ABSTRACT
The Sikh world revolves around the gurdwara, an institution that has continuously served Sikhs for the past 500 years. Beginning with the establishment of the first dharamsala at Kartarpur by Guru Nanak to contemporary gurdwaras in the diaspora, the gurdwara serves as a religious, social, political, and cultural institution. This chapter will navigate through the sociopolitical conditions surrounding the origins and evolution of the gurdwara since the early sixteenth century. From there, a systematic analysis discussing parallel institutions, daily routines, the role of the gurdwara in a Sikh’s life, and the different types of gurdwaras will offer readers a deeper understanding about the importance of the gurdwara as the central institution for Sikhs.
