The current premises (since 2010) are rented once a month for the purpose of for Sukhamni Sahib Ji path (prayers), kirtan (devotional singing) and Guru Ka Langar (free kitchen). The space is in a central location and is well maintained by SHBC.
The issues…
The current situation
The current premises (since 2010) are rented once a month for the purpose of for Sukhamni Sahib Ji path (prayers), kirtan (devotional singing) and Guru Ka Langar (free kitchen). The space is in a central location and is well maintained by SHBC.
• In 2015, the cost of renting this facility was increased by almost 4 fold – from £100 per day to £378 per day – because the rent was now being calculated on an hourly basis.
•Akhand Path, which used to cost £300, is now £3,500. Costs will continue to increase. This is ‘lost’ revenue.
• The current premises are linked to Camberley Theatre and in 2016, after a change in management of the theatre, an issue arose about use of the kitchen, by the theatre to cook meat at the time that the kitchen was being hired and used by the Sikh community. This was disputed and the issue was settled in favour of the Sikh community. We may face similar challenges in the future.
• In 2021, the kitchen was condemned by the council because the extractor fan was considered not to comply with current regulations. Without access to a kitchen, langar was cooked in the homes of sevadars, until finally an agreement was reached with the council to make the necessary upgrade so that the kitchen can be in use again. This Sikh community contributed £10,700 towards the cost.
Camberley Sikh Association (CSA) aims to use local talent, knowledge and skills, whenever possible, to become involved with:
• Outreach work with schools
• Collaborative projects with multi-faith organisations and other minority ethnic groups
• Provision of Langar (food donated by the Sangat) to food banks and to shelters, free at the point of need
• Support for the elderly
• Punjabi language lessons
• Teaching and learning of Kirtan, Simran and Gurbani
• Discussions about Sikh history and philosophy
• Sikh Art exhibitions and learning about Sikh martial arts
