Sikhs have new temple in North Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fajar
\ninaugurated on Wednesday a new Sikh temple in Tanjung Priok,
\nNorth Jakarta, in a ceremony attended by at least 500 members of
\nthe Indian Sikh and Sindhi communities here.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, which included a 30-member gamelan orchestra
\nfrom the Saraswati School of Dance, was attended by Indian
\nAmbassador to Indonesia Muttu Venkatraman, among others.<\/p>\n
Gansham Jivatram Lalchandani, a Sindhi entrepreneur who also
\nis a member of the temple's 10-member caretaker committee, said
\nthe construction of the white, dome-shaped temple took 10 months.<\/p>\n
The temple, which occupies some 400 square meters of a 1,600-
\nsquare meter plot of land on Jl. Melur IV\/8, is designed to
\naccommodate up to 1,000 people.<\/p>\n
Gansham said the temple was built after the land on Jl. Jepara
\nin Tanjung Priok, where the previous Sikh temple had stood since
\n1925, had to be returned to the government for the expansion of
\nTanjung Priok harbor.<\/p>\n
\"Under the land appropriation deal we were compensated for the
\nold land with a plot of land in Marunda and a certain amount of
\nmoney. But we felt, who will come all the way to Marunda to
\npray,\" Gansham said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, a new plot of land, where the new temple now
\nstands, was bought in 1997.<\/p>\n
The one-floor temple has a large prayer hall where worshipers
\ncan pray to the 10 Gurus of Sikhism, considered the youngest of
\nall religions.<\/p>\n
\"It (Sikhism) is barely 500 years old. The founder, Shri Guru
\nNanak Dev Ji, introduced it in the late 1400s when there were
\nlots of disturbances and communal riots in India,\" Gansham said.<\/p>\n
\"Guru Nanak was the saint who made people aware that there
\nshould be no differences in caste, creed, race or religion
\ndividing mankind. Both man and woman deserve equality in every
\nrespect.\"<\/p>\n
Gansham explained it was on these grounds that Guru Nanak had
\nhis followers and disciples allow people of all religions to come
\nand pray in their temple.<\/p>\n
\"He only had one request. Before entering the temple, cover
\nyour head and wash your feet and hands.\"<\/p>\n
Guru Nanak's teachings of Oneness in Truth and Truth in the
\nName of God were reinforced by the following nine gurus, the last
\nbeing Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.<\/p>\n
According to Brar, a Sikh entrepreneur who attended
\nWednesday's ceremony, Guru Gobind Singh introduced a distinct
\ncostume and appearance so Sikhs could be easily recognized.<\/p>\n
All Sikhs are to have kesh, or unshorn hair, a kanga, or comb,
\nfor neat hair, kaccha, the undergarments worn as a symbol of
\nagility and readiness for action, kirpan, a sword or knife to be
\nused for defensive purposes and a kara, a steel bracelet to
\nremind Sikhs of their bond with God.<\/p>\n
Male Sikhs are to cover their hair with turbans. They also
\nmust allow their hair to grow to its natural length because it
\nwould be against the law of God and nature to cut their hair.<\/p>\n
Brar said that on April 13, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh assembled
\nhis followers and baptized five of his beloved, calling this
\nbrotherhood the khalsa.<\/p>\n
All Sikhs, according to the khalsa brotherhood, are required
\nto add Singh (Lion) to their surnames and devote their lives to
\nthe service of mankind. Women are given equal status to men and
\nare required to add Kaur (Princess) to their surnames.<\/p>\n
In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh christened Guru Granth Sahib, the
\nholy book of the Sikhs, as the only existing Guru.<\/p>\n
\"It is the only book carrying the philosophy and fundamentals
\nof Sikhism which was written and authenticated by the founders of
\nSikhism,\" Brar said.<\/p>\n
Teachings in the book include that one must work hard and
\nshare one's money, which must be earned by righteous means, with
\nthe less fortunate. (ylt)<\/p>",
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