The first Gurudwara in Hon.....
The first Gurudwara in Hong Kong, called Sri Guru Singh Sabha was built in 1901, by the Sikh members of the British Army Regiment stationed in Hong Kong.
In the 1930's the number of Sikhs continued to grow and the Gurudwara was needed to be rebuilt for a larger Sangat (Sikh community). In the early 1940's during the Pacific war, the Gurudwara was bombed twice, sustaining extensive damage. In one of the attacks, the then Gurudwara Granthi (priest), Bhai Nand Singh, sitting in the main hall reading the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture), was fatally injured. However, the Guru Granth Sahib was not damaged. Many Sikhs and Non-Sikhs had sought refuge in the Gurudwara and some of them sustained injuries. After the war, the damaged areas of the Gurudwara were rebuilt by the Sikhs and the Non-Sikhs.
Again in 1980's the Gurudwara's main hall was extended and linked with Queens' Road East by a covered bridge, which provides easy access for the devotees. This project too, was funded by the Sikh's and the Non-Sikhs.
In 1999, it was found that the Gurudwara needed to be further extended again but this time the extension is far more significant and the whole project is going to take a few years to be completed which has just begun.
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Services
Khalsa Diwan Hong Kong provides many voluntary services both for Sikhs and Non-Sikhs. Voluntary service is a prominent part of Sikh religion. Illustrative models of voluntary service are organized, for imparting training, in the Gurduwaras (Sikh Temples). Its simple forms are : sweeping and plastering the floors of the Gurduwara, offering provisions to and rendering any kind of service in the common kitchen-cum-eating house, dusting the shoes of the people visiting the Gurduwara, etc.
Langar (Free meal) : Guru's Langar (kitchen-cum-Eating House). The philosophy behind the Guru's kitchen-cum-eating house is two fold : to provide training to the Sikhs in voluntary service and to help banish all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikhs minds. All human beings, high or low, and of any caste or colour may sit and eat in the Guru's kitchen-cum-eating house. No discrimination on grounds of the country of origin, gender, colour, caste or religion must be made while making people sit in rows for eating. However, only baptized Sikhs can eat off one plate
Medical Consultation : Every Saturday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. After consultation the doctor prescribes medication which is available from the pharmacies.
Kindergaten : There is a minimal fee's of about $200, but as in the form of donation.
Computer Classes : This service is for all ages.
Tuition Classes (Academic): This service is for the primary and secondary school students. Tuition is provided on subjects such as Mathematics, English and etc...
Punjabi Classes (Language): This service is for all ages but mainly for the kids. Punjabi (Gurmukhi) is the Sikhs mother tongue and the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji" is written in Gurmukhi. Therefore learning how to read and write is very critical for all Sikhs.
Gurbani Classes (Religious): This service is mainly for the grown up's who want to learn how to read and understand the meanings of the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji".
Music Classes (Traditional Music): This service is for all ages who want to learn how to play the traditional musical instruments such harmonium, tabla and etc... This traditional musical instruments are played when singing the Shabads (hymens) from the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji". Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is compiled in the form of poetry which can be both read and sang.
Gatka Classes (Martial Arts): This service is mainly for all ages. Gatka is the Sikh Martial Arts.
Library : There is variety of books, journals, periodicals and multimedia material on the Sikh religion and on other subjects.
Temporary Stay : This service is for tourists who have no where to stay in Hong Kong, for a certain period of time.