History Of The Gurdwara

Guru Har Rai Gurdwara was established in 1979 by Baba Harbans Singh Domeli Wale following their arrival in the UK from village Domeli in district Kapurthala Punjab India.

The Gurdwara building was previously a disused retail unit and was purchased with the support and financial contributions of the founding trustees of the Gurdwara together with a bank loan secured on the building. The Gurdwara building was extensively renovated before and after the opening of the Gurdwara with the support of the sangat of West Bromwich and further afield.

The name of the Gurdwara was chosen by Baba Harbans Singh in connection with the history of the twin villages of Domeli and Babeli at which Guru Har Rai Sahib visited. The historical Gurdwara Chaunta Sahib in Babeli marks the memory of Guru Har Rai Sahib’s visit. Further details of the history of Domeli and Baba Harbans Singh can be found here.

Gurdwara Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib quickly established itself as one of the leading Gurdwaras in the midlands region and under the auspices of Baba Harbans Singh was at the forefront of pioneering practices which were subsequently adopted by other Gurdwaras in the UK and beyond. The Gurdwara was one of the first to hold daily morning and evening divans including kirtan and katha at a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s when it was more usual for Gurdwaras to only hold Sunday divans. The Gurdwara was also one of the first to provide santhiya classes and open kirtan and punjabi schools.

The Gurdwara currently provides a number of classes for santhiya, gurmat, kirtan and punjabi from beginners to advanced level the details of which can be viewed here. The Gurdwara also has an annual gurmat camp organised by the Sikh Naujawan Academy.

The Gurdwara building underwent a renovation and extension in 2002 following which an additional divan hall and langar hall were added to the complex. Today the Gurdwara is one of the largest Gurdwara’s in the country serving as the main hub for the Sikh community of West Bromwich and surrounding areas and has thousands of visitors on a weekly basis. Further details of the  daily programme and events at the Gurdwara can be found on this website.

*Courtesy of Jasmer Singh Hothi who is currently writing Santan Ki Mehma
a monograph of Baba Harbans Singh Domeli Wale