42.110.137.173: Created an enlightening manuscript.

2023-03-30T18:52:02Z

Created an enlightening manuscript.

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| image1 = Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Bangkok (2019) - img 02.jpg
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| caption2 = A shop sign in Bangkok with the symbol of [[Ek Onkar]]
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{{Sikhism sidebar}}

[[Sikhism]] is a recognised minority religion in [[Thailand]], with about 70,000 adherents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71359.htm|title=Thailand|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref> The religion was brought by migrants from India who began to arrive in the late 19th century. There are about twenty Sikh temples or [[Gurdwara]]s in the country, including the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Bangkok.

==Numbers and status==
The Sikh community was estimated in 2006 to contain around 70,000 people, most of whom resided in [[Bangkok]], [[Chiang Mai]], [[Nakhon Ratchasima]], [[Pattaya]], [[Phuket]] and [[Ubon Ratchathani]]. At that time there were nineteen Sikh temples in the country. Sikhism was one of five religious groups registered with the Religious Affairs Department of the [[Ministry of Culture (Thailand)|Ministry of Culture]].<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71359.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006], U.S. Department of State</ref> Sikhs in Thailand is the largest community amongst Indians and they have good relations with the King.<ref name=":0" />

==Identity==
A study of Sikh residents of Bangkok found that "Thai-Sikh identity is clear and well-maintained in Bangkok society", but that influences from Western and other societies were leading to the neglect of traditional lifestyle features.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.5539/ach.v7n1p1|title = Current Conditions and Problems of Conservation and Inheritance of Identity Among Thai-Sikhs|journal = Asian Culture and History|volume = 7|year = 2014|last1 = Narksuwan|first1 = Nakrob|last2 = Siltragool|first2 = Wisanee|last3 = Jantapo|first3 = Anchalee|doi-access = free}}</ref> The Sikh community in Bangkok has been described as "the most integrated community in Thailand".<ref name="Chilana2006">{{cite book|author=Rajwant Singh Chilana|title=International Bibliography of Sikh Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0hxylwtykDAC&pg=PA466|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4020-3044-4|page=466}}</ref>

==History==
===Bangkok===
Among the first Indians to arrive in Thailand was Kirparam Singh Madan in 1884. He was a [[Sehajdhari]] Sikh from Bhadewal village in the district of [[Sialkot]] (now in Pakistan).<ref name="Gupta1999">{{cite book|author=Surendra K. Gupta|title=Indians in Thailand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5rBuAAAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Books India International|page=48}}</ref> He was granted an audience with King [[Rama V of Thailand]].<ref>The records are available in the Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Bangkok.</ref> He brought his relatives whose surnames were Madan, Narula and Chawla. They were among the first members of the Indian diaspora in Thailand, who started to arrive in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Surendra K. Gupta|title=Indians in Thailand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5rBuAAAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Books India International|page=67}}</ref>

By 1911, many Sikh families had settled in Thailand. At that time Bangkok was the centre of migrant Sikhs, but there was no [[Gurdwara]], so religious prayers were held in the homes of the Sikhs in rotation on every Sunday and all the [[Gurpurab]] days. In 1912, the Sikhs decided to establish a Gurdwara. A wooden house was rented in the vicinity of Baan Moh, a well known business area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Sikhs in Asia Pacific : Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe|last=Kahlon|first=Swarn Singh|last2=Virk|first2=Dr. Hardev Singh|publisher=Manohar Publishers, New Delhi|year=2016|location=New Delhi|chapter=Sikhs presence in Thailand}}</ref> In 1913 (or the year 2456 according to the [[Buddhist]] calendar), with the continuing increase of the Sikh community, a new larger wooden house was leased for a long term at the corner of [[Phahurat]] and Chakraphet road. After considerable renovation and decoration, the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] was installed and religious prayers were conducted on a daily basis. Sikhs are mostly settled in area in area adjoining Pahurat Road. Most of them run real estate business or engaged in textile business.

As time passed, in 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 decided to construct a new Gurdwara at the same location. The foundation stone was laid down by the [[Panj Piare]], the Five Beloved Ones. The new Gurdwara was completed after two years in 1981.

===Chiang Mai===
[[File:Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha ChiangMai Khrua Khaek.jpg|thumb|Gurdwara of Sri Guru Singh Sabha in [[Chiang Mai]]]]
The first Sikh person to travel to Chiang Mai was Ishar Singh, who traveled from India through Burma into Thailand in the year 1905 (or the year 2448 according to the Buddhist Calendar). Shortly after that about four more families came to Thailand. They were Rattan Singh, Gian Singh, Wariaam Singh and Amanda Singh. In 1907, this group of Sikhs decided to set up a Gurdwara in Charoenrat Road, which still stands at the location and now occupies a space of about 240 square meters.

===Pattaya===
In 1975 there were only around three or four Sikh families in Pattaya. But after Pattaya became a tourist resort, many Sikhs migrated from other provinces such as Ubol Ratchthani, Udon Ratchthani, Nakorn Ratchsima (Korat) and Sattahip.

===Khon Kaen===
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 a Gurdwara for performing religious ceremonies or prayers. Instead Sikh people's homes were used in rotation to perform these ceremonies on certain days. Later, in 1972, as the number of Sikhs increased, a Gurdwara was constructed. It is a two storey building, located in Ruamchit Road.

===Lampang===
The Gurdwara in [[Lampang]] was initially located in Sai Klang Road 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 in Thip Chaang Road. 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.

===Korat===
In 1947, Sikhs started moving to [[Nakhon Ratchasima|Korat]] to start businesses and earn a living. Initially the Sikhs in Khon Kaen did not build a Gurdwara for performing religious ceremonies or prayers. Instead Sikh people's homes were used in rotation to perform these ceremonies on certain days. Later, as the number of Sikhs increased, a Gurdwara was 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.

===Phuket===
The first Gurdwara in Phuket was constructed by the Sikhs who had come to Phuket to work in tin mining and railway engineering under the supervision of the British in 1939. These groups of Sikhs were also involved in the [[Indian National Army]] (INA) during the World War II. Later, many Sikh businessmen started migrating to Phuket to start businesses in such fields as tailoring and hotels. More Sikhs moved to [[Phuket Province]], when the province became one of the main tourist centres of Thailand. This led to a necessity to expand and renovate the Gurdwara to be able to accommodate the increasing number of Sikhs. 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 in Thailand==
In Thailand, Sikhs have constructed several Gurdwaras throughout the country. Currently there are Gurdwaras located in the following provinces:
* Bangkok, [[Phra Nakhon]]
* Chiang Mai, [[Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai|Mueang district]]
* Chiang Rai, [[Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai|Mueang district]]
* Chonburi, [[Pattaya]]
* Khon Kaen, [[Amphoe Mueang Khon Kaen|Mueang district]]
* Lampang, [[Amphoe Mueang Lampang|Mueang district]]
* Nakhon Phanom, [[Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Phanom|Mueang district]]
* Nakhon Ratchasima, [[Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima|Mueang district]]
* Nakhon Sawan, [[Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Sawan|Mueang district]]
* Pattani, [[Amphoe Mueang Pattani|Mueang district]]
* Phuket, [[Amphoe Mueang Phuket|Mueang district]]
* Samut Prakan, [[Amphoe Mueang Samut Prakan|Mueang district]]
* Songkhla, [[Amphoe Hat Yai|Hat Yai district]]
* Trang, [[Amphoe Mueang Trang|Mueang district]]
* Ubon Ratchathani, [[Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District|Mueang district]]
* Udon Thani, [[Amphoe Mueang Udon Thani|Mueang district]]
* Yala, [[Amphoe Mueang Yala|Mueang district]]

== See also ==
* [[Jainism in Southeast Asia]]
* [[Hinduism in Southeast Asia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Sidhu, M. S., & Čhulālongkō̜nmahāwitthayālai. (1993). Sikhs in Thailand. Bangkok: Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University.

==External links==
* [http://www.thaisikh.org Thai Sikh Organisation]
* [http://www.SikhismOnPhone.com Sikhism SMS on Mobile]

{{Asia topic|Sikhism in}}
{{Religion in Thailand}}
{{Sikhism }}

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[[Category:Sikhism in Thailand| ]]

Sikhism in Thailand - Revision history

42.110.137.173: Created an enlightening manuscript.