Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis
10950 Southeast Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46239
(317) 862-SIKH
(317) 862-7454
www.indianapolisgurdwara.org
Email Sikh Satsang of
Indianapolis
Institutional History/Information
The Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis was built in 1999. This
Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, contains has a couple of significant
architectural components. It has a diwan hall, which is a large,
open room designated for worship by the members of the
congregation. It also has a langar hall. This is a place where
strictly vegetarian food is served. Though Sikhism does not reject
the idea of eating meat, vegetarian fare is served in order to
accommodate the variety of people from different backgrounds that
come to worship at the Gurdwara. This hall helps to promote a sense
of communal familiarity amongst the ever increasing Sikh population
and was instituted early on by the Sikh community as a way of
undermining the caste system (because of which individuals from
different castes would often not eat together). The temple also
includes a library, which contains an assortment of books on
different aspects of Sikhism, a kitchen in which the food is
prepared for the meals in the langar hall, and a playground for the
younger Sikh members of the congregation.
The temple was established to accommodate the increasing Sikh
community in Indianapolis. In recent years, Indianapolis has become
a popular location for Sikhs to live and work. The congregation
started with roughly 50 families, and today serves over 1,000
active members. Many anticipate that the community will continue to
increase in the coming years. Most of the community's members are
Punjabi. The Punjab is a region on the border of India and
Pakistan. However, the community is very accepting of people of any
ethnicity or religious affiliation. The temple offers classes in
Punjabi, the native language of Punjab, to aid the non-Punjabi
congregants in getting as much out of the service as possible.
Service Style
Sikhs worship usually once a week, although the more devout Sikh
is sure to recite passages from the Guru Granth Sahib daily. Many
Sikh families also have rooms to enshrine the Guru Granth Sahib
within their homes. At the Gurdwara there are many different types
of events, such as Punjabi classes, langar, and of course, worship.
The Sikh religion comes from the Indian state of Punjab where the
native language is Punjabi, and because many Sikhs were raised in
America (where Punjabi is of course not the norm), it is necessary
to reinforce the language. All of the services are conducted in
Punjabi as well as many of the social conversations that take place
during Langar. Langar is a free, vegetarian meal served to everyone
at the Gurdwara while they sit as equals.
The worship services take place in a large room covered by white
carpet. All are welcome to enter, even non-Sikhs, but it is
required that one cover one's head. The majority of Sikhs arrive in
traditional Punjabi dress, but it is not uncommon to see several
wearing western clothes. All who enter approach the altar with an
offering of money and bow to their knees and touch their heads to
the floor. The altar contains a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib.
In times of joy or hardship, the community will sponsor a
cover-to-cover reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which takes around
48-72 hours. This ritual is called Akhand Path. After the reading
has finished, the congregation throws flower petals on the altar
and the Bhog ceremony begins. The Bhog ceremony consists of singing
accompanied by traditional Indian instruments such as the
harmonium. Finally, the leaders pick a passage from the Guru Granth
Sahib at random and read it aloud. This particular passage is said
to be chosen by God. During the service, men and women sit on
opposite sides of the room. Both men and women sit on the floor
throughout the service but everyone stands on occasion.
Demographics
Most Indianapolis Sikhs were born in India, but many of the
youth were born in the United States. Many of the people at the
Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis moved from California within the last
three years. The move was due mainly to the availability of jobs.
But Indianapolis was also attractive to them because of its
thriving economy and exceptional education system. Before the
recent influx of Sikhs to Indianapolis, the Sikh Satsang has only
fifty families. Sikhs now estimate that there are four times that
number of Sikhs in the area. The Sikhs seem to be very family
oriented; therefore there are old people as well as young children
at services. There was also an equal number of men and women. Many
of the Indian restaurants in Indianapolis are owned by Sikhs. These
businesses are very profitable. However, Sikhs have been successful
in a large number of professions since residing in
Indianapolis.
What to Expect
Upon entering the Sikh Temple, guests must remove their shoes
and cover their head. It is not necessary to bring a head cover, as
there is a box of them at the door. However, if a visitor would
feel more comfortable, he or she may bring a bandana or other type
of scarf. The visitor should dress in nice clothing, such as khakis
and a collared shirt, but many Sikhs, particularly males, wear
jeans and tee-shirts. Most Sikh women wear traditional clothing,
which consists of a long tunic of different bright colors, and
pants. The first thing to do upon entering the main worship area is
to walk to the front and bow at the altar. Bowing is done by
getting on the knees, and putting the head on the ground in front
of the knees, with arms tucked into the stomach. Hands are placed
on the ground near the chin. There are separate sides for males and
females to sit on. When looking at the altar, males should be on
the right side, and females on the left. There are no chairs in the
temple, so the visitor should be prepared to sit on the ground with
legs crossed.
During the service, many people will enter and exit the room of
worship. Many people that assemble for worship do not participate
much in the service. Many mouth along with the songs and prayers,
but this is not required of the visitor, as the service is
conducted in Punjabi. There are moments when the worshipers stand
and then bow, or throw flower petals at the altar. The service is
divided into different parts, but it is difficult to tell where one
part ends and the other begins. That said, the service can last a
long time. The start of the service is around 9:30-10am, and it can
last until 1:30pm.
Following the service is a lunch. With shoes still off and heads
covered, the guests enter the langar hall where there are no
chairs. Everyone sits down in rows on the floor and enjoys a meal.
Following this, the service is officially over. For more
information regarding the Gurdwara Sikh Temple, the website is an excellent
resource. Here, one can find driving directions, address, and a
phone number. It might be difficult to call ahead, but it is fine
to show up early. Someone will be there to orientate the
visitor.