The first Gurdwara was set up by Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Kartarpur in 1521, it was know as Dharmsala.  People came from all over Punjab to listen to Guru Nanak Dev Ji sing his hymns.  It also offered food and shelter to anyone who needed it.   The Gurdwara provided care for the poor, the sick and the aged.  Besides prayer, hymn singing and sharing food, it promoted literacy, physical culture and training in martial arts.

Gurdwara serves as a community centre especially for the Sikhs settled in foreign countries.  Any place where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed and treated with due respect can be referred to as a Gurdwara.  People in their homes have installed Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji for their convenience.  Kirtan, Katha, and Langar are the three main functions carried out at the Gurdwara.

There are Punjabi-Kirtan-Martial Arts and many other services provide by the Gurdwara to the community.

Entering the Gurdwara

When entering the Gurdwara, everyone is expected to remove the shoes and cover ones bare head and wash hands as of respect towards the sovereignty of the Guru Granth Sahib.  Most of the Gurdwaras have a separate side door for the people to take off their shoes and wash their hands and some places they have a sink to wash your feet also.

When entering the main Hall where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is present, everyone is expected to bow down and touch the floor as a sign of respect towards the Eternal Sikh Guru.  People offer cash and food for the common kitchen.  The cash is inserted in the safe box in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and the food could be taken to Langar Hall or left to the side of the Safe box.  You could also give donation to the office at the Gurdwara.  For all the donations you make the Gurdwara committee issues a tax-deductible receipt.