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{{Infobox religious group|group=Sikhism in Greece {{flagicon|Greece}}<br>{{small|''Σιχ στην Ελλάδα''}}|pop=20,000|langs=[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]{{·}}[[Greek language]]|image=Archbishop Damaskinos inspects Indian troops in Salonika 1945.jpg|image_caption=[[Damaskinos of Athens]] meeting with turbaned Indian-Sikh troops in [[Salonika]] (1945)|flag=|regions=[[Athens]]{{·}}[[Megara]]{{·}}[[Chalkida]]{{·}}[[Psachna]]|religions=[[Sikhism]]}}

'''Sikhism in Greece''' ({{Lang-gr|Σιχ στην Ελλάδα'|translit=}}) is a [[minority religion]]. The [[Sikhs|Sikh]] community in [[Cyprus|Greece]] is a small but vastly growing one. According to the latest available data, there are approximately 20,000 [[Sikhism in Bangladesh|Sikhs]] in Greece.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lavin |first=Talia |title=Vibrant Vaisakhi Celebrates Sikh Life In Greece |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/vaisakhi-sikh-celebration_n_7138512 |quote=The Sikh community in Greece, numbered at around 20,000 according to a 2012 report, joined together to mark the holy day}}</ref> The Sikh population in Greece has grown over the years, with many Sikhs migrating to the country for agricultural work or to start their own businesses.

[[Sikhs]] in [[Greece]] dates back to the early 1900's, many Sikhs came to the country as a part of the [[British Indian Army]].
== History ==

=== Sikh Gurus ===
According to Sikh historian, Harpal Singh Kasoor, [[Guru Nanak]] may have passed through Greece in one of his journeys to spread the Sikh teachings.

=== World War I & World War II ===
[[Sikhs]] have fought and passed through Greece in both [[World Wars]], in large number as part of the [[British Indian Army]]. A cemetery of [[Sikh]] soldiers of the [[British Indian Army]], still exists in [[Salonika]]. It was built in 1920, to bury the bodies of the [[British Indian Army|Sikh]] soldiers of the [[First World War]]. However, the first Sikh community was formed in the 1950s by Sikh immigrants. They worked as farmers or fishermen in the [[Greek islands]]. Till the 1970s, the population of Sikhs in Greece was less than 200 people. After the 1970s, Sikh immigrants came to Greece through [[Turkey]]. Some of them started their own farm stores and recruited other immigrants to work with them.

=== Post 1990's ===
In the 1990s the number of immigrants further increased. The Sikh community in Athens formed a small organization for their religious and social needs, which led to the building of [[Gurudwara]] Shri [[Guru Nanak]] Darbar. They called a [[granthi]], brought some ''saroops'' of [[Guru Granth Sahib]] and rented a large industrial space that served as the temple. It was known by the Greeks as the "Indian Organization of Tavros, Athens", however the [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] characters on the temple board translate to "Sikh Temple Shri Guru Nanak Darbar, Athens". This was done to prevent the possible future attacks on a foreign religious monument. Following Athens' Sikh community, some other Sikh immigrants also made temples in [[Oinofita]], [[Oropos]], [[Kranidi]] and [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. A large place has been bought by the committee of one of the old Gurdwaras of [[Oinofita]], for the construction of new [[Gurdwara]], outside [[Schimatari]] and near to the Military Airport of [[Tanagra]]. Even though a new construction of a [[Gurdwara]] needs a lot of money, most of the needed money has been donated by nearby-living [[Sikhs]] as [[Daswand]]. The saroop of [[Guru Granth Sahib]] was moved from the old building and moved to the new one, even though it is only half complete. It is the only non-rented [[Gurdwara]] in [[Greece]]. The construction is planned to finish in 2018.

== Migration ==
Sikh migrants have been drawn to Greece for various reasons. Many Sikhs migrated to work on Greek shipping lines as no working visa was required. Also some Sikhs entered illegally by jumping offshore as soon as the boat docked into Greece. The geographical location of Greece is an entry in Europe, therefore has been a favourable destination for people in the [[2015 European migrant crisis]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Virk |first=Hardev Singh |title=Sikhs in Continental Europe: From Norway to Greece and Russia to Portugal |year=2020 |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.10558.10565 |quote=Greece has attracted Sikh migrants because of two reasons. Greek Shipping Lines recruited Sikhs and for working on a ship no visa is required till one is sailing on high seas. Most of them entered Greece as illegal immigrants by jumping off on the shore as soon as the ship docked in a port. The other reason is that Greece is the entry point to Europe for those who travelled by the land route via Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey.}}</ref>

There is a large Sikh population in [[Megara]], where hundreds of Sikhs take part in the annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=Athens |title=Megara: Hundreds of Indians in traditional costumes take part in Sikh ceremony - Photos |work=Greek City Times |url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/06/12/megara-hundreds-of-indians/}}</ref>

== Discrimination ==

=== 2014 Sikh Gurdwara attacks ===
In 2014, Gurdwara Sri Dasmesh Singh Sabha and Gurdwara Bhagat Ravidas Darbar were attacked by gunfire in Greece. As per [[Sikh Channel]] report, there were no causalities however some buildings faced some damaged. <ref>{{Cite news |title=Greece: Gun-shots fired at two Sikh Gurdwaras in 'racially-motivated' attack |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/greece-gun-shots-fired-at-two-sikh-gurdwaras-in-racially-motivated-attack/story-ea3cQhtF2DaQ1PWOjHL3GO.html |quote=Two Sikh Gurdwaras- Gurdwara Sri Dasmesh Singh Sabha and Bhagat Ravidas Darbar in Marathon, were attacked by gunfire in Greece. The attack reportedly took place on Sept. 21.}}</ref>

== Gurdwaras ==
There are various Gurdwaras in Greece in locations such as [[Athens]], [[Megara]], [[Chalkidiki]] and [[Psachna]]. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mamakouka |first=Iro-Anna |title=Sikhs of Athens Offer Free Food to All |work=Greek Reporter |url=https://greekreporter.com/2014/03/29/sikhs-of-athens-offer-free-food-to-all/}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{Citation |first=Brij Pal |last=Singh |url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikh-greece |title=A Sikh in Greece |publisher=SikhNet |access-date=July 9, 2013}}

{{Religion in Greece}}
{{Europe topic|Sikhism in}}

[[Category:Sikhism by country|Greece]]
[[Category:Religion in Greece]]
[[Category:Greece–India relations]]

Sikhism in Greece - Revision history

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