Welcome to The Sikh Gurudwara of South Winnipeg where visitors from all backgrounds are welcome regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender or any other distinction. This page is designed to help first-time visitors to learn some basic protocols of the Gurudwara.
The Gurudwara Sahib is a two-story building. The first floor features the lobby, bathrooms, and a Langar Hall. The second floor is the main Diwan Hall where the services are held.
The facility provides free parking and handicap access. Due to our growing congregation, we do encourage visitors to carpool to the Gurudwara.
Our main hall is equipped with projector screens that display English translation of the prayers. In Lobby, we have Digital Information LCD display where we usually display important information and Hukam Nama Sahib (Order of the day from Guru Granth Sahib) While everyone sits on the floor for the main services and the lunch, we do provide benches and chairs for the handicapped. Unfortunately, we do not provide wheelchairs. However, we do have wheelchair access to both the upper main hall and the Langar hall. Langar Hall and Main Diwan Hall relate to elevators as well.
If you have special needs, please inform us ahead of your visit.
Our Gurudwara is always open to visitors. However, since services are held mainly on Sundays, it is best to visit the Gurudwara on Sunday.
Please see the program page for the schedule.
Please dress comfortably when you visit the Gurudwara. Most visitors do wear their Sunday bests. However, we encourage comfort over looks. Please keep in mind that we do sit on the floor for our services. You will notice that most ladies wear traditional Indian dress while men dress more in western clothes. However, our non-Sikh visitors should know that the type of dress, colour or anything of that nature is of no significance. We do suggest to ladies, however, not to wear short skirts as sitting on the floor can be uncomfortable.
It is mandatory to keep one’s head covered while one is in the Gurudwara premises. Please consider bringing your own scarf or a shawl. If you do not bring one, we will provide you with one. We do not permit hats or caps.
A Gurudwara is the doorstep (dwara) of the Guru. All are welcome. As you enter the building, you will be asked to remove shoes/socks. The lobby has shoe racks on each side for shoes and bathrooms right next to each shoe rack. Please wash your hands before proceeding upstairs.
Visitors are welcome to have some snacks from the Langar Hall as needed.
Stairs angle up from either side of the ground floor to the Diwan Hall. As you head up, please be sure to silence your cell phone and or pagers. Please be sure that your head is covered with a scarf or a turban.
Once you are upstairs, you will be facing a stage with a Manji, a seat, in the centre. Over the Manji is a Chandoa, a canopy. A person is usually seated behind the Manji with a Chaor of fine white hair. All these items are suitable for the throne of a King. (See image above)
On the Manji is placed Guru Granth Sahib Ji. To an average person, Guru Granth Sahib Ji maybe a book. However, to the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib Ji is our God, our King, our saviour, and our guide all rolled into one. All of the pomp and show is to show devotion and respect.
We ask the visitors to approach the Guru respectfully. Bowing before the Guru is encouraged as Guru is not just of Sikhs but of all humankind. However, it is not a mandatory requirement for all. We do not wish for visitors of other faiths to feel uncomfortable.
After bowing, please seat yourself to either side. During the normal program, a Granthi Singh or another member of Sangat is on the stage singing the hymns that are taken directly from Guru Granth Sahib. There are two projector screens on either side of the hall so that the visitors can read the translations of the hymns being sung line by line. If you are familiar with the words, you are encouraged to sing along.
At the end of the program, there is a standing prayer led by a Granthi Singh. The entire congregation stands in attention with hands folded and facing the Guru Sahib. Once this standing prayer is completed, a response from Guru Granth Sahib is read aloud for all to hear. Again, the overhead projectors will display the Hukam, or Order, of Guru Sahib and its translation.
After the Hukam is read, Bhai Sahib takes a few moments to explain the Hukam in Punjabi, the native language of the Sikhs. And then a sweet is served, called Parshad, or “blessing," made of wheat flour, water, butter and sugar. We ask the visitors to accept the Parshad with both hands and refrain from putting it on the floor. Often, during the serving of Parshad, management makes a few announcements. Visitors are also introduced to the congregation either by themselves or by their hosts. Sometimes, representatives from different political parties allowed to introduce themself on the podium, but that does not mean that Gurudwara sahib endorses the policies of that political party.
Then the visitors are asked to have Guru ka Langar on the ground floor.
Please use the contact us page to Contact Our Organization and arrange a visit to the Gurudwara. A member of our Public Relations Committee will respond to you as soon as possible.
Thank you and we welcome your visit!