Odessa (Ukraine) Gurdwara evacuated

A Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship and communal support) in the city of Odessa has had to be evacuated due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

The move came after neighbouring city Mariupol was held in siege by Russian forces during the week. The evacuation (25th March) saw the Sikh scriptural Guru – Guru Granth Sahib Ji – removed with as much respectful protocol in place as was possible.

A combined effort from United Sikhs, a humanitarian aid group doing seva (selfless service) in-and-around Ukraine, European Sikh faith group Sikh Dharma International and the British military’s Defence Sikh Network UK saw a transfer of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and all Gutke Sahib’s (smaller separate selections of Sikh scripture) from the Gurdwara to Moldova, where They were received by sangat (Sikh congregation) and taken to be housed in a Gurdwara in Derby (Midlands, UK).

The evacuation saw standout viral images of Guru Granth Sahib Ji being carried on the head of a Sikh – Simran Singh of Sikh Dharma Int – crossing the border from Ukraine. Carrying Guru Granth Sahib Ji in such fashion is custom protocol for treatment of the current living Guru of the Sikhs, a status given to Guru Granth Sahib Ji by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the last Sikh Guru of human form.

GurBani (Guru’s Words, referring to Sikh scripture) is always mandated to be treated with the utmost respect wherever it is written. For this reason, any Sikh scripture – especially Guru Granth Sahib Ji – are always maintained and treated with regal level care and reverence.

For more information on the evacuation of the Odessa Gurdwara, go to https://unitedsikhs.org/sikh-sainchian-gutke-retrieved-safely-from-odessa-ukraine/. More images are available upon request.

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