On Thursday, Fressingfield Primary School took 30 children on a fantastic visit to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Ipswich. This special place of worship sits at the heart of a Sikh community several hundred strong in Ipswich and the surrounding areas. Our children, who were eager to find out about Sikhism and the role of the Gurdwara, were given a warm welcome to this special place by two of the congregation and the Granthi – the equivalent of a priest who is the custodian of the Guru Granth Sahib (the religious scriptures of the Sikhs).
On arrival, we were invited in and asked to remove our shoes and wash our hands as a mark of respect. Having done so, the children proceeded to the main room for services and worship which houses the Guru Granth Sahib on a golden altar. The children sat in respectful and attentive silence as Avtar and Paaji explained how Sikhs worship, the importance of the Guru Granth Sahib, how to wear a turban, the significance of the ‘five Ks’ (the religious symbols and practices adopted by baptised Sikhs) and the role of service and food as part of their beliefs. Afterwards, the children had time and space to explore more closely, ask further questions and sketch things of interest to them. The staff and hosts were really impressed with the children’s excellent, respectful behaviour.
We are so grateful to the Sikh community of Ipswich, and to Avtar and Paaji in particular, for giving our children such a memorable and positive experience. It is so important for children in our community to have such positive encounters with diversity so they can develop values of tolerance and respect and be prepared for life in modern Britain.
