Khalsa Jatha Gurdwarda :How London's oldest Sikh gurdwara has faced the good times and the bad during lockdown

The stunning Khalsa Jatha gurdwarda, and insets, volunteers preparing and transporting meals to members of the community

Faith groups across Kensington and Chelsea have a tradition of joining together to support communities and it’s been no different during lockdown.

They are now making plans for welcoming congregations back - when that is possible.

It’s thought that places of worship could reopen - with careful steps in place in early July.

Europe’s oldest Sikh place of worship the Khalsa Jatha - also known as the Central Gurdwara - on the borders of Kensington is preparing to welcome people back.

 During lockdown the gurdwara put in broadcast-quality cameras  so it could stream prayers which were said five times a day and people joined in by Zoom.

 President Gurpreet Singh Anand said the safety measures will include a one-way system, hand sanitiser and strict observance of the 2m social distancing rule, with everyone wearing a face mask.

 There will be a maximum of 40 worshippers with volunteers on hand to “very kindly, nicely and compassionately” ensure people keep to the safety rules.

Gurpreet Singh Anand carries meals during coronavirus. The gurdwara provided some 550 meals each day to people in need

Mr Anand said: “It’s a time that’s been difficult for us all. We have all lost relatives, we have all seen deaths. It’s human nature to celebrate the good times and the bad.”

Khalsa Jatha gurdwarda were worshippers are now starting to return

And the gurdwara has lost two members of the congregation, an elderly man and another who had returned from overseas.

Because of its 112-year history the gurdwara normally attracts people from as far afield as Reading, Gerrards Cross and Croydon.

And it can attract 400 people at a time, with up to 1,000 attending during the day.

 Mr Anand thinks as lockdown has given people time to reflect on the important things in life and “removed the superficial. We are expecting people to come back not for a social gathering but to meet God.”

Volunteers at the Khalsa Jatha gurdwarda cooking up a storm during lockdown

Volunteers have also helped fund and deliver 550 meals a day to help support the community - with food going to a range of places including the food bank in North Kensington, Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals, Beatrice Place for older adults with mental health needs amongst others.

Just one of the many batches of meals prepared at the gurdwara

Mr.Anand said that the gurdwara has united with other places of worship, just as they did after the Grenfell Tower fire just a mile away.“It’s brought us together collectively to do more. One finger can carry so much weight - ten fingers can carry so much more,” he said.

Holland Park Synagogue. One of the many places of worship that have joined together in an Interfaith Forum 

More than 40 places of worship which belong to the Interfaith Forum are embracing technology so their congregations can stay connected apart and they plan to develop it even more after lockdown.

They include the Holland Park Synagogue where services are currently virtual and WhatsApp was pressed into action to find out who would like cheesecake and challah delivered to help celebrate last month’s Shavuot - or harvest festival - remotely.

 And Mr Anand said: “The Covid and Grenfell responses have shown that there is a resilience  across the community, with all these acts of kindness and responses across the community - it’s a positive act of society.”

Link:https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/how-londons-oldest-sikh-gurdwara-18448366