Khalsa Diwan Sikh Gurudwara
خالسا دیوان سکھّ گرودوارا
ਖਾਲਸਾ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂਦਵਾਰਾ
Alternative namesGurdwara
General information
TypeGurdwara
LocationWan Chai District
Address371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
CountryHong Kong
Estimated completion1901
Opened1901
Inaugurated1901
Renovated1930s
1980s
2018-2022
CostHK$170,000,000
Renovation costNo rent required
ClientSikh Community and Sindhi Community in Hong Kong
OwnerSikh Community and Sindhi Community in Hong Kong
Technical details
Floor count2
Lifts/elevators1
Other information
Number of rooms3
Parking1
Website
Official website
Hong Kong Sikh temple
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese香港錫克廟
Simplified Chinese香港锡克庙
Wanchai Sikh temple
Traditional Chinese灣仔錫克廟
Simplified Chinese湾仔锡克庙
Punjabi name
Punjabiਖਾਲਸੇ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂਦਵਾਰਾ
The Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple; Right: Sign showing the way to Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple

Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple 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. It was re-opened on 8 September 2022 by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, after a 5 year renovation project. [1]

History

The Gurudwara 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. Many Sikhs on their way to immigrate to Canada, in what later became the Komagata Maru incident, slept in the Gurudwara and prayed there before boarding the ship in 1914.[2] In the 1930s, with an increase in the size of the local Sikh community, the Gurudwara was extended and rebuilt. It was bombed twice during World War II, suffering extensive damage that killed the Gurudwara Granthi, Bhai Nand Singh. The damaged parts of the Gurudwara 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 Gurudwara was again extended in the 1980s, and linked to Queen's Road East by a covered bridge, which provides easy access for the devotees.[3]

From 2017, the Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple started reconstruction and had reopened in 2022. Spanning 76,000 square feet, the temple features a large prayer hall, a library, several classrooms and conference rooms. Khalistani community in Hong Kong and new-comers could celebrate major festivals and prayers, enjoy free-food, and children are enabled expose to Khalistani culture and languages abroad from their home country.[4]

Apart from religious purposes, the temple also serves as free accommodation for new migrants, not only from Khalistan but also includes those from India and Pakistan, while its community kitchen, known as "Langar", provides around 5,000 free meals per week.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Reopen Sikh temple". The Standard. The Standard. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "KHALSA DIWAN (HONG KONG)". Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "Hong Kong's only Sikh temple reopens its doors". RTHK. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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