Comments on: Amritsar Golden Temple: Sikh’s Clever “f you” to the Caste System?

By: Aman

Aman — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 16:54:19 +0000

Thank you for the beautiful article and sharing your experience at the Golden Temple. Kindly note, women ARE allowed in the holy water but there is a separate entrance and room built over the sirover “holy water body” for privacy for women and young girls.

Thank you, again for sharing your experience. Sending good vibes.

By: Harmanpreet singh

Harmanpreet singh — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:03:08 +0000

its not like that women cant bath in there, there is separate wallled area in the holy pool where ladies can have bath in holy water.

By: Gursimran Kaur

Gursimran Kaur — Fri, 31 May 2019 05:55:00 +0000

Hi Rachel, Just went through your blog. A great description to read from a traveller’s viewpoint of a place where i have been since childhood. Just to add, to the above text, Women too can have a dip in the pond (Holy Divine Nectar) , its just that they cannot do in open, There are covered areas around the periphery of the pond where only women can enter to have a holy dip in the pond.

By: Harbans Lal Badhan

Harbans Lal Badhan — Mon, 20 May 2019 07:02:15 +0000

*The Untouchables (Dalits) of India want economic, social, political, religious and educational equality in Society, not in the eyes of God*

By: Chin Bhahadur

Chin Bhahadur — Wed, 01 May 2019 23:51:54 +0000

While its true that Golden temple feeds all without any caste/race/religious discrimination. There is a subtle caste system in Indian society and can been seen in Sikhs, Muslims and Christians too. Read on how ravidassia and mazhabi sikhs are not entertained in Sikh temples:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazhabi_Sikh Same is true for catholic clergy, muslim elites. Once you are born a dalit you are shunned irrespective of religion. Religion is a mess and needs to be weeded out.

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 05:49:13 +0000

In reply to Jess. I didn't stay there Jess, I just took a day trip!

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 15:52:44 +0000

Where did you stay in Amritsar?

Im looking for a hostel to meet other people, or maybe a hotel if there arent any good options.

Cheers
Jess

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 07:28:52 +0000

In reply to Harbans Lal Badhan. Interesting quote, thanks for sharing

By: Harbans Lal Badhan

Harbans Lal Badhan — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 11:17:47 +0000

“The whole world knows that the Indian Caste system is more dangerous and harmful than chemical weapons.”
(Harbans Lal Badhan)

By: Simi

Simi — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 01:02:42 +0000

Nice article, but I feel the need to tell you that women ARE allowed to go in the water! Because it would be uncomfortable to bathe in the water in front of everyone in the Gurudwara, there’s a spot reserved for them.

By: HARBANS LAL BADHAN

HARBANS LAL BADHAN — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 08:02:44 +0000

In reply to Rachel. "Dr. Ambedkar is the heart and the brain of the untouchables (Dalits) of India." (Harbans Lal Badhan)

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 12:47:25 +0000

In reply to Rachel. thanks!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 03:28:02 +0000

Hi there, just wanted to point out that women ARE in fact allowed to have a dip in the water. There is a zone reserved for women :)

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 11:14:11 +0000

The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Sitting around the water on a balmy October afternoon listening to beautiful kirtan (hymns) being sung live can be a surreal experience. One small point I wanted to point out is that ladies are allowed to take a dip in the sarowar (water tank) albeit in a covered enclosure.

Great blog, hope to see you inThilassa sometime. Cheers.

By: Harbans Lal Badhan

Harbans Lal Badhan — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:37:23 +0000

“The Untouchables (Dalits) of India want economic, social, political, religious and educational equality in society, not in the eyes of God”
(Harbans Lal Badhan)

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:49:58 +0000

In reply to Stephen. Yes, definitely for the best!

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:44:48 +0000

I didn’t make it up this far, but stumbled across a Sikh temple in Delhi that was a really nice place: http://instagram.com/p/xMqS8LCU_W/ Can’t say it occurred to me to make a barefoot bathroom visit, though which is probably for the best!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:34:59 +0000

In reply to Jot. Hi, thanks for your comment. The title actually is saying that it's an eff you to the hindu caste system.. as in the sikhs don't have a caste system!

By: Jot

Jot — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:03:06 +0000

Its a nice article.I appreciate your work. I want to share with you that There is no caste system in sikhs,the names given to different people such as sehajdhari is not a caste, it is name for those poeple who are slowly coming in sikh religion, some people feel proud to call themselves as ramgarhia after the great soldier jassa singh ramgarhia and so on. Regarding the terrorism, it should be called as government terrorism. To know more you may read the book “Gallant defender” by AR Darshi(nonsikh)(retired joint secretary punjab govt)
And by a big rival of bhindrawala” Operation blue star” by Kuldeep barar(leu. general)
Bhindrawala was not a terrorist.He never killed common people just like laden. He was against casteism superstitions and the people pretending to be God. He helped the girls a lot irrespective of their religion. At that time if there used to be any type torture on girls for dowry by inlaws or kidnapping, rape or female feoticide , he and his men used to give unexplainable hard punishments to the criminals. At last about clash at golden temple, in investigation the fact came out is that the people who were responsible for the clash were non sikhs in disguise of the sikhs. The environment of Punjab at this time is just calm to see but behind the mirror a big planning is going on to prove sikhs as terrorists.
Golden temple is really a nice place.I visit here very often. It was blown by govt in 1984 in a well planned operation on the eve of Guru Arjun’s gurupurab.

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:33:33 +0000

In reply to Stef. It's such a great idea!