Gurdwara Sahib Klang
Encyclopedia
Gurdwara Sahib Klang is a Sikh
Gurdwara
located in the town of Klang
in Selangor
, Malaysia. It was constructed between November 1993 and late 1995. The total cost of the building was nearly RM
2,000,000 and out of which RM 100,000 was donated by the Prime Minister's Department. Donations were received from the Sikh Sangat from all over Malaysia to complete this project.
Before residing at the current location in Jalan Bukit Jawa, it was relocated once, at Jalan Raya Barat beside the Majlis Perbandaran Klang (Klang Municipal Council) Headquarters. It is the main place of worship for Sikhs living in Klang.
The gurdwara was officially opened by the sangat
on February 17, 1996. The Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib
, was respectfully taken in a procession from the previous Gurdwara Sahib in Jalan Raya Barat to its new location in Jalan Bukit Jawa. The Dasmesh Band headed by Sardar Sukhdev Singh led the procession. Akhand Path prayers were held on the following day.
The top floor comprises the Darbar Sahib
, which can accommodate about 1,000 people. The ground floor consists of a langar (dining hall), a kitchen, an office and a library, visitors' rooms and classroons for holding Punjabi
classes. The Granthi
's quarters are located in a separate building adjacent to the Darbar Sahib.
Police to maintain law and order. Gradually, more Sikhs arrived in Klang and became watchmen, money lenders, dairy farmers, bullock cart operators and chauffeurs.
In 1900, there were about 50 Sikhs in Klang. They built their first Gurdwara on a piece of land about 500 square feet (46.5 m²) in size. The first Gurdwara Sahib building was a wooden structure with an "attap
" roof. This Gurdwara Sahib land was formally gazetted as a Sikh Temple Reserve in 1931.
By 1930, there were about 200 Sikhs living in and around Klang and the Gurdwara Sahib was inadequate to accommodate the ever-growing sangat. Between 1933 and 1934, a double storey wooden building with a tiled roof was built on the site of the original Gurdwara Sahib. The land area was expanded to 1200 square feet (111.5 m²). In 1972, the land area was further expanded by another 600 feet (182.9 m). The Gurdwara building was then repaired, renovated and refurbished.
By 1985, the Sikhs residing in Klang, Kapar
, Meru
, Kuala Selangor
and Banting, who by this time numbered about 1,200 people, were attending religious functions in the Klang Gurdwara Sahib. Therefore, the need for bigger premises arose, but there was no land available to expand the Gurdwara Sahib.
In August 1989, the Government offered the Sikh community of Klang a new site about an acre in size, Lot Number 970, which is the location of the present Gurdwara Sahib.
There is a Sikh Assistant Registrar of Marriages in this Gurdwara Sahib who officiates at Sikh marriages. Actual marriage ceremonies are conducted by the Granthi in accordance with Sikh rites.
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
located in the town of Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
in Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, Malaysia. It was constructed between November 1993 and late 1995. The total cost of the building was nearly RM
Malaysian ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen...
2,000,000 and out of which RM 100,000 was donated by the Prime Minister's Department. Donations were received from the Sikh Sangat from all over Malaysia to complete this project.
Before residing at the current location in Jalan Bukit Jawa, it was relocated once, at Jalan Raya Barat beside the Majlis Perbandaran Klang (Klang Municipal Council) Headquarters. It is the main place of worship for Sikhs living in Klang.
The gurdwara was officially opened by the sangat
Sangat (term)
Sangat is a Sikh term with its origin in the Sanskrit word 'sangh', which means company, fellowship and association. In Sikh vocabulary, the word has a special connotation. It stands for the body of men and women who meet religiously, especially in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib...
on February 17, 1996. The Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, was respectfully taken in a procession from the previous Gurdwara Sahib in Jalan Raya Barat to its new location in Jalan Bukit Jawa. The Dasmesh Band headed by Sardar Sukhdev Singh led the procession. Akhand Path prayers were held on the following day.
The top floor comprises the Darbar Sahib
Darbar Sahib
Darbar Sahib refers to the main hall within a Sikh gurdwara. This hall is where the holy text, current and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takhat or throne in a prominent central position in the hall....
, which can accommodate about 1,000 people. The ground floor consists of a langar (dining hall), a kitchen, an office and a library, visitors' rooms and classroons for holding Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
classes. The Granthi
Granthi
Granthi is any person of either gender, who performs the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib at congregational occasions, however this task can be performed by any individual who is part of the congregation...
's quarters are located in a separate building adjacent to the Darbar Sahib.
History
By the late 19th century, Klang town was an important commercial trading center. Many Sikhs were employed by the Federated Malay StatesFederated Malay States
The Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
Police to maintain law and order. Gradually, more Sikhs arrived in Klang and became watchmen, money lenders, dairy farmers, bullock cart operators and chauffeurs.
In 1900, there were about 50 Sikhs in Klang. They built their first Gurdwara on a piece of land about 500 square feet (46.5 m²) in size. The first Gurdwara Sahib building was a wooden structure with an "attap
Nypa fruticans
Nypa fruticans, known as the attap palm , nipa palm , and mangrove palm or buah atap , buah nipah , dừa nước , Ging Pol in Sinhala in Sri Lanka and gol pata , dani . It is the only palm considered a mangrove in the Mangroves Biome...
" roof. This Gurdwara Sahib land was formally gazetted as a Sikh Temple Reserve in 1931.
By 1930, there were about 200 Sikhs living in and around Klang and the Gurdwara Sahib was inadequate to accommodate the ever-growing sangat. Between 1933 and 1934, a double storey wooden building with a tiled roof was built on the site of the original Gurdwara Sahib. The land area was expanded to 1200 square feet (111.5 m²). In 1972, the land area was further expanded by another 600 feet (182.9 m). The Gurdwara building was then repaired, renovated and refurbished.
By 1985, the Sikhs residing in Klang, Kapar
Kapar
Kapar is a town in the Klang district of Selangor, Malaysia. The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Power Station is located not far from town. The Kapar River which flows nearby the town centre empties into the Straits of Malacca....
, Meru
Meru, Malaysia
- Overview :Meru is home to Top Glove which is the nations largest producer of latex gloves. Numerous small-medium industrial complex are located in Meru which is less than 10 km from the heart of Klang....
, Kuala Selangor
Kuala Selangor
Kuala Selangor is a town located in Selangor, Malaysia, and is capital of an administrative district of the same name.The town caters largely to tourists coming this way en route to Kelip-Kelip at Kampung Kuantan or local travellers on a trail of seafood binging. Kuala Selangor town is not...
and Banting, who by this time numbered about 1,200 people, were attending religious functions in the Klang Gurdwara Sahib. Therefore, the need for bigger premises arose, but there was no land available to expand the Gurdwara Sahib.
In August 1989, the Government offered the Sikh community of Klang a new site about an acre in size, Lot Number 970, which is the location of the present Gurdwara Sahib.
Religious activities conducted by the Gurdwara
There are presently about 300 Sikh families who participate in the religious activities in this Gurdwara Sahib. There are also about 250 students who attend Punjabi classes once a week on Saturday afternoons. The Management Committee comprises the President, Secretary, Treasurer, their assistants and five committee members.There is a Sikh Assistant Registrar of Marriages in this Gurdwara Sahib who officiates at Sikh marriages. Actual marriage ceremonies are conducted by the Granthi in accordance with Sikh rites.