Launceston Sikh Temple, Launceston

Everyone is Welcome

History of Gurdwara Sahib Launceston

Our organisation Akaal Sikh Society Launceston Incorporated stems from the ongoing devotion of the first Sikh family arrived and settled in Tasmania- Kulwant Singh Dhillon and his wife Mahinder Kaur Dhillon who migrated to Tasmania in August 1969. The couple always had their door open to anyone needing emotional and spiritual support in addition to encouraging positive community interactions and friendships. With time, such encouraging approach motivated the Sikh community to come to Dhillon’s residence for prayer and meditation.

The service at the Gurdwara Sahib normally consists of a combination of sermons and singing of Shabads (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji). All ends with the Ardaas, a special prayer that is spoken by the Granthee while the congregation stands with folded hands. The blessed pudding of Parshaad (a sanctified delicacy made from flour, butter, and sugar), is then distributed to all. The Sunday congregation usually runs from 2pm to 5:30pm followed by tea or Langar at around 6pm.

Kirtan Class

We run weekly Sunday class to teach Kirtan. Kirtan/Keertan is the language of the spirit that breaks the barriers of creed and religions, that awakens the Amrit Naam in the soul and fills the heart with humility. Practicing, listening and performing keertan takes people on a journey where they merge into the divine compositions of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal guru of the Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled Gurbani into 31 different ragas or musical signatures and 17 different Ghars or rhythms.

Punjabi Language Class

Punjabi language school is running in full swing at Launceston Gurdwara Sahib at 7 Alpine Crescent Grindelwald. We are having weekly Punjabi Language classes every Sunday. Recently we provided very good books (which are designed for kids by great scholars for Classwork and Homework) to our students. Also, we opened up the library from where our students can get access to new books every week. That is the favourite part of our students. All these resources are free for the community.

We encourage more parents to get their children enrolled in this Free Weekly Punjabi Classes so that they can get the benefit from all available resources and can learn their mother tongue Punjabi.

Click here to know about other services

Free Community Kitchen/ Langar

Langar is one of the most significant traditions for the Sikhs. It involves everyone, irrespective of their caste, skin colour, nationality, social, financial or political status, to sit together (pangat). Everyone has the same meal. It expresses the ideals of equality, sharing, and the oneness of all humankind. It is an essential part of any Gurdwara. The food is cooked by sevadars (volunteers) and is served without discrimination to all. The Langar is always vegetarian, and traditionally is made up of simple, nourishing food. Strict rules of hygiene and cleanliness are important when preparing the Langar. The practice of serving food to all was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the first Guru) and it was institutionalised by Guru Angad Dev Ji (the second Guru). Under Guru Amar Das Ji (the third Guru) a rule was instituted that anyone who wanted to have a meeting with him would have to eat food from the Langar first. The Langar usually gets served every Sunday at the Gurdwara Sahib after the congregation.

The Gurdwara

The Sikh place of worship, or Gurdwara, is more than a place of worship. It has historically served as a refuge for the homeless and the destitute. Gurdwaras usually display the Nishan Sahib, a saffron-colored triangular flag bearing the khanda, the symbol of the Sikh faith. Visitors, irrespective of their religion, are offered shelter, comfort, and food. The prerequisites for entering a Gurdwara are removing shoes and covering one’s head with a handkerchief, scarf, or other cloth.

In a Gurdwara, no special place or seat may be reserved or set aside for any dignitary, as all are considered equals. The service consists of singing of the liturgy, as well as the exposition of Sikh history, tradition, and theology. Non-Sikhs are always welcome. Sikh gurdwaras all over the world usually run free community kitchens, which provide meals to all. These kitchens are run and funded by volunteers. In traditional Indian society, people of high and low caste were rigidly segregated. To combat this social problem, the Sikh community kitchen, or langar, requires everyone to sit side by side and eat together on the ground, thereby teaching the concept of equality by shattering all barriers of caste and class. Every major city in the Australia, NewZealand, United States, Canada, UK, India and many other countries has Sikh gurdwaras and they are open to all.

God is one

God is one

God is one

Everyone is Welcome

History of Gurdwara Sahib Launceston

Weekly Sunday Congregation

Kirtan Class

Punjabi Language Class

Free Community Kitchen/ Langar

Contact Gurdwara Sahib

( Sikh Temple of Launceston )

The Gurdwara