Sikhs have been setting examples for the world when it comes to serving the society or helping the needful. Sikh temples/ Gurudwaras have been working along the same line as taught by Guru Nanak Devji, where He says that ‘serving humanity is the true service of the Lord’.
As in India, Gurudwaras in Auckland also do different activities in order to help the community, like Punjabi Language classes, day care centre, free food (Langar), and cultural activities.
Nanaksar Trust (Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar, Manurewa)
Religiously the Nanaksar way started in the early 1900s with Saint Baba Nand Singhji who set very high standards in meditating and worshipping God. Today, Nanaksar is a lineage of Sikh saints who live to serve the beings of God.
On the insistence of the local sangat and with the help of the few families the New Zealand Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar was incorporated in November 1989. After some time a small Gurdwara was started. With the increase of Sikh families migrating to New Zealand, these humble beginnings have today resulted in one of the most beautiful and the busiest Gurdwara in the southern hemisphere.
For over three years now, Gurdwara Sahib hosts children from the local primary, intermediate and high schools to make them aware of Sikhism and also give them an experience of our religious practices. The New Zealand Nanaksar Trust is assisting the enforcement and community agencies to understand our religious and cultural beliefs by hosting a series of Awareness Sessions at the Gurdwara Sahib. The aim of these sessions is to give the staff from agencies across the board a better understanding about our community so that they can understand our values, beliefs and practices and then provide culturally sensitive advice to our families in need.
Started in April 2009, the Nanaksar Education Phulwari is licensed for 38 children and is working hard to provide a caring and stimulating learning environment for children across all ethnicities.
Responding to another need of the local community, the Nanaksar Chardi Kala Learning Centre was introduced, another Ministry of Education approved after school study support service for primary and intermediate school children. The homework support service is helping children with homework, assists them in understanding their study topics and gives them opportunities to enhance their overall confidence.
Gurudwara Sri DashmeshDarbar, Kolmar Road
Other than Nanaksar trust other Gurudwaras are also playing an important role in helping out the community. Gurudwara Sri Dashmesh Darbar, Kolmar Road other than Punjabi classes and cultural activities, also provides free food everyday morning to night.
Gurudwara committee member Resham Singh says, “We know when students from India come here to study, it’s very hard for them to find work here. So, at least they shouldn’t worry about their food. They can come here anytime to have food or tea. We are trying to help them where we can.”
He says that they do not have orthodox approach towards the religion. One has to be a bit flexible according to the surrounding environment and culture. “We do not publicise the work we do for community, but as preached by our holy Gurus we follow their path in serving the humanity”
Gurudwara Sri Guru Harkishan Sahib, New Lynn; Gurudwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib, Takanini; Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh SangatGurdwaraOtahuhu; Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib, Tauranga; Gurudwara Sri Guru Arjan Devji, Avondale and other gurudwaras situated in different parts of New Zealand will be organising different Diwan and Akhand Path on the occasion of Sri Guru Nanak Devji’s birth anniversary.