Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple

Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple is a Gurdwara in the Wan Chai District of Hong Kong, on the junction of Queen's Road East and Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island.

Khalsa Diwan Sikh Gurudwara
ਖਾਲਸੇ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂਦਵਾਰਾ
Alternative namesGurdwara
General information
TypeGurdwara
LocationWan Chai District
Address371 Queen's Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
CountryHong Kong
Estimated completion1901
Opened1901
Inaugurated1901
Renovated1930s
1980s
2019
CostHK$170 million
Renovation costNo rent required
ClientSikh Community and Sindhi Community in Hong Kong
OwnerSikh Community and Sindhi Community in Hong Kong
Technical details
Floor count2
Lifts/elevators1
Other information
Number of rooms3
Parking1
Website
Official website
Hong Kong Sikh temple
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese香港錫克廟
Simplified Chinese香港锡克庙
Wanchai Sikh temple
Traditional Chinese灣仔錫克廟
Simplified Chinese湾仔锡克庙
Punjabi name
Punjabiਖਾਲਸੇ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂਦਵਾਰਾ
The Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple; Right: Sign showing the way to Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple

History

The Gurudwara was built in 1901 by local Sikhs, including soldiers from the British Army, with the intent of providing religious, social, practical and cohesive support to Sikhs in Hong Kong. Many Sikhs on their way to immigrate to Canada, in what later became the Komagata Maru incident, slept in the Gurudwara and prayed there before boarding the ship in 1914.[1] In the 1930s, with an increase in the size of the local Sikh community, the Gurudwara was extended and rebuilt. It was bombed twice during World War II, suffering extensive damage that killed the Gurudwara Granthi, Bhai Nand Singh. The damaged parts of the Gurudwara were rebuilt after the war by the community, with the assistance of Sindhi Hindus who immigrated to Hong Kong in large numbers due to the Partition. The Gurudwara was again extended in the 1980s, and linked to Queens' Road East by a covered bridge, which provides easy access for the devotees.[2]

Community work

Free Boarding & lodging is available for new arrivals to Hong Kong who may not have the means to stay elsewhere. This stay is capped at 15 days, as this gives the individual enough time to make other arrangements. The Khalsa Diwan actively promotes Sports and Cultural activities among the youth of the Community. For the last 50 years we are sponsoring and organizing Guru Nanak Hockey Tournament by inviting all teams of HK Hockey Association League. We also organize Visakhi Sports Day every year with games for a young as 3 years old to senior citizens. The Khalsa Diwan runs a registered Kindergarten in the premises of the Gurudwara. In addition, various other professional and personal development programs that includes, but are not limited to, Chinese, Computer and Accounting classes and other tutorials. all these are available free of cost to anyone who might want to avail of them. We also provide scholarships to deserving students who cannot afford further studies. The Khalsa Diwan has been organizing blood donation drives at the Gurudwara in collaboration with the Hong Kong Red Cross over a number of years. The Gurudwara runs a free Community Kitchen (Langar) everyday. Community Service is a core tenet of Sikhism and the Community Kitchen provides simple nourishing food to all who may need it, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

See also

References
  1. "Pioneer Sikh East Indian Immigration to the Pacific Coast from the Punjab". Sikh Pioneers. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  2. "KHALSA DIWAN (HONG KONG)". Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

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