Sikhism in Germany

Last updated

Sikhism in Germany
Sikhismus in Deutschland
Khanda (Sikh Symbol).svg
A Sikh Soldier of the Azad Hind Fauj at a function in Berlin.jpg
A Sikh Soldier of the Azad Hind Fauj at a function in Berlin (1944)
Total population
25,000 estimate
Regions with significant populations
Berlin  · Frankfurt  · Munich  · Hamburg  · Cologne  ·
Religions
Sikhism
Languages
Punjabi  · German

German Sikhs are a growing religious minority in Germany. The majority of German Sikhs have their roots from the Punjab, India with the remaining coming from the Afghan Sikh community or through conversion. The number of Sikhs is estimated to be between 25,000. [1] Germany had the fifth highest Sikh population in Europe after United Kingdom (524,000), Italy (220,000), Portugal (35,000) and Spain (26,000).

Contents

The majority of Sikhs can be found in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt or Munich.

Gurdwaras

Here are a list of some of the Gurdwaras in Germany. [2]

List of German Sikhs

Attack on Sikh Community

In April 2016, two 16-year-old Muslims bombed a gurdwara in the German city of Essen using fire extinguishers that were converted into an explosive device. The devices detonated after a wedding party had left for the reception. A gurdwara priest was injured seriously, while two others were treated for minor injuries. The building itself was damaged severely. One of the teens was in deradicalization program. The two denied that it was religiously motivated, saying it was “just for the kick of building fireworks!” However, before setting off the blast, the two tried to break into another gurdwara in North Rhine Westphalia. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara</span> Place of worship in Sikhism

A gurdwara or gurudwara is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs but its normal meaning is place of guru or "Home of guru". Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as Gurdwara Sahib. People from all faiths and religions are welcomed in gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takht in a prominent central position. Any congregant may recite, sing, and explain the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the rest of the congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarn Taran Sahib</span> City in Punjab, India

Tarn Taran Sahib is a city in the Majha region of the state of Punjab, in northern India. It is the district headquarters and hosts the municipal council of Tarn Taran district. Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, a prominent Sikh shrine, is located in the central part of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granthi</span> A person who read Sikhism holy book to worshipers

A Granthi is a person, female or male, of the Sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book in Sikhism, often read to worshipers at Sikh temples called a Gurdwara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dera Baba Nanak</span> Town in Punjab, India

Dera Baba Nanak is a town and a municipal council in Gurdaspur district, in the state of Punjab, India. It is the sub-district headquarters of Dera Baba Nanak tehsil. It is 36 km away from Gurdaspur city, the capital of the district. Since November 2019, a corridor between India and Pakistan has been established at its shrine.

The town of Mullanpur Dakha,' also known as Mandi Mullanpur, is located in the Ludhiana district in the Indian state of Punjab. It is a nagar panchayat, a settlement in transition from rural to urban. Due to the availability of transport routes to other villages, the town serves as a marketplace of grain and other goods to the surrounding area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh architecture</span> Style of architecture

Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Keshgarh Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib are prime examples.

Sikhism is a minority religion in Belgium, but Sikhs have played a role in Belgian history; during World War I, many Sikhs fought in Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Nanak Shahi</span>

Gurdwara Nanak Shahi is the principal Sikh Gurdwara in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located at the campus of the University of Dhaka and considered to be the biggest of the 9 to 10 Gurdwaras in the country. The Gurudwara commemorates the visit of Guru Nanak (1506–1507). It is said to have been built in 1830. The present building of the Gurdwara was renovated in 1988–1989. The parkarma verandah had been constructed on all four sides of the original building to provide protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism in Italy</span> Religious minority in Italy

Italian Sikhs are a growing religious minority in Italy, which has the second biggest Sikh population in Europe after the United Kingdom (525,000) and sixth largest number of Sikhs in the world. It is estimated that there are 220,000 Sikhs in Italy, constituting 0.3% of the total Italian population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism in the Netherlands</span>

Dutch Sikhs form a religious minority in the Netherlands. They number around 15,000 and most of them live in or around Amsterdam. There are nine gurudwaras in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guru Nanak</span> Founder and first guru of Sikhism (1469–1539)

Gurū Nānak, also known as Bābā Nānak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Katak Pooranmashi, i.e. October–November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazur Sahib</span> One of the 5 Takhts in Sikhism

Hazur Sahib, also known as Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of the five takhts in Sikhism. The gurdwara was built between 1832 and 1837 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839). It is located on the banks of the Godavari River at the city of Nanded in the state of Maharashtra, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabhal Kalan</span> Town in Punjab, India

Chabhal Kalan is a town in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab, India and is located 13 miles (21 km) away from Amritsar city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurudwara Nagiana Sahib</span>

Gurdwara Nagiana Sahib is a Gurdwara, or holy Sikh shrine, located in Udoke, a small village near Batala in Punjab, India. The shrine was built by the Sikh saint Sant Baba Chuggat Singh Ji, who served as the first official Sewadar (volunteer) of the shrine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirmal Singh Khalsa</span> Indian priest and singer

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa was a Sikh Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

The Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib, also known as Gurdwara Sri Gyan Godri Sahib, meaning "treasure of knowledge" was one of the holiest Gurdwara at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It existed at the place where The Bharat Scouts and Guides office exists today at the market in Subhash Ghat of Har Ki Pauri which is verified by Municipal Corporation Haridwar records of 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balbir Singh (ragi)</span> Musical artist (1933 – 2020)

Balbir Singh was a Sikh Hazuri Ragi who sang and performed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for 36 years. He was one of the last masters of traditional Sikh gurbani kirtan of the Golden Temple.

References

  1. "Mitgliederzahlen: Sonstige - REMID - Religionswissenschaftlicher Medien- und Informationsdienst e.V." remid.de (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2017. Sikhs, 25,000 (2020)....The "German Information Center for Sikh Religion, Sikh History, Culture and Science (DISR)" estimates the number of Sikhs in Germany at 18,000 for 2017
  2. "Gurudwara | Gurdwara in Germany & Europa". www.deutsches-informationszentrum-sikhreligion.de.
  3. "Sikh Temple bombing in Germany". The Independent. 29 April 2016.