Chester University students visit Southall

Among my various activities is organising field trips for university students.  For several years I have facilitated field trips in Sikh studies for trainee Religious Education students from Chester University.  Lucy Edwards, who is a member of the Methodist Church and one of the students who visited Southall from 6th to 9th February, writes her reflections on the field trip. 

 As part of the PGCE course in Religious Education at the University of Chester, our group attended an enrichment trip to Southall (London). Dr Joy Barrow very kindly arranged a number of experiences that were designed to increase our understanding of Sikhism as a living faith, in a number of different contexts.

Sikhism believes in equality of birth and gender.  In the picture above a woman is waving a chowri over the Sikh sacred sciptures, the Guru Granth Sahib.
                                                                                  

The Sri Guru Singh Sahba Gurdwara in Havelock Road is the largest gurdwara in Europe. Its scale and grandeur is impressive, yet this does not distract from its egalitarian nature. We were lucky enough to visit on a day when the Guru Granth Sahib was being read aloud continuously (an Akhand Path), which is an extremely sacred experience for Sikhs. The atmosphere was relaxed and there seemed to be no prescriptive time to stay. An invitation to partake in langar (communal food) demonstrated the inclusiveness that is fundamental within Sikhism.

The Sikh Missionary Society in Featherstone Road presented a smaller and more intimate setting to learn about Sikhism. We listened to two Sikhs’ very personal accounts of how they came to their faith and had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of Sikhism that are not readily found in textbooks. We also had a talk about the importance of kirtan (meditative singing of the Guru Granth Sahib) and listened to some kirtan played on the dilruba.

Finally we visited a Sikh Sunday School run by dedicated volunteers at the Ramgarhia Sabha gurdwara in Oswald Road. To accomodate the numbers of pupils, a nearby primary school is hired each Sunday morning.  Parents are welcome, as they often want to learn more about Sikhism and Punjabi, enabling them to be more involved in their children’s learning. Whilst speaking with a group of boys, I discovered that they all expressed their approach to the Sikh faith differently. This was mirrored in how they each displayed the physical symbols of their faith. Discussing to what extent they chose belief to shape their lives, in such a friendly setting, was refreshing and informative.

Through out all the visits, we were met with generosity and kindness. Sikhism, promotes the practice of faith within the everyday, stressing the importance of the family and the community. I felt an affinity with the Sikh faith, as there are many parallels between Sikhism and Methodism. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to experience Sikhism in Southall.

Photographs: Joy Barrow