I've always been fascinated by different cultures, ethnicities, and practices. I wanted to travel the world one day going to what's considered third world countries and learn about their history, culture, their mindset, religion, etc.

Since I don't exactly have the money or time to do so. I thought why not start now? My friend invited me to go to the closest Sikh temple near campus. On Monday, November 12th I visited Guru Nanka Darbar of Long Island in Hicksville, NY. The day I visited happened to be on a holiday. In the religion, they celebrate and commemorate Gurus birthdays to remember their teachings and what they've preached for.

The temple requires you to take off your shoes outside before entering the temple. They put multiple carpets on the floor creating a path into the temple. Women and men must cover their heads with scarfs or wraps, they had a basket of scarfs for those who came without one to borrow. This seemed natural to me because I was raised Muslim and the same thing occurs at a Mosque. Shoes are not permitted because the holy place for prayer is meant to be kept clean, symbolizing purity. As I entered the temple, men and women were lining up to pray to the front of the man who was reciting prayers in Punjabi. Men and women lined up in two different lines to pray kneel down at the stage or say their prayer and then they split to opposite sides to sit and listen to prayer. Donations were accepted and placed at the stage before you kneeled down for prayer, either a dollar or baked goods/food. Anything you wish to give.

Afterward, we went back outside where there was a feast for the birthday. They make homemade food every day all day at the temple. Usually, they serve food while you're seated. However, because it was a holiday it was an open feast and I am guessing more people came than usual because it was packed! The environment felt very welcoming, humble, and family oriented. It was a nice atmosphere to be around, every day the people of the temple cooked for large amounts of people self-devoting their time and energy to feed everyone who came. All are welcome. I was even allowed to help serve food as people with their plates went by from table to table.

The food was all vegetarian. There were parathas which are Indian pancakes with cottage cheese in them pressed on large hot skillets which were personally my favorite thing there and the first appetizer I tried. There was cheese in Masala curry sauce (Mateer paneer), lentils, salad, rice, Pokhara (fried potato and cilantro pancakes with some masala seasoning) as some of the main courses. There was also this dish that has also appeared at my childhood parties which were hollow crispy bread's that you poke a hole in, put in a chickpea or two and pour this spiced fruit water and put it in your mouth in one bite. It feels like the flavors were exploding in my mouth going from fruity to spicy, to tasting the chickpea and its texture with the crisp bread that is now crushed in your mouth.

My favorite was dessert, the desserts I knew of like Gulab Jan, a sugary condensed donut hole. They had more assorted varieties like coconut and cornmeal with pistachio. My favorite was between the coconut and the original Gulab Jan.

After this experience, I went to search up more on the meaning of the Sikh religion. Sikh religion began by part of the people wanting to separate from the caste system of the Hindu religion. In Sikhism, there is equality and acceptance of people of all sexes, genders, colors, races, etc. To not look down on others or feel inferior. The focus is to livd a life of intellect and happiness. To be happy they must first be grateful and change their state of mind of what happiness means (in this world its very easy for one to make their happiness around money). The path is meant to find enlightenment, to understand the true meaning of the scripture and words of the Guru. As well as learn to be one with god and connect your soul to the higher being to find inner peace.

Overall, I discovered what I already have been saying and thinking for so long. One religion is not very different from any other religion that's out there. Some religions have distinct concepts or rituals that make it their own concept however the main overall, universal concept is peace, happiness, love, oneness of yourself, of god/higher being/universe.

Coming from a Muslim background, the food, the concepts, and the religion itself isn't so different. However, if you ask an old generation Muslim and Sikhs, they may disagree. From a personal opinion, I feel like its politics that gets in the way of misconstruing the meanings.

I enjoyed this experience and It was refreshing to see some self-devoting down to earth humans just coming together to celebrate in peace and harmony.

Personal Thank you to my friend Saish for inviting me and bringing me to the temple :)