Manchester’s new Sikh temple opens

A new Sikh temple in Manchester which has been in the pipeline for over 45 years was open for worship at the weekend.

The Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara officially opened with a parade and celebration on November 11 in Manchester’s Old Trafford neighbourhood on Upper Chorlton Road. The Gurdwara (the name of the Sikh house of worship) was designed by the architect Amar Singh Egan and built at a cost of £2 million.

While in the past Sikhs have frequently bought former churches or warehouses and converted them to their needs, this Gurdwara was constructed as a planned Sikh temple and is considered a special achievement. It replaces the previous Gurdwara that was located in a converted home since the 1970s.

The new Gurdwara will not only function as a religious space but also as a gathering point for Sikh life in the area. The building includes a cultural centre, educational centre, and exercise and spa space to serve the needs of the Sikh community.

The Sikh population in Manchester has grown in recent years, with an estimate of 2,500 Sikh families and over 15,000 Sikh individuals living in the city.

Sikhism is one of the largest organised faiths in the world and remains a fast-growing religion, both globally and within India.

Danny Mucinskas