By Shahida Rehman
Cambridge’s much needed first Sikh Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) opened last month in Arbury Court, Cambridge to support the growing Sikh community in this historical city.
The Cambridge Sikh Society has been serving the growing Sikh Community in and around Cambridge since 1982, with strong links with the University of Cambridge. The building in Arbury Court was acquired in April 2012 following an extensive fund raising effort by the Sangat over the previous two years. Previously the Society, a registered charity, had been using the local Arbury Community Centre to meet once a month.
The formal opening of the centre took place on Sunday 20th January 2013 and was attended by Cambridge’s MP Julian Huppert and Cambridge Mayor Cllr Sheila Stuart, together with over 100 worshippers and other civic leaders.
Dr Jagjit Singh Srai, a Trustee of the temple said that it was wonderful to be able to join the many other faiths in the city. He said, ‘As part of our contribution to a vibrant, welcoming multicultural society in Cambridge, the Gurdwara provides a physical space for the City’s Sikh Community to worship Waheguru (God). It provides long awaited facilities to develop Sikh community life in cultural, spiritual and temporal terms, and equally importantly, enables local Sikhs to better engage with the wider community. We are delighted that our ambition to build the first Gurdwara in Cambridgeshire has been achieved within three years of the local Sangat setting out on this challenging mission.’
