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ARTS&LEISURE
160
June14
Gurdwara Katong
Sikh Temple
17 Wilkinson Road
Built in 1969 on the sites of two old
bungalows bought for the purpose – at
11 and 17 Wilkinson Road – this Sikh
temple was designed by a Muslim
architect and surveyor called A. H.
Saddique, who contributed his skills
pro bono. Cameras are allowed in, but
shoes are left at the door.
Reflecting traditional Sikh architecture,
it’s a two-storey building with a wide
dome and a flat roof. One of many
colourful murals on the lower level is a
huge depiction of the
Golden Temple
THE SIKH FAITH
Sikhism is a relatively new religion, having been founded by Guru Nanak
around 1500 in the Punjab area of what are now Pakistan and India. Nine
gurus developed the faith – which is completely distinct from both Hinduism
and Islam – over the ensuing years. After the execution of the ninth guru
by the Islamic Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675, the tenth and final
human guru, Gobind Singh, re-established the Sikhs as a military group
so that they could henceforth defend their faith. After Gobind’s death, the
Sikh Holy Book has been regarded as the guru of the faith.
#1
STOP
of Amritsar
, Amritsar being the capital
of the Sikh world.
Another highlight for me is the
kitchen
.
Its practical stoves are only knee-high,
making it easier to lift off heavy pots
of all-vegetarian dishes that are served
up on high days and holidays, explains
Geraldene, together with piping-hot
chapatis. Today, sadly, the pots are cold
and empty; but when one of the
Expat
Living
team recently got married at the
Central Sikh Temple in the Serangoon
area, the vegetarian feast was delicious.
Upstairs is the
prayer hall
, where
(being women) we’re required to cover
our heads; there’s a pile of scarves
available for anyone who didn’t bring
one. It’s rather nice, really – our group
looks wonderfully exotic. During
services, women sit on the left side
and the men on the right. One day a
week is ladies’ day, we’re told. It’s a
most pragmatic practice, according
to Geraldene, because that’s when
the women do the dusting and clean
up after the mess the men have made
during the rest of the week.
A marble
paalki
holds the
Sikh Holy
Book
, and nearby is a harmonium that’s
played with just one hand. Apparently,
a group of singers leads the weekend
services; they have beautiful voices, and
anyone is welcome to attend.
“Who didn’t have breakfast?” asks
Geraldene, and we line up for a delicious
scoop of some sort of sweetmeat – a
mixture of nuts, semolina and sugar, still
warm from the pot and doled out by a
smiling temple attendant.
Before this visit, the little I knew about
Sikhism had been gleaned from local
author Shamini Flint’s delightful detective
series:
Inspector Singh Investigates
. For
something more substantial, you’ll find
plenty on Wikipedia.