A Sacred Place

I think Sikh temples everywhere are, essentially, the same. You are bound to find some kid or probably several, wailing for attention from the bottom of their lungs. You will probably see women in brightly coloured suits gossiping. Most likely there will be some old woman hobbling around demanding things. You will see covered heads, and the aroma of wafting spices will greet you like an old friend. You will taste tradition and you will sit at a table, just like the Gurus imagined, beggar and king together.

Underneath those vivid colours swirling in paths of social spheres, or those deep hushed voices, or the kids screaming, you find something more. It will not seem apparent at first, because the Gurdwara is a place of chaos. But in chaos there is the most creation. Disorganization does not mean confusion. Look deeper. You will see devotion. You will see community. You will see love.

Languages merge at this crossroads of culture. In the cloakroom people will hug and greet in English or Punjabi. Young women may wear lululemon pants and scarves on their heads, or they might be dressed in the traditional salwaar kameez and know all the words to familiar prayers. We will talk about how annoying Indian parents can be about dating, or we will talk about God. There are screens up for translation, but tonight there is only a picture of the Golden Temple all lit up by Diwali fireworks. There is no need for translation in the universal language of Light.

Tonight I stood outside of that sacred place that I have been coming to since I was a baby. I stood outside on a cold Autumn night, surrounded by brown faces that were unfamiliar. I stood staring with them, up into the sky, watching as the Heavens exploded into brilliance. Lights burst into amazing displays, firecrackers make little babies cry, and sparklers and candles light up the darkness. I watch a three year old curly headed Indo-Canadian girl holding a sparkler and marvelling at the world. And in that moment, there is no other way to describe it, I felt like I belonged. I was at home.

Image from: http://vedicodyssey.com/spiritualadventures/tag/diwali-celebrations-at-golden-temple/