The Gurdwara & Langar
A Gurdwara (“door to the Guru”) is a Sikh place of worship. It is open to everyone — Sikh or not, from any religion or none.
How to spot a Gurdwara
Look for the Nishan Sahib — a tall flag pole with a triangular saffron (orange) or blue flag showing the Khanda symbol.
The Darbar Hall
This is the main hall where Guru Granth Sahib Ji sits on a throne. People sit on the floor together, listen to Kirtan (hymn singing) and pray.
Ardas & Karah Parshad
The service ends with Ardas, a standing prayer. Then everyone receives Karah Parshad, a sweet, warm pudding made of flour, butter and sugar, as a blessing.
Langar — the free kitchen
Every Gurdwara has a Langar, where free vegetarian food is served to anyone who comes. Everybody sits on the floor in rows together, so nobody is higher than anyone else.
Sri Darbar Sahib (the Golden Temple)
Sri Darbar Sahib (the Golden Temple), also called Harmandir Sahib, in Amritsar is the most famous Gurdwara in the world.
It sits in the middle of a sparkling pool called the Amrit Sarovar. Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered its upper floors with gold.
Its Langar is one of the biggest free kitchens on Earth — it can feed around 100,000 people on a busy day, and the food is cooked and served by volunteers.
Visiting a Gurdwara: a checklist
Tap each step to tick it off!