India is a country rich in culture and religion. Sikhism is known to teach service and kindness.

I will walk you through to mirror my experience of a meal spiced up with “seva” which means service. In this article, I will tell you about one such place in the heart of India, New Delhi.

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara:

A brief history of Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

Gurudwara is a worshipping place for Sikhs. This gurudwara seems to be a bungalow. This gurudwara was once a residence of Raja Jai Singh, named Jaisinghpura Palace. The gurudwara we know now is named after the 8th Sikh Guru, Guru Harkishan Sahib. Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is located at Baba ‘Kharag Singh Marg’ near Connaught Place.

This Gurudwara is a major pilgrimage site for all Sikh Devotees. People visit with no discrimination of caste, creed, or religion. Here at this holy place, the management serves devotees with various facilities to ease their worship.

How to reach Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

Rajiv Chowk metro station, Patel Chowk metro station, and Shivaji Stadium metro station are the 3 closest metro stations to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara.

I took a metro and deboarded at Rajiv Chowk metro station. The Gurudwara is within walking distance (1.2km) from Rajiv Chowk metro station.

The Connaught place lies on the way and is a must-visit spot for shopaholics. After shopping at Connaught Place, I reached Gurudwara.

The ambiance was very religious. I observed shops and stalls lined up in a row selling prasad, which devotees later offer to the almighty inside the Gurudwara.

Customs to follow in Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

I noticed that everyone entering the Gurudwara covered their head with a piece of cloth or a handkerchief.

Therefore, I asked one of the shopkeepers and he told me that there are some rules I have to follow before entering the Gurudwara, I have to cover my head and remove my footwear before entering the Gurudwara premises. There were many shoe racks outside the entrance where I removed my shoes.

The service of collecting every visitor’s shoes lies with a group designated for the seva. As I moved towards the entrance of the gurudwara, I saw a basket filled with headscarves.

If you don’t have any piece of cloth or handkerchief, you can pick and use a head scarf from that basket and return it when you leave the Gurudwara premises. This facility is free of cost. 

Gurbani: A divine experience in Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

As I entered the Gurudwara I heard the Gurbani. Gurbani is a religious hymn in Sikhism and plays all the time in the premises. Gurbani connected my soul to the religious atmosphere all around.

There is also a facility to book a room to stay in the Gurudwara. There are perhaps 39 AC (1000 INR) rooms, 8 non-AC rooms (800 INR), and 2 halls having a capacity of 500  devotees each. I booked an AC room,

I went to my room and freshened up in the attached bathroom. Then I visited the museum and art gallery in the Gurudwara named Baba Baghel Singh Museum and the art gallery.

The gurudwara also has its own girls’ school named ‘Khalsa Girls School’ and a basement hospital. Behind the Gurudwara, I found a sacred lake named ‘Sarovar Sahib’ where the devotees go for a holy dip.

There are pretty fishes in the lake. However, the visitors aren’t allowed to feed them to encourage cleanliness.  

Langar- Seva, savoury and sweet: A must try in Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

One thing that makes Bangla Sahib Gurudwara special is its Langar facility. Langar serves food to all the devotees twice a day. Therefore all visitors can participate in an activity such as cleaning the campus floor, cooking and serving food, take care of the volunteers’ shoes near the entrance.

This is termed “seva” which means service. The langar is provided 2 times a day at specific times. The first language starts at 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Thereafter, the second follows. It begins at 7:00 PM and finishes around 10:00 PM. They serve vegetarian meals strictly.

Around 25,000 – 30,000 people are served every day. Chapati, vegetable-based curry, dal, rice, and kheer are served in langar primarily.

The seva is never-ending. Therefore, the gurudwara is open 24/7, each day of the year including national holidays. Perhaps, you may also hire a guide for information about Bangla Sahib Gurudwara.

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