A century of faith, service and community spirit was celebrated as Gurdwara Sahib Malim Nawar marked its 100th anniversary.
The centenary brought together members of the Sikh community, local residents and visitors from near and far, many of whom returned to the gurdwara (Sikh temple) for the milestone, held in Malim Nawar, a small town in Kampar district.
Organising chairman and gurdwara deputy treasurer Kalwant Singh said the programme began with prayers and religious activities.
“A week before the celebrations, community members came together to clean and prepare the gurdwara and its surroundings.
“Throughout the three-day programme, the langgar (free meal)was available to everyone regardless of race, religion or background,” he said.
Kalwant said one of the highlights was the Nagar Kirtan procession from Tanjung Tualang to Malim Nawar, which saw the holy scripture transported on a customised lorry, while devotional hymns were sung and texts recited continuously.
“Flower petals were also showered from a helicopter,” he said.
The procession was preceded by a water tanker to purify the route, and accompanied by Sikh bikers, the Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band and the Panj Pyare (five chosen ones).
The festivities also featured a community health programme which was open to the public at the gurdwara.
Kalwant said the programme included health screenings and specialised services such as ear, nose and throat and dental care, blood-donation drive and traditional Chinese medical massage.
The final day featured a kabaddi tournament involving six teams.
“The traditional Punjabi sport attracted spectators and provided an opportunity for younger generations to connect with their Punjabi and Sikh heritage while fostering camaraderie through friendly competition.
“The celebrations concluded with a prize-giving and closing ceremony.”
Kalwant said for the local Sikh community, the centenary was also a time to remember generations of families who had gathered at the gurdwara for prayers over the decades.
He said although many families with roots in Malim Nawar now lived elsewhere in Malaysia or abroad, they returned to celebrate the centenary.
“The celebrations also highlight the importance of collective voluntary service, with community members involved in preparing the gurdwara, cooking and serving the langgar, organising activities and welcoming visitors.
“After 100 years, the gurdwara remains a place of worship and a centre of service and community life.
“While its buildings have changed over the decades, the spirit of the community continues to keep its history and traditions alive.”
Kalwant said the gurdwara dated back to 1920, with its original building located at Kampung Bunga Tanjung, about 3km from its present site.
“Folk such as Kishen Singh, Moola Singh, Chet Singh and Jagat Singh played key roles in its construction before the gurdwara was officially opened in 1926.
“In 1936, Perak government gazetted a 0.2ha site at its present location, where a single-storey wooden gurdwara stood for 33 years before being demolished in 1969.
“At the time, Malim Nawar had about 50 Sikh families.”
Kalwant said a new concrete gurdwara was built in 1970 at a cost of RM28,000 and the building was officially declared open on March 13, 1973.
He said the gurdwara continued to expand over the years, with the state government allocating an additional 0.6ha of land next to it in 2008.
“In 2012, the gurdwara was renovated and a new langgar hall was built,” he said.
