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Gurdwara

A Gurdwara is the Sikh place of worship. Sikhs pray by reading passages from The Guru Granth Sahib Ji, singing Kiran (hymns) and doing Simran (meditation). 

Sukhasan

The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh Holy Book and is respected as a living Guru. Sukhasan means “relaxed pose implying a posture or state of rest, peace and tranquillity.” (Waheguru Net, N.D). Sukhasan is the last prayer done at night by Sikhs, during which The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is but to bed in a room called Sach Khand (realm of Truth). 

Below is the audio of Sukhasan being performed at Guru Har Rai Gurdwara:

Sukhasan - Guru Har Rai Gurdwara
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Rehras Sahib

Rehras Sahib is the name of the evening prayers conducted by Sikhs. Rehras Sahib is collection of hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Amardas Ji, Guru Ramdas Ji and Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Rehras Sahib is roughly twenty minutes long, below is the first seven minutes of the Rehras Sahib:

Rehras - Guru Har Rai Gurdwara
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Satnam Waheguru

Satnam Waheguru is a form of Simran. Satnam means the name of God is true and everlasting and Waheguru means hail God. Sikhs often chant when meditating. 

 

Below is sangant (worshippers) chanting Satnam Waheguru:

Satnam Waheguru Simran - Guru Har Rai Gurdwara
00:0000:00

Bole So Nihal

Bole So Nihal means whoever utters, shall be fulfilled and is known as a clarion call for Sikhs. Bole So Nihal is often replied to with Sat Sri Akal, which means the timeless being, God. Sat Sri Akal is also a Sikh greeting. 

Bole So Nihal is said at the end of an Ardas. An Ardas is request made to God at the after completing a prayer.

Below is the Gyani (Scholar) at Guru Har Rai Gurdwara saying Bole So Nihal at the end of an Ardas:

Bole So Nihal - Guru Har Rai Gurdawara
00:0000:00

Contact:

Guru Har Rai Gurdwara

128 High Street

West Bromwich

B70 6JW

0121 553 7219

www.guruharrai.org

Guru Har Rai Gurdwara is my local Gurdwara. Their is a Sikh tradition of taking a baby to the Gurdwara as when they are born and taking a letter from the Guru Granth Sahib for the first letter of the babies name. The day after I was born, I was taken to Guru Har Rai Gurdwara and the letter M was taken from Guru Granth Sahib as the first letter of my name. Even though I have been going to Guru Har Rai Gurdwara since a child, I have never recorded anything their. For this project I was required to get permission to record content, the Gyani's at the Gurdwara were extremely friendly and supportive, they permission to record audio, footage and take photographs. For ethical reasons I have decided not to publish any videos online as they contain faces of the worshippers.  

Going to the Gurdwara helps me relax and feel good because of the peaceful atmosphere. Furthermore, I have never seen Sukhasan being performed and The Guru Granth Sahib being taken to Sach Khand. This project gave me the opportunity to see this, it was an unforgettable experience, it had such a harmonious and tranquil atmosphere. For days I had the Sukhasan pray stuck in my head and now I like to listen to when I am stressed as it helps me to relax and feel uplifted. People also often chant Satnam Waheguru when they are feeling scared, anxious or to simply just relax and meditate. 

Waheguru Net N.D: available from http://www.wahegurunet.com/guru-granth-closing-ceremony [Accessed 20.04.2018]

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