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Summary of Question:	Gurdwara Protocol
Category:	Gurdwara
Date Posted:	Friday, 10/04/2002 12:35 AM MDT

Sasriakal,

I had some questions regarding gurdwara protocol that I hope you can answer for me.

1) What time do services start in the morning? Are all of the five prayers recited during the day? I mean what prayers are recited and at what time? How is it decided what else to read from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?
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mostly around 9-10 am. Often there may also be a very early service around 5am which ends around 7-8.
there is not set time as much as the flow
typically services start...people come and read/sing kirtan (hymes)... there may be some person who would come and talk about some stories about the gurus and the usual community business is also done - bllod drives etc... then you have the prayer anad sahib after which people stand and there is the ardas( benediction) and the guru is read from for the hukam( command) then people are served parshad (sweet flour sugar concoction yummy) and people then go and eat langar (communal meal)

2) Is there anytime during services when it would be inappropriate to go in to "matha tak?" My friend says that you should not go in when a wedding is in progress or in the middle of ardas.
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During a wedding ceremony, during ardas or at any time when people are standing.
( more to not create disruption of the ceremonies) you can go and do matha tek (bow to the guru) at any time. You can also bow in the back if you like and sit down.
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3) Is there any time during services when it would be inappropriate to leave?

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actually you can leave any time... prefered not to be done during ardas as it is a time when everyone is standing. But there are no hard and fast rules about this.
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Thanks.

Amy