Sikhism in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Thai Sikhs are Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

s of the Guru who have upheld the Nishaan Sahib, the Sikh flag in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

.

Introduction

The first Indian to arrive in Thailand was Mr Kirpa Ram Madan from India in 1880s. He was granted audience with the king of Thailand(Rama V) chulalongkorn. The records are available in Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Bangkok. He brought his relatives whose surname were Madan, Narula and Chawla. They were the first Indian diaspora in Thailand.

By the year 1911, many Sikh families had settled in Thailand. Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

 was indeed the centre of migrant Sikhs. During that time there was no Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....

, so religious prayers were held in the homes of the Sikhs in rotation on every Sunday and all the Gurpurab days.

The population of the Sikh community was on the rise, therefore in the year 1912, the Sikhs decided to establish a Gurdwara. A wooden house was rented in the vicinity of Baan Moh, a well known business area.

In the year 1913 (or the year 2456 according to the Buddhist calendar), with the increasing rise of the Sikh community in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, a new larger wooden house was leased for a long term at the corner of Phahurat
Phahurat
Phahurat or Pahurat , often known as Thailand's Little India, is an ethnic neighborhood surrounding Phahurat Road in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. The area that would become Phahurat was an enclave of Vietnamese immigrants who came to Siam during the reign of King Taksin...

 and Chakraphet road. After considerable renovation and decoration, the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...

 was installed and religious prayers were conducted on a daily basis.

As time passed, in the year 1979, the decision was made to renovate the Gurdwara and make it bigger to accommodate the increasing number of Sikhs. Together the committee of Siri Guru Singh Sabha and the other Thai-Sikhs asked for the blessing and permission from the Guru Granth Sahib to construct a new Gurdwara at the same location. The foundation stone was laid down by the Panj Piare
Panj Piare
The Panj Piare , name given to the five Sikhs, Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh, who were so designated by Guru Gobind Singh at the historic divan at Anandpur Sahib on 30 March 1699 and who formed the nucleus of the Khalsa as the first...

, the Five Beloved Ones. The new Gurdwara was completed after two years in the year 1981.

The first Sikh person to travel to Chiang Mai was Mr. Ishar Singh, who traveled from India through Burma into Thailand in the year 1905 AD (or the year 2448 according to the Buddhist Calendar). Shortly after that about four more families came to Thailand. They were Mr. Rattan Sing, Mr. Gian Singh, Mr. Wariaam Singh and Mr. Amanda Singh. In the year 1907. This group of Sikh people decided to setup a Gurdwara at 134 Charoenrat Road, Chiang Mai, which stands till date at the location and now occupies a space of about 240 square meters.

In the year 1975 there were only around 3 - 4 Sikh families in Pattaya. But after Pattaya was made a tourist spot, many Sikhs migrated from other provinces like Ubol Ratchthani, Udon Ratchthani, Nakorn Ratchsima (Korat) and Sattahip.

In 1932, Sikhs started moving to Khon Kaen to start some kind of business and earn a living. Initially the Sikhs in Khon Kaen did not build any Gurdwara for performing any sort of religious ceremonies or prayers. Instead Sikh people's homes were used in rotation to perform the religious prayers. However, the religious ceremonies, prayers were performed only on Sundays; the first day of the month and on other religious dates. Later, in the year 1972, as the number of Sikhs increased, a Gurdwara was then constructed. It is a two storey building, which is located at 157-9 Ruamchit Road, Khon Kaen.

The Gurdwara in Lampang was initially located at 113-115 Sai Klang Road, Lampang and was one of the old Gurdwaras in Thailand. In 1933, a Sikh named, Wariaam Singh, donated a piece of land and started construction of the Gurdwara. Later, as the number of Sikhs increased a new and bigger Gurdwara was constructed at 106/1-3 Thip Chaang Road, Lampang. On September 24, 1992 the foundation stone of the new Gurdwara was laid, gathering a large number of Sikh people from nearby provinces and Bangkok to witness the event.

In 1947, Sikhs started moving to Korat to start some kind of business and earn a living. Initially the Sikhs in Korat did not build any Gurdwara for performing any sort of religious ceremonies or prayers. Instead Sikh people's homes were used in rotation to perform the religious prayers. However, the religious ceremonies, prayers were performed only on Sundays; the first day of the month and on other religious dates. Later as the number of Sikhs increased, a Gurdwara was then constructed. On December 23, 1984, there was a parade held by the Sikh Community through the town of Korat, to celebrate the opening ceremony of this Gurdwara.

The first Gurdwara in Phuket was constructed by the Sikhs who had come to Phuket to do Tin Mining and Railway Engineering under the supervision of the British in the year 1939. These groups of Sikhs were also involved in the Indian National Army (INA) during the World War II. Later there were many Sikh businessmen started migrating to Phuket to start a business in the field of tailoring and hotel. More Sikhs moved to Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...

, when the province was made into one of the main tourist spots of Thailand. This led to a necessity in expanding and renovating the Gurdwara to be able to accommodate the increasing number of Sikhs in Phuket. The Gurdwara Committee of Phuket along with many other Sikhs together helped in constructing a new Gurdwara. The opening ceremony was held on January 22, 2001. The Chief Minister for this occasion was Privy Council Member, Bichit Kulavnich.

Gurudwaras (Sikh Temples) in Thailand

In Thailand, Sikhs have constructed several Gurdwaras throughout the country. Currently there are 17 Gurdwaras located in the following provinces:
  • Bangkok, Phra Nakhon
    Phra Nakhon
    Phra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...

  • Chiang Mai, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai
    Mueang Chiang Mai is the capital district of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. The district contains the city of Chiang Mai.-History:...

  • Chiang Rai, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai
    Mueang Chiang Rai is the capital district of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Mae Fa Luang, Mae Chan, Wiang Chiang Rung, Wiang Chai, Thoeng, Pa Daet, Phan, Mae Lao, Mae Suai of Chiang Rai Province and Mae Ai of Chiang Mai Province.The important water...

  • Chonburi, Pattaya
    Pattaya
    Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....

  • Khon Kaen, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Khon Kaen
    Mueang Khon Kaen is the capital district of Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Ban Haet, Phra Yuen, Ban Fang, Ubolratana, Nam Phong, Sam Sung of Khon Kaen Province, Kosum Phisai and Chiang Yuen of Maha Sarakham Province.-History:In 1917, the district...

  • Lampang, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Lampang
    Mueang Lampang is the capital district of Lampang Province, northern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are : Mueang Pan, Chae Hom, Mae Mo, Mae Tha, Ko Kha and Hang Chat of Lampang Province, Mae Tha of Lamphun Province, and Mae On of Chiang Mai Province.-Administration:The district is...

  • Nakhon Phanom, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Phanom
    Mueang Nakhon Phanom is the capital district of Nakhon Phanom Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are That Phanom, Renu Nakhon of Nakhon Phanom Province, Kusuman of Sakon Nakhon Province, Pla Pak and Tha Uthen of Nakhon Phanom Province again...

  • Nakhon Ratchasima, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
    Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima is one of 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Northeastern Thailand. Including the center city of district is City of Nakhon Ratchasima.-Introduction:...

  • Nakhon Sawan, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Sawan
    Mueang Nakhon Sawan is the capital district of Nakhon Sawan Province, in northern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Banphot Phisai, Kao Liao, Chum Saeng, Tha Tako, Phayuha Khiri, Krok Phra, Lat Yao....

  • Pattani, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Pattani
    Mueang Pattani is the capital district of Pattani Province, southern Thailand.-History:This area was the center of the Pattani Kingdom. In the reign of King Rama II, the king ordered to divide the kingdom to 7 cities , Pattani, Yaha, Yaring, Nong Chik, Ra-ngae, Raman and Sai Buri. It was...

  • Phuket, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Phuket
    Amphoe Mueang Phuket is the capital district of Phuket Province. The town Phuket itself is in the northwest of the district.-Geography:The district covers the southern part of the island Phuket...

  • Samut Prakan, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Samut Prakan
    Mueang Samut Prakan is the capital district of Samut Prakan Province, central Thailand. The district has the highest population of all districts of Thailand.-Tourist attractions:...

  • Songkhla, Hat Yai district
    Amphoe Hat Yai
    -Geography:Neighboring districts are Khuan Kalong of Satun Province, and Rattaphum, Bang Klam, Khuan Niang, Singhanakhon, Mueang Songkhla, Na Mom, Chana, Sadao and Khlong Hoi Khong....

  • Trang, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Trang
    Mueang Trang Mueang Trang Mueang Trang ( , also Mueang Thap Thiang ( ) is the capital district ( Amphoe Mueang ) of Trang Province, Thailand. The city (thesaban nakhon) has a population of 59,637 (2005) and covers the whole tambon Thap Thiang of Mueang Trang district....

  • Ubon Ratchathani, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
    Mueang Ubon Ratchathani is the capital district of Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The district was originally named Buphapala Nikhom...

  • Udon Thani, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Udon Thani
    Mueang Udon Thani is the capital district of Udon Thani Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Phen, Phibun Rak, Nong Han, Prachaksinlapakhom, Kumphawapi, Nong Saeng, Nong Wua So, Kut Chap and Ban Phue of Udon Thani Province.-History:Originally named Ban Mak Khaeng...

  • Yala, Mueang district
    Amphoe Mueang Yala
    Mueang Yala is the capital district of Yala Province, southern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Khok Pho, Mae Lan and Yarang of Pattani Province, Raman, Krong Pinang and Yaha of Yala province, and Saba Yoi of Songkhla Province.-Administration:The district is subdivided into 14...


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