the congregation.
Sikhs are open minded and willing to share their beliefs with
others in the community. They believe that all people should follow
an individual path that God has chosen for them, whether it be
Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, etc. The Guru Nanak Sikh Society is
currently planning to hold discussions and events promoting
interfaith relationships with other religious groups in the
community.
What to Expect
Upon entering the gurudwara, guests are expected to remove their
shoes and place them on the provided racks. After this, members
wash their hands and cover their heads with a scarf or a bandana.
Head-coverings are not provided at the temple, so it is important
to remember to bring one. The dress for men is relatively casual,
mostly consisting of jeans or khakis and a collared shirt. Most
women wear traditional Indian clothing, including long, beaded
shirts and embellished head scarves. However an outfit of khakis
and a blouse is a perfectly acceptable alternative.
Guests should proceed down the hallway towards the langar hall,
or kitchen, from 10:30-11:30 on a Sunday morning, where a large
breakfast is prepared by one family and served to anyone who comes
to the temple. After breakfast, members go upstairs to the diwan
hall, where the worship service is in progress. Although there is
not a specific time limit for the service, a typical service will
last approximately three hours. At the conclusion of the service,
the congregation returns to the langar hall, where a family has
prepared a large lunch consisting of authentic Indian food. The
langar room is filled with long narrow rugs on which people sit
cross-legged to eat their meals. Each week one family goes to the
gurudwara to prepare langar meals for the entire congregation. One
of the three daily prayers recited by Sikhs is that no person
should go hungry. The sharing of langar meal demonstrates this
belief. All of the food shared during the langar meal is served
from one community pot. All members eat from the same original
dish, representing the abolition of the caste system, a key belief
of Sikhs. After lunch, members disperse. Plan on spending a total
of four and a half to five hours at the gurudwara, and on being
warmly welcomed!