Skip to main content

Religious prayer services

The following religious services (Paaths) are offered at the Sabha and at members homes:

  • Akhand Paath Sahib – is the continuous reading of the entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from the beginning to the end.  This is normally accomplished within 48 hours (usually starts at 10:30am on Friday and finishes on Sunday at 10:30 am).
  • Sehaj Sahib Paath (or Sadharan Paath) –  is the reading of the entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This is usually accomplished within six to seven days in discussion with the family arranging the Sehaj Sahib Paath.
  • Sukhamni Sahib Paath – this was written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the fifth Sikh Guru). The Sukhamni Sahib Paath spans 35 angs (pages) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This is normally accomplished within 3 – 4 hours.

Charges for Paaths at the Sabha

  • Shri Akhand Paath – Granthi Fee £300 & Langar for 3 days £950.
  • Sukhamni Sahib Paath (Monday – Saturday) – Granthi Fee £51, Raggi Fee £100 and Langar for the day £350.
  • Sukhamni Sahib Paath (Sunday) – Granthi Fee £51 and Langar for the day £500.
  • Sehaj Sahib Paath – Granthi Fee £200 & Parsad £51.
  • Request for Ardaas – Free.
  • Request for Arti – Free.

Charges for Paaths at the Home

  • For Paaths at home, only a Granthi Fee is charged.
  • Event to be arranged in person at the Sabha.

Births/Birthdays

Naam karan

  • The birth of a child is celebrated through a special naming ceremony known as ‘naam karan’.
  • The ceremony has the following stages:
  • The granthi (custodian of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) opens the Guru Granth Sahib at random. The page that is revealed will be determined by ‘Hukam’ (God’s will).
  • As the page opens at random, the granthi reads the first line of the page. The first letter of the first word on that page decides the first letter of the child’s name, which the parents choose.
  • The granthi then announces the name to the congregation.
  • During the service, the baby is given a spoonful of amrit mixture which is made and stirred with a double-edged sword.
  • The parents make Karah Parshad or give a donation for it to be made. This is offered to the sangat at the end of the service.

Matrimonial

What is Anand Karaj Marriage?

The Ravidassia Marriage Ceremony takes place on the premises of the Sabha (temple). It contains the religious ceremony, conducted by the Granthi (custodian) and the registration performed by an authorised registrar according to the English Law.

The Ravidassia weddings are very simple. The Anand Karaj marriage was given a statutory recognition in 1909, which has been adhered to by the Ravidassia Community, and the couple are married according to this form, once they have come of an age to undertake matrimonial responsibilities. Marriages are generally arranged but there is no bar for the couple to make arrangements by themselves. 

The bride and groom along with their relatives and friends form a congregation in the presence of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (our holy scriptures). The couple and their parents (or guardians) stand up and an Ardass (prayer) is said. The bride’s father (or guardian) places the Pallah (scarf) of the groom in the hands of the bride. 

The Granti (custodian) reads the lavan (the fusing of the soul of bride and groom into one conscious being), which are four verses from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as quoted below. After the reading of each verse, the couple walks clockwise four times around the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which describes the sacred journey of the soul, the groom leading the bride, while the verses are sung with musical instruments being played. After the reading of the lavan, Anand Sahib is read. After Ardass, the hukamnama is read, the Karah Parsad (blessed food) is then distributed to all present.

Wedding lavan

The first verse 

The Lord presents before you His instruction for the daily duties of marital life:          

Har pelrree laav parvirteeKaram drirraya balram jeo. Bani Brahama Ved dharm drirroPaap tjaya balram jeo.

The second verse

You behold His presence before you. God, the Lord Master is the soul of the creation:          

Har doorree laav Satgur purkh Milaya balram jeo. Nirbhao bhey mun hoey Haomay meil gaviya balram jeo.

The third verse

The praises of the Lord fill my mind. Singing His praises and speaking the Divine Word, the Immaculate Lord is found:

Har teejrree laav man chao bhiya Bairagia balram jeo. Sant jana Har mail Har paiya Vadbhagia balram jeo

The fourth verse

The mind grasps the knowledge of the Divine, and God is realised within. By the Guru’s Grace, we have reached the Lord with ease; Our bodies and our souls are filled with the tender delight of the Beloved.

Har chaothree laav mun sehaj bhiya Har paaiyua balram jeo. Gurmukh milia Subhaey Har Mun Tun mitha laaya balram jeo.

Families Introduction Service 

  • The Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Sabha Medway runs a Families Introduction Service to support individuals and families in their search for the right companion. Please note, this service is only for permanent residents of the UK and there is a one-off charge of £X.
  • The Families Introduction Service is managed by the Committee Head and other committee members.
  • For more information about the process, please discuss with Harjinder Bhaga (Committee Head).
  • The Families Introduction Services will always act in a sincere and independent manner, and in good faith to introduce interested individuals and families, while respecting privacy.

Funeral

Funeral arrangements (Antam Sanskaar) are generally organised by the family of the deceased. The religious ceremony can take place at either the home of the family and/or at the Sabha.

The Sabha is here to support the family during their loss. 

Generally, a Sehaj Sahib Paath is performed at the funeral, where the Paath commences before the cremation ceremony and concludes after the cremation.

The Sabha also performs religious services during the scattering of the ashes (by sending a Granthi (custodian) with the family) if the ashes are to be scattered in the UK.

Charges – The Sabha will provide free Langar (consisting of Dahl, Roti and Dehi). However, for a langar of family’s choice a fee of £300 will be charged.

Education

At the Sabha, we offer punjabi language and music classes to help the sangat (congregation) better connect with their religion and the understanding of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. 

Language classes

‘Punjabi’ is a language, and ‘Gurmukhi’ is a script used to write Punjabi.

It is important for punjabis to learn their mother tongue, become fluent in it, and thereby develop a stronger connection with the Punjab.  

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is written in Gurmukhi, and so it is only through knowing and understanding punjabi, that the congregation can participate in the worship of Waheguru Ji by understanding the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The Sabha provides educational classes for the congregation to learn to speak punjabi, read it, and write it. The Sabha provides this on X every week between 11am – 12:30pm (with snacks provided).

Music, paath, and kirtan classes 

Every Wednesday and Friday between 6pm – 8pm, the Sabha holds music sessions for the sangat to play the harmonium, tabla, dholak, and other percussion (chimta/ kartal (hand cymbals)) which are instruments that are regularly used during devotional music. 

The Sabha can also arrange for the sangat to learn kirtan and/or paath.

Future: Lectures/ talks (sikh and ravidassia)

The Sabha will look to organise lectures and talks about the Ravidassia religion, Sikhism, learn more about Guru Ravidass Ji, and the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Day trips and days out

The Sabha regularly organises trips for members and their families to visit different parts of Kent, London, and France. All members and their families are welcome to attend any trip and events organised by the Sabha.

This is great way to spend a day with the community, make friends, and see different parts of the country. 

In April 2024, the Sabha organised a trip to France to visit the Gurdwara Shri Guru Ravidass Paris. Below are some pictures from the trip.