Note: At the bottom of this page is a glossary of most of the italicized terms. Some of this information was taken from Sandeep Brar's webpage, http://www.sikhs.org.
Brief History
The Society was formed on February 25, 1972 with an Inaugural Kirtan. The approval of the charter and the election of the first working committee took place on July 15, 1973 with S. Harbhajan Singh Braich as President. The Society was incorporated on October 19, 1974 with tax exempt status on November 19, 1975. The Gurudwara Sahib building, on a 13 acre site in Bridgewater, was purchased on December 6, 1979 and the first Kirtan in the Gurudwara was held on December 24, 1979. The Society held a youth camp at the Gurudwara facilities on April 6, 1980.
What is a Gurudwara?
Gurudwara is the name given to the Sikh's place of worship. Literally, it means "the door, or the gateway, to the Guru." It is a place where the Guru Granth Sahib is present. It is open to everyone regardless of age, gender, caste, or creed. A Gurudwara is the center of congregational worship and the propogation of Sikhism. The Gurudwara plays a socio-economic role in the Sikh community.
The pattern of worship can be divided into two categories: Katha, the reading of the holy hymns followed by their explanation, and Kirtan, the singing of the hymns.
Attached to every Gurudwara is a free kitchen where the langar is prepared and served after the service. In the Langar all sit on the floor and food is cooked and served by volunteers, this food is available at all times. Only vegetarian food is served so that no person may be offended and all people of all religions can sit together to share a common meal irrespective of any dietary restrictions.
You can identify a Gurudwara from a distance by observing the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag.
GSSA (The Garden State Sikh Association, Inc. - Bridgewater Gurudwara) is also involved in various social and cultural programs, such as the Sikh Games. We also offer a Khalsa School to teach fundamentals of Sikhism, our history, kirtan, and also to learn to read and write in Punjabi and to interpret the Sikh scriptures.
Gurudwara Protocol
The following should be observed in the Gurudwara:
Before entering the hall:
- Remove shoes and place in shoe room (accessible through main entrance).
- Wash your hands
- Cover your head
Visitors without a proper head covering can borrow scarves provided by the Gurudwara, or otherwise a large handkerchief could serve the purpose.
Upon entering the hall, where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept:
- Walk slowly
- It is obligatory for every Sikh to show the utmost respect for the Guru, kneel before the Guru and touch their heads to the floor. As they bow, they respectfully place an offering before the Guru - it may be money, a flower, or a word of thanks. Any sincere expression of gratitude is acceptable.
- For the most part in our congregation women sit on the the left side and men on the right. Most sit cross-legged for it is disrespectful to show one's back or stretch one's feet toward the Holy Granth. All people irrespective of their status sit on the floor as a sign of equality as opposed to chairs and the Guru Granth Sahib is always installed on a higher level.
Glossary
- Caste - A system by which Hindus divide society into groups according to birth.
- Guru - Spiritual guide, master of truth. Not a teacher, because truth cannot be taught. The title given to the ten great human teachers of Sikhism, and to the Holy scriptures.
- Guru Granth Sahib - the Holy scriptures of the Sikhs, containing hymns written by the Gurus as well as hymns by Hindu and Muslim holy men. The Sikh Holy scriptures are treated with the same respect as is given to one of the ten human Gurus.
- Holy Granth - See Guru Granth Sahib.
- Sikh - Follower of Sikhism.