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Gravesend's magnificent new
gurdwara is now open
WSN Network
GRAVESEND: The
stunning £12 million new Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, in Khalsa
Avenue, Gravesend, has opened its doors to the sangat seven years
after building work first started on the site. Hundreds of Sikhs
from across north
Kent
attended the spectacular opening.
The Guru Granth
Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, was escorted to the Gurdwara from
the existing gurdwara Clarence Place, Gravesend, by a procession of
Panj Piyare.
Sikh Gurdwara
Management Committee member Jagdev Singh Virdee, 53, of Watling
Street, Gravesend, said: "It was a great day. It's the first stage
of the opening of the Gurdwara after seven years of building so it
is a momentous time for the whole community.
"There were
hundreds of people who came along. People were queuing up to come in
and pay their respects and the day was enjoyed by everyone.
"A lot of the
people were seeing the building for the first time and they all said
they were really impressed with it."
The arrival of
the Guru Granth Sahib was followed by reading of the Sukhmani Sahib,
a prayer of peace and harmony taken from the Guru Granth Sahib and
composed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru.
Two of the
smaller worship halls in the building was opened with the second one
due for opening next month. One of the dining rooms, Langar hall,
has also opened. The main hall and the entire Gurdwara is due to
formally open during the Vaisakhi celebrations in April 2010. Work
started on the building in 2002 and the entire cost is funded by the
town's 15,000-strong Sikh community.
When fully
open the Gurdwara in Gravesend will be used by north Kent's 12,000
Sikhs and open to all members of the community.
15
July 2009
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