The Gurdwara (Temple)

Attire: This is a religious ceremony and you will be sitting on the floor for the duration of it so please dress accordingly. For women that are not wearing Indian outfits, please dress conservatively (no spaghetti straps or bare legs) and for men, no hats or shorts.  Before entering the main prayer hall inside the temple, everyone must take off their shoes and cover their heads.Men and Women have separate rooms in which to leave their shoes during the ceremony. They are located on either side of the Gurdwara’s foyer.

Ladies use the head scarf that comes with an Indian suit (or any other) to cover their heads as shown below. Men use a ramal (bandana) to cover your head and tie at the base of your head, also shown below. The families will be handing out ramals before the ceremony; however, if you do not get one, there are extras provided by the Gurdwara. Please make sure to return these before you leave.

Prayer Hall:  Below is a typical view of any Gurdwara’s main prayer hall and what you will see when you enter. The entire congregation sits on the floor facing the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book), men and women on seperate sides of the aisle.

At the end of the walkway is a grand structure that houses the Guru Granth Sahib. In front of the Guru Granth Sahib, there is a large donation box. It is customary to donate a small offering ($0.25 -$1.00) then kneel on the ground and touch your  forehead to the floor as a sign of respect (just follow the person in front of you). You are now ready to be seated!