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WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa, WaheGuru Ji Ke Fateh
A Sikh temple or shrine is called a Gurudwara, that is, the House of God, the House of the Guru, where the Guru dwells. Its most essential element is the presence of the Guru.
According to the Sikh faith, while prayers to God can be offered any time and anywhere, a Gurudwara is built particularly for congregational worship. Even a very small group of devotees inhabiting any place anywhere in the world would generally build a temple for them all to get together for religious or even for social purposes. The building could be as simple as a temporary shack or a small room in a house, depending on the resources of the local community. But the Sikhs would not stint in this matter, and they have, therefore, built beautiful and imposing gurdwaras some of which can accommodate hundreds of devotees. Most of their important shrines are connected with the ten Gurus or have other historical association and are great centers of pilgrimage.
To learn more about Gurudwara's please click here.
| History of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash Coventry |
| 1958 |
There was only around 10 Sikh Family’s in Coventry at that time and a few more men without their families. |
| 1959 |
Giani Nunihal Singh - came from Singapore
Bhiaya Nand Singh - one of the first Sikhs in Coventry
Prem Singh Khalsa - had ‘Maharaj Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ at his home
Tarum Singh Heeriar - lived at no 7 Red Lane
These 4 pioneering Sikhs had a meeting at No 5 Wellington Street, Hillfields.Tthey had the inspiration and courage to plan to have a Gurdwara in Coventry. They enlisted the help of Sohan (Gafer) Singh who started to collect 10 shillings from other Sikhs in Coventry. With these generous funds (very high portion of there income) they started off with a monthly congregation on every Sangrand with ‘Maharaj Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ at the Red Lane primary school.
Tarum Singh Heeriar lived oppsite the school at No 7 Red lane and he had the seva of preparing the ‘parshard’ and washing the sheets, which was done every time. Tarum Singh was also the treasurer, a true pioneer of seva in a new Country. With Waheguru’s Kirpa they were able to provide excellent seva to ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib’.
This carried on for a number of years, they continually added to their funds, hoping to have a permanent Gurdwara one day. |
| 1962 |
Many more Sikhs came to Coventry. |
| 1964 |
These pioneers proposed to build a new Gurdwara and searched for available land. They eventually found some land on Harnall Lane East. This was the beginning of the Gurdwara. This land had previously had 8 houses that were bombed during the war hence the address 71- 79 Harnall Lane East.
This land was next to the Fiveways Public House (the junction of five roads). The beginning of our multi-millon pound Gurdwara complex stands on this original land.
Isn’t it intriguing that 5 pioneers decided to build a Gurdwara at a junction of 5 roads? |
| 1965 |
The Foundation Stone of the Gurdwara was laid. The five original Pioneers together with the Sangat decided to call the Gurdwara ‘Guru Nanak Parkash’.
The Photo below shows the foundation stone being laid.
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The Sikhs in the Photo from right to left are :- Prem Singh Khalsa, Sohan ‘Gafer’ Singh, Tarum Singh Heeriar, Bhiaya Nand Singh, Sucha Singh ‘Roruka’. – Mr Singh, Giani Núnihal Singh, Ghallum singh. – Council. Bottom row was the Sangat.
Sohan ‘Gafer’ Singh is still enjoying his life and is now living in India. The other Pioneers have sadly left us but their seva still lives on. We should never forget them. |
This was the first newly built Gurdwara in the UK.
The original size was where today’s Punjabi classes are held on the ground floor hall. The Kitchen was where the Sikh Shop is. |
| 1970 |
The Gurdwara was extended. The land where the internal front car park is today was bought eventually from a Leamington man. |
| 1994 |
Multi-million pound Gurdwara complex built. |
| 2002 |
Final small extension built. |
What we have today in Coventry we owe to our forefathers, these great men and women had tremendous courage in a new country with a new culture and language.
Raj Karega Khalsa.
WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa, WaheGuru Ji Ke Fateh
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