Since last August, the local Sikh community, under the name of Thompson Khalsa Darbar, set up as a religious and charitable non-profit organization, has permanently rented a hall for its Gurdwara at 721 Thompson Drive South in Southwood Plaza. Daily prayers are being held at 6 a.m., along with weekly religious ceremonies every Sunday, and beside this, free keertan, Sikh history, and religion education is being provided to children and adults.

OTTAWA, Canada (January 29, 2014)—Sikhism is a practical religion – a faith of hope and optimism. Its ideals form a large part of the more progressive elements in humanity today. The Sikh way of life is based on three fundamentals: Earn an honest living, share that with others and always remember the one Omni present God.

The Sikhs came to Canada as early as 1900 and today the total population of Sikhs in Canada is around 700,000. A large number of North Americans today are embracing Sikhism.
Sikhs started settling in Thompson in the 1960s. With the passage of time they have made their presence felt in almost every sphere of life. Today the Sikhs in Thompson are working as engineers, managers, technicians, professors, businessmen, healthcare professionals and salespersons. With their hard work, innovation and commitment to basic human values they are contributing to the economic, social and spiritual growth of their new homeland and the City of Thompson in their own way.
Like every culture or religion Sikhs, too, have their own festivals and customs which they celebrate with devotion and fervour. For many years, Sikhs in Thompson used to hold monthly congregations and mark religious days in rented halls.
Since last August, the local Sikh community, under the name of Thompson Khalsa Darbar, set up as a religious and charitable non-profit organization, has permanently rented a hall for its temple at 721 Thompson Drive South in Southwood Plaza, where Sri Guru Granth Sahib has been placed with all reverence and daily prayers are being held. Besides daily prayers at 6 a.m., weekly religious ceremonies are held every Sunday, while free Punjabi culture, spiritual music and Sikh history and religion education is being provided to children and adults.
The Khalsa is the collective body of all initiated Sikhs. The word Khalsa translates to sovereign and free and genuine and pure. The organization is in the process of framing formal bylaws and a constitution and planning to co-ordinate volunteer activities, such as making blood donations, working on environment protection, and the promotion of Punjabi culture and language in the coming days to help build Thompson into a better place to live and rejoice for both long-time local resident and more recent immigrants.
Anyone interested in more information about Thompson Khalsa Darbar at 721 Thompson Drive South in Southwood Plaza, or joining the free education or music classes, can contact Nama Sandhu by telephone at (204) 679-2133 
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
NAMA SANDHU