Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple, originally known as Sri Guru Singh Sabha, 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.[1] It was re-opened on 8 September 2022 by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, after a 5 year renovation project. [2]
History
First gurdwara
The gurdwara 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.[1] The temple that was constructed was originally called Sri Guru Singh Sabha.[1]
Many Sikhs on their way to immigrate to Canada, in what later became the Komagata Maru incident, slept in the gurdwara and prayed there before boarding the ship in 1914.[3]
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Original Sri Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Hong Kong -
Sri Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Hong Kong, ca.1907 (postcard)
Second gurdwara
In the 1930s, with an increase in the size of the local Sikh community, the gurdwara was extended and rebuilt.[1] It was bombed twice during World War II, suffering extensive damage that killed the gurdwara granthi, Bhai Nand Singh, whilst he was in the main prayer hall reading the Guru Granth Sahib, with the scripture not sustaining any damage in the bombing.[1] During the Second World War, the place of worship was used as a shelter by both Sikhs and non-Sikhs.[1]
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Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple gurdwara in Hong Kong, ca.1935 -
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Sikh congregation at the original Sri Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Hong Kong, 1935
Third gurdwara
The damaged parts of the gurdwara 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 gurdwara was again extended in the 1980s, and linked to Queen's Road East by a covered bridge, which provides easy access for the devotees.[4]
In 2008, the gurdwara was extended to four-stories.[1]
In 2013, the gurdwara (which was deemed a grade II historic building) was examined by experts and deemed unsafe due to cracks forming.[1] Despite efforts to save the building, it was demolished and plans were made to reconstruct a new building.[1]
Fourth gurdwara
From 2017, the Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple started reconstruction and had reopened in 2022.[1] Spanning 76,000 square feet, the temple features a large prayer hall, a library, several classrooms and conference rooms. The Sikh community in Hong Kong and new-comers could celebrate major festivals and prayers, enjoy free-food, and children are enabled expose to Sikh culture and languages abroad from their home country.[5] The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the rebuilding and increased the costs of the project, with renovation costs swelling from HKD170 million to HKD220 million.[1]
Apart from religious purposes, the temple also serves as free accommodation for new migrants, from India and Pakistan, while its community kitchen, known as langar, provides around 5,000 free meals per week.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "History". Khalsa Diwan Hong Kong. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Reopen Sikh temple". The Standard. The Standard. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "KHALSA DIWAN (HONG KONG)". Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ^ "In Pictures: Hong Kong's only Sikh temple reopens as a place of worship, community and more". Hong Kong Free Press. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong's only Sikh temple reopens its doors". RTHK. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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