A visit to Turramurra Gurdwara by Sri Om Care seniors
By Neena Badhwar
Sri Om Care seniors Pennant Hills group took a trip to Turramurra Gurdwara today on Monday, September 16, 2019. Gurdwara welcomed them with open arms and served morning tea, and snacks to start the day as congregation gathered by the team of Sri Om Care.
Harbir Pal Singh Bhatia from Turramurra Gurdwara started by first explaining to the mostly Hindu seniors the origin of Sikh religion which started by Guru Nanak Dev ji who was born exactly 550 years ago. This year Sikhs world wide are celebrating 550th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He explained that Sikh religion welcomes all, does not discriminate between religions, caste and creed, its basic tenement being that we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord, call Him, God, Bhagwan or Allah. “Every religion follows its own set of paths to reach God, we welcome people of all faiths to come to the Gurdwara, the gate of the Lord.”
“In our religion women have equal place along side men. They can do path, read the Guru Granth Sahib, do kirtan. They sit on one side and men on the other as per cultural practice and is not a religious practice. They can and do sit together as well if they wish to do so. Also inside the temple we cover our head as a mark of respect.”
He also explained, when reminded ,that the line ‘Raj karega khalsa, Aki rahe na koi’ – the word ”˜Aki’ at times is misconstrued as ‘Baki’, “By ”˜Aki’ we mean the ones who do not believe in the, love of God and universal brotherhood. Sikhs always pray ”˜Tere Bhane Sarbat ka Bhala’.”
“Till today we remember Guru Tegh Bahadur ji’s sacrifice and also the sacrifices made by Guru Gobind Singh ji and his sons. History is our witness to the sacrifices made by the Gurus to protect freedom to practice one’s faith.”
When approached by Pandits from Kashmir that they were being persecuted to forced conversions, Guru Tegh Bahadur said that a holy person should lead the protest against this practice. When brought to Delhi by the Mughal army and made to convert, Guru’s message was that everyone has a right to choose the way to pray the Almighty which is same for all. On refusing to accept conversion Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was martyred at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk where the Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib now stands. “
Soon the kirtan was started by Bhai Kulwinder Singh and his group who are visiting from Anandpur Sahib. As the kirtan continued the audiovisuals displayed the hymns in Punjabi with English translation. They sang Shabads one of which was ‘Qudrat de sab bande’ (we are the people of the nature) and the words followed: ‘There is nothing wrong with the clay pot neither the potter, that the ‘Lord resides in every one and speaks through every heart’.
“He is the unfathomable ocean.”
After the priest reading lines from Guru Granth Sahib, which the Sikhs revere as their last and the only Guru as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh ji, there was Ardaas and the congregation bowed their heads to the Holy Book and were offered prashad.
Downstairs all came to a simple hearty Guru ka Langar served by the volunteers. It was a nice pilgrimage for the Sri Om Care seniors to this Gurdwara which was established in Turramurra 40 years ago on Kissing Point Road, Turramurra. The talk afterwards among the members was that they will visit the Gurdwara more often.
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