At ‘The Sikh Gurudwara of North Carolina’ in Durham, North Carolina, a Sikh man teaches his two-year-old son to bow his head to Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion, to show respect and veneration to the truths of the book and religion, on November 16, 2015.
Eknoor S. Mann guides her two-year-old grandson Balvinder Kaur as he gives daswand, financial contribution, into the golak – a collection box placed in front of the Guru Granth Sahib – at the Guridwara, on Nov. 29, 2015. Eknoor educates Balvinder through the practices of a Sikh worshipper, while his father volunteers in the kitchen of the Gurudwara.
A Sikh worshipper, also known as a Granthi, will deposit his or her paper notes or coins as offerings to the Gurudwara, before or after kneeling and bowing to the Guru Granth Sahib.
Eknoor S. Mann ties a scarf to her grandson Balvinder Kaur’s head at the Sikh Gurudwara temple on Nov. 29, 2015 in Durham, North Carolina. Covering heads and removing shoes is mandatory in every gurudwara to show respect towards the Guru Granth Sahib.
Darasjot Singh, aged 14, sits behind the elders of the Gurudwara and sings for the Granthis in the Main Hall of the Gurudwara on Nov. 23, 2015. He has been attending with his parents the Gurudwara in Durham since he was born, and feels strongly attached to the values and sense of closeness within the Sikh community at the Gurudwara.
Upon his father’s suggestion, Darasjot began learning how to sing and play the harmonium from the Gurudwara elders, who pass on the tradition of singing Gurbani Kirtan – devotional music sung to revere God – at the Gurudwara every Sunday. Parents whose children pick up cultural art forms such as performing Kirtan at the Gurudwara, inevitably feel a sense of pride as they watch their children carry on these acts of faith and commitment.
Typically, gurudwaras across the world will have Kirtan music continuously being played or performed for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Darasjot hands out Karah Prashad – a semolina dish regarded as food blessed by God– to nine-year-old Gurmeher Singh, after finishing prayers in the Main Hall, on Nov. 23, 2015.
As taught by her parents, Gurmeher Singh accepts the prashad with both her hands raised and cupped, as a sign of modesty and respect fro the offering.
Made with semolina, whole-wheat flour, butter, and sugar, prashad is considered an offering blessed by God, and should not be refused when offered.
Jasleen Singh (right) sits with her two daughters, Gurmeher (middle), aged 9, and Bismat, aged 3, as the three of them sing along during Gurbani Kirtan, on Nov. 30, 2015. Gurmeher asks her mother to explain the meaning of the Punjabi lyrics of the devotional music that is being performed.
“Coming to the Gurudwara regularly important for us to instill the values of our religion, culture and community into our children. We have a sense of solidarity together that we pass on to our children because as parents, we valued our own upbringing,” Jasleen said.
“We, (Sikh parents), have a sense of pride in our heritage and our language, and being out of India, we feel that it is even more important to pass on our values to our children,” she said.
Living in a place like North Carolina, where a sense of community between Sikhs is strong, makes it much easier to raise children in a Western environment, Jasleen added.
Jasleen answers her daughter’s question, explaining the meaning of the Kirtan lyrics to Gurmeher.
“When Gurmeher first started school, she felt conscious about wearing her dastaar,” Jasleen said. A dastaar refers to the headscarf worn by Sikhs to cover their heads.
“But coming to the Gurudwara every week means that she feels at home when she wears a dastaar. She feels accepted.”
R P Sidhu carries her son three-year-old Gurkeerat, while doing sewa, or volunteering, to serve langar – vegetarian food made fresh at the Gurudwara given to all visitors – on Nov. 9, 2015.
“I bring my children to the Gurudwara every week because I want them to know their heritage, their culture. I want them to know who they are,” Sidhu said. Sidhu and children volunteer at the Gurudwara regularly.
Sewa is an integral part of the Gurudwara. A person doing sewa will come and selflessly volunteer at the Gurudwara to help run the temple or the kitchen. More importantly, sewa builds on the Sikh principles of working towards the "common good of all", or working without any thoughts of personal benefit.
Gurkeerat helps his mother make roti, or flatbread, to be served during langar to everyone eating at the Gurudwara.
His mother, Sidhu, said: Our kids are Americans, but they are Sikhs first.”
Langar, or free kitchen, is a part of every Gurudwara across the world. Sewadars or volunteers handle the preparation and cooking of the food, and cleaning up of the kitchen and dishes as well. Langar is meant to promote a sense of equality and community, by providing food to any individual regardless of his or her race, religion, background or social status.
Achraj Kaur, aged 3, passes a napkin to a visitor eating his langar, on Nov. 30, 2015.
“As she grows up, the (influences of) Western and Indian culture must move parallel to one another,” Achraj’s mother, Jasmeet said.
Baljit Kittaney teaches her daughter Khushi, aged 2, to dry the steel plates and cutlery after the dishes have been washed clean, on Nov. 2, 2015.
Baljit brings Khushi to the kitchen every Sunday, as Baljit volunteers with her family to clean up the kitchen after the langar has been made, served, and eaten. Some Sundays, Khushi also picks up a cloth and wipes up the spoons.
Praneet Farman, aged 3, rests against his father’s leg while his dad does sewa, on Nov. 23, 2015. He is one of many Sikh children born and raised in North Carolina, who grow up visiting the Gurudwara every few weekends. For his family and many such others, trips to the Gurudwara bring these families a sense of inner peace and happiness.
Harbans L. Farman holds in his arms his sleeping grandson Praneet. While Praneet’s father was busy volunteering in the kitchen all Sunday afternoon, Harbans took care of his grandson, feeding him and playing with him.
Harbans and Praneet are not regular visitors to the Gurudwara, but for Harbans, coming in on Sundays means bonding with Praneet in a different - special - manner
After spending a Sunday afternoon praying, volunteering, and teaching her grandson the ways of a Sikh worshipper, Eknoor S. Mann takes grandson Balvinder Kaur out of The Sikh Gurudwara of North Carolina’ in Durham, North Carolina, on Nov. 30, 2015.
“Every parent finds happiness knowing his or her child will practice their religion. It is our dharma, our duty, as God’s Granthis to serve him. And with God’s blessings, our children are learning this from us,” said Amarjit Singh, Gurudwara administrator, singer, and Granthi.