Topic: Founders

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad  (pbuh) – is part of our ‘Portrait’ series, which brings big names from history and faith to life in just a few short minutes. In this episode, we explore the story of Muhammad (pbuh) – the last Prophet of Islam, whose teachings and message continue to inspire billions of people around the world, more than fourteen hundred years after he lived. The film follows key moments in his life, from his early years in Makkah to the revelations he receives and the challenges he faces while spreading his message of belief in one God. Through themes of perseverance, mercy, community and spiritual devotion, the film offers a fresh perspective on a life that continues to shape religious and cultural history across the world.

Transcript

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad Transcript

Instead of a picture this is his name in Arabic. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was chosen by God, who they call Allah, to spread the religion of Islam. No pictures of Muhammad are allowed to make it clear that Muslims only worship Allah who is unseen and not people or idols. In 570 CE, Muhammad was born in the Arabian city of Makkah. His father died before the birth and his mother died when he was only six. So Muhammad was brought up by his grandfather and then by his uncle. Muhammad started out as a shepherd, then became a businessman and eventually married his boss, a widow called Kadija. In the centre of Makkah there was a cube shaped building called the Kaaba, filled with 360 idols.

Every year during the month of Ramadan, there was a party when people made sacrifices to gods and goddesses. So Muhammad would leave town, climb a nearby mountain to a cave he'd found, and pray to Allah, the one unseen God he believed in. Muslims believe that when Muhammad was 40, the angel Jibreel appeared to him in the cave, bringing a message from Allah. These messages continued for the rest of Muhammad's life. They were memorised and written down by his friends and eventually put together to become the Muslim holy book called the Quran. Muslims were given a hard time in Makkah. Some were even tortured and killed. But the people of another city, Yathrib, invited the Muslims to join them, and it became known as Madinat ul-Nabi, the city of the prophet, but Makkah's rulers wouldn't leave them alone. And there were three big battles before a peace treaty was signed.

When the people of Makkah broke the treaty, Muhammad led a huge army against them, and the rulers of the city surrendered without a fight. Muhammad roared into Makkah and went straight to the Kaaba. He circled it seven times and smashed the idols, restoring the building as a place of worship for Allah. Today, Muslims still follow in Muhammad's footsteps and circle the Kaaba like he did. Prophet Muhammad died in Makkah in 632 CE. By then, Islam had spread throughout Arabia and soon it would reach out into the rest of the world. Muhammad was the final prophet of Islam and his job was done.

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad

Video length - 02.58

Published date - Sep 2026

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

As part of our ongoing “Portrait” series which brings big names from history and faith to life. In this film, we explore the story of Siddhartha Gautama—the man who became known as the Buddha, whose teachings have inspired millions of people around the world for two and half thousand years. The film follows the key moments in the Buddha’s life, from his sheltered upbringing as a prince, to the moment he left his royal life behind in search of answers about suffering and human existence, and on to his journey through meditation, self-discovery, and enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. It’s an animated snapshot of a life that shaped spiritual thought across the world, packed with themes of compassion, wisdom, inner peace, and the search for meaning.

Transcript

Narrator: Down through history, there have been special people who stand out because they were inspiring. They challenged beliefs, had new ideas, and sometimes even changed the world. One of those people is the Buddha. And here’s a quick portrait of his life. The Buddha was born about 2500 years ago as Prince Siddhartha Gautama in what is now Nepal, where his father ruled the Shakya clan. A wise man made a prophecy at his birth. Siddhartha would become a king or a holy man. So his father decreed that Siddhartha should live in luxury within the palace grounds and be made ready to succeed him as King. And definitely not become a holy man.

When Siddhartha was 29, he left the palace without a royal entourage for the very first time. He saw an old man, a sick man and a dead man and realised that he could not escape suffering. But then he saw a holy man who seemed to be at peace. And Siddhartha wanted to be just like him. Prince Siddhartha went to live in a forest with a group of holy men who believed that if their bodies suffered, their minds would be set free. Siddhartha starved himself for years, but still didn’t find the peace he was looking for. He tried both luxury and suffering, so he decided there had to be a middle way. He sat beneath a Bodhi tree and meditated for 49 days until finally he was enlightened with four noble truths.

Life is full of suffering. Suffering is caused by wanting the wrong things or wanting to hang on to things that don’t matter. The way to stop suffering is to let go of the wrong things and the things that don’t matter. The way to let go of these things is to follow the middle way. With this enlightenment, Siddhartha had become the Buddha, the awakened one. He spent the rest of his life travelling and teaching the Middle Way, and his words, known as the Dhamma, are still used today. At the age of 80, the Buddha suddenly became seriously ill from food poisoning. He lay down in a grove of trees and peacefully passed away. Buddhists believe that after death they might be reborn in a new body. But the Buddha achieved nirvana or release from this world and was not reborn. The Buddha’s last words were. All things must pass. Strive on with care.

A Portrait of The Buddha

Video length - 03.00

Published date - May 2026

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Come and join us for Vesak – the Buddhist festival that celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and the passing of the Buddha, observed by millions around the world. Vesak is one of the most important festivals in Buddhism, offering a time for reflection, compassion, and spiritual growth.

Here, we explore the meaningful traditions and practices associated with Vesak, with a focus on observances at the vihara (Buddhist temple). Throughout the day, devotees gather to offer flowers, candles, and incense before the Buddha’s statue – which symbolise impermanence, light, and respect. You’ll see moments of quiet meditation, hear the rhythmic sound of chanting, and learn about the teachings that encourage mindfulness and understanding, rooted in the life of Siddhartha Gautama – the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Acts of generosity and kindness are also central to Vesak, as people take time to give to charity, support their community, and reflect on living a more compassionate life. The calm and reflective atmosphere of the vihara highlights the core Buddhist values of peace, mindfulness, and compassion, inviting you to pause and think about your own actions and intentions.

Transcript

Vesak TrueTube Transcript

Interviewee 1: Today we are celebrating Vesak.

Interviewee 2: Vesak symbolises Buddha's birth.

Interviewee 3: Attaining enlightenment. And passing away of Buddha 2,600 years ago.

Voiceover: Happy Vesak! Vesak is the most important festival in the Buddhist calendar, and it’s celebrated on the first full moon of May. It’s a time when Buddhists like me remember the events of the Buddha’s life - in particular his birth, his Enlightenment and his death.

Interviewee 4: The Buddha, it directly translates to the enlightened one. But Buddha was actually a person like you and me.

Voiceover: Buddha is a title which was given to a man called Siddhartha Gautama. He was a prince who had lived a life of luxury, but he wasn't happy.

Interviewee 1: One day he decided when he went out of the palace grounds, he just saw a lot of suffering in the world, and he wanted to try and do some good.

Interviewee 4: And he followed lots of teachers, but unfortunately, none of them was able to identify the cause of suffering.

Voiceover: The Buddha sat down in the shade of a tree and meditated until he found the answer. He was enlightened! He realised that people suffer because they want the wrong things, so the answer was to stop wanting them, and his teaching still helps us to live simpler, more centred lives. We believe that when someone dies, their atman - their real spiritual self - will be re-born in a new body, but because the Buddha was Enlightened, he attained what we call Nirvana or Nibbana instead.

Interviewee 2: In Buddhism, we learn that enlightenment means you attain nibbana.

Interviewee 5: Nibbana is when you are not born again, you free from any sort of luxury.

Interviewee 1: And nibbana is basically a state of bliss.

Voiceover: This is our Vihara - our temple. It’s where the bhikkhus live, which is what we call the monks - men who have committed their whole lives to the Buddha’s teachings. The vihara is given a thorough spring clean before the festival begins. We all wear white clothes to symbolise purity and simplicity. The first thing we do is raise the Buddhist flag.

Interviewee 4: Buddhist flag was designed by a gentleman called Colonel Olcott, who came from America to Sri Lanka in search of Buddhism. Now this has six colours, and they are supposed to be colours that emanated from Buddha when he became enlightened.

Interviewee 6: Vesak is celebrated in almost all Buddhist countries in different ways. All the Buddhists come together and reunite in charitable causes.

Interviewee 4: We are making offerings as a sign of gratitude and veneration. Mostly we offer flowers and incense and also light the lamp.

Interviewee 2: Some people celebrate at home because they can't go to the temple, and they light lanterns and they pray.

Interviewee 5: Today I'm looking forward to singing devotional songs that kind of sum up Buddhism.

Voiceover: The Bhikkhus lead us in meditation and give talks throughout the day.

Interviewee 5: What I like best about Vesak is spending time with friends and family in the temple.

Interviewee 4: I like the lovely sermons that are given.

Voiceover: And it's good to get together and enjoy some food.

Interviewee 7: Temples don't indulge in meat or fish. It's all vegetarian food.

Interviewee 8: It's a day to show my gratitude to the Buddha for teaching the doctrine that he taught to the world, and for giving us the opportunity to follow the path that he took. People get together in communities and they celebrate it as a society.

Interviewee 4: We want to exhibit the goodness across the whole world.

Interviewee 1: It's a day of gratitude. It's to show respect to the teachings that we are learning. After all, we're Buddhists because we believe in the teachings of the Buddha.

Interviewee 8: What it means to me, especially today, is basically recenter myself and bring myself right back into the right path.

Interviewee 1: Sometimes life is really hard, and it's nice to come to a really peaceful environment and not be judged and just be allowed to do you however you want. So that's what Vesak means to me.

Vesak

Video length - 05.44

Published date - Apr 2026

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Join Zainab and Furvah as they explore the key similarities and differences between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam. Through a conversational format, they discuss these denominations and their shared foundations and distinctive practices, offering insights into the historical, theological, and cultural factors that shape Muslim faith and identity.

The film highlights the differences in leadership succession after the Prophet Muhammad and the role of the Caliphs and Imams. Then it delves into such topics as the interpretation of scripture, beliefs, and core practices like daily prayer and fasting.

The film reveals both the common ground and the rich diversity within Islam, and is perfect for students and anyone interested in the history and practices of Islam.

Transcript

Understanding Denominations: Islam

Zainab: Hi, I'm a Muslim.

Furvah: And so am I.

Zainab: But we come from different denominations of Islam.

Furvah: A denomination is a group or a branch within a religion.

Zainab: I'm Sunni.

Furvah: And I am Shia.

Zainab: And we both believe in one God called Allah.

Furvah: And that Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the final prophet of Allah.

Zainab: Most of the world's Muslims are Sunni. Between 85 and 90%.

Furvah: And 10 to 15% are Shia.

Zainab: The name Sunni comes from the Arabic word Sunnah, which means 'clear path' because we follow Muhammad, peace be upon him's example. Like following in his footsteps.

Furvah: We do that too. But our name comes from Shiat Ali, which means 'the Party of Ali'.

Zainab: A party?

Furvah: Not that kind of party, more like a political party. Because to begin with, it was politics that divided us.

Zainab: It all started when the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, died - and the Muslims had to pick a new leader.

Furvah: Should he be blood related to Muhammad?

Zainab: Or should they elect the right man, whether he was blood related or not? Eventually, Muhammad's best friend Abu Bakr was elected and took the job.

Furvah: They called him Caliph or Khalifa, which means 'deputy' or 'steward'.

Zainab: And that means someone who looks after something for someone else, to make it clear that Abu Bakr wasn't a Prophet like Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Umar was next, followed by Uthman and then Ali. Sunnis call them 'The Rightly Guided Caliphs'.

Furvah: But some people thought that Ali should have been the leader from the start, because he was Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law - so his closest male relative - and they believed, Shias still believe, that Muhammad chose him.

Zainab: Is this about the Incident at Ghadir?

Furvah: Yes. What do you think happened?

Zainab: At a place called Ghadir Khumm, Muhammad, peace be upon him, told a large crowd that Ali was a great friend.

Furvah: Yes, but we believe that Muhammad also named Ali the next leader. When Abu Bakr was elected, Muhammad's family were still in mourning, so Ali didn't get a fair chance.

Zainab: Ali was the fourth Caliph anyway.

Furvah: But then a man called Muawiyah decided that he wanted to be Caliph, and he used his power as the governor of Syria to raise an army against Ali.

Zainab: When Ali was assassinated, Muawiyah began his own caliphate, which became known as the Umayyad Dynasty, and it was run like a monarchy. So when Muawiyah died, his son Yazid took over.

Furvah: Yazid was a tyrant. That's when Ali's son Husayn decided it was time to reclaim the leadership. But before he could gather enough support, he was met by Yazid's forces at a town called Karbala in what is now Iraq. Husayn and most of his family and followers were slaughtered.

Zainab: This sent shockwaves throughout Muslim society. Husayn, after all, was the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him's grandson.

Furvah: Yes, but this didn't finish off the Shias, as Husayn's death inspired many to come to Karbala to join his cause. And today, most Muslims in Iraq are still Shia.

Zainab: The split between Sunnis and Shias remained ever since.

Furvah: Every year Shias remember Husayn's death during Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. On the 10th, it's Ashura, which means 'remembrance'. And in Shia communities there'll be processions which re-enact Husayn's funeral. Different cultures grieve in different ways, and not all of it is healthy. And some people might cut or beat themselves to share in Husayn's suffering and to mourn his death. But harming your body isn't allowed in Islam, whether you're Sunni or Shia. The point is that Husayn's martyrdom, his death for the cause he believed in, is an important symbol for Shias.

Zainab: Sunni Islam continued under the leadership of the Caliphs, although they became less and less important. There hasn't been an official Caliph since the Ottoman Empire fell in the 1920s.

Furvah: So Shias call our leaders Imams.

Zainab: Which is confusing because that's what we call someone who leads prayers in the mosque.

Furvah: Same here. But the word 'imam' just means someone who leads.

Zainab: Good point.

Furvah: Most Shias believe there were 12 Imams, beginning with Ali and then his son Hasan, and then Husayn.

Zainab: Who died at Karbala.

Furvah: Then Husayn's son Zayn, and so on.

Zainab: You said, 'most Shias'.

Furvah: Yeah, it gets a bit complicated after that because there are lots of groups within Shia Islam. I'm a Twelver because I follow the 12 Imams, but there are also Severners or 'Ismailis' because they chose a different seventh Imam called...

Zainab: Isma'il?

Furvah: Yes. And we also have Fivers or 'Zaydis' because...

Zainab: They chose a different fifth Imam called Zayd.

Furvah: Yes, you're catching on! And Nizari Ismailis still have an Imam.

Zainab: I think this is probably the biggest difference between Sunnis and Shias. We believe that Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the Seal of the Prophets, which means that he was the last Prophet. There were no more revelations or divine messages.

Furvah: We believe that our Imams were amongst the Ahl al-Bayt or 'People of the House', which means that they were descended from the Prophet and were not just political leaders, but spiritual guides too. They were inspired by Allah to explain and reinterpret the Qur'an.

Zainab: Sunnis believe in the Qur'an and the Hadith - the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, reported by his followers.

Furvah: Same. Only we have different collections of Hadith. They depend on which follower reported the saying and whether or not we trust them. We also follow the teachings of our Imams.

Zainab: Sunnis observed the Five Pillars of Islam.

Furvah: So do we.

Zainab: This includes Shahadah - saying that we believe in one God and that Prophet Muhammad was his final messenger. We also have Salah - praying five times a day; Zakah - giving to charity; Sawm - fasting; and Hajj - taking a pilgrimage to Makkah.

Furvah: Ah, okay. So we do all of that. But our Five Pillars are different. Yours are things you do, ours are things we believe. We have Tawhid - believing in the oneness of God; Adl - believing in God's justice; Nubuwwah - prophethood; Mi'ad - the Day of Judgment and resurrection, and Imamah - the Imams' succession from the Prophet.

Zainab: We don't believe in Imamah, obviously, but we do believe in the rest of it. We have what we call the Six Articles of Faith, which include Tawhid and Nubuwwah. We also have Akhirah, which is the belief in the afterlife - similar to your Adl. Then we have Malaika - the belief in the Angels; Kutub - the belief in the holy book; and Al-Qadr - the belief in predestination, that everything follows Allah's plan.

Furvah: We believe all of that too. As well as doing the things in your Five Pillars, we do things that make up the Ten Obligatory Acts. So as well as Salah, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj, we also have Jihad, which doesn't mean holy war. It means...

Zainab: To struggle or strive. We do that. It's the struggle to be a good Muslim, isn't it? What else?

Furvah: Khums, which is a bit like Zakah, only the money goes to education and the descendants of Muhammad. Air-bil-Maroof, which means encouraging people to do good; Nahi Anril Munkar, which is discouraging people from doing bad; Tawalia - showing love for Allah and his people; and Tabarra, which means 'disassociation' - not getting involved with people who do bad stuff.

Zainab: Hang on, rewind a bit. You said that you do Salah?

Furvah: For us, that means praying five times a day. Sunrise, midday, afternoon, sunset and at night.

Zainab: I thought you only prayed three times a day?

Furvah: We say five prayers just like you. But we might say the midday and afternoon prayers together, and sunset and night prayers together. So three prayer times - and the prayer positions are slightly different, but only slightly.

Zainab: But what's with the stone?

Furvah: It's a clay tile. It's called a 'mohr' or a 'turbah', and when we pray, we touch it with our foreheads. It symbolises the earth because we believe Muhammad prayed on the ground, not a carpet.

Zainab: And I think the adhan, the call to prayer we do at the mosque, is different too. Ours mentions Allah and Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Furvah: And ours adds Ali, otherwise are the same. And we pay our prayer leaders, the local imams. They might be called a 'shaykh' or a 'maulana', depending on where in the world you are. But I think these days, you do that as well, don't you?

Zainab: Yeah. Back in the day, people took turns at being the imam and leading the prayers. But it's become a full time job in most mosques. We don't think of them as clergy in the same way as you though. If I'm right, you do Sawm, fasting during Ramadan, differently too.

Furvah: Fasting is fasting. We do it the same way as you. We don't eat between sunrise and sunset, but we do fast about half an hour longer than you every day, just to make sure the sun is definitely below the horizon before we start eating.

Zainab: Oh, okay! Controversial question coming up. Do you have temporary marriages?

Furvah: Not really. Not any more. But all Muslims sign a contract before they get married, right?

Zainab: A nikah!

Furvah: Well, in some circumstances, Shias are allowed to put a time limit in their contracts. So a man and a woman could agree to be married for, let's say, a year or six months. And that would be the end of it. No divorce, no arguments.

Zainab: Well, when you put it like that.

Furvah: It was often misunderstood or misused. So although it isn't forbidden, I don't think it happens much these days. Society's moved forward.

Zainab: Okay, so as far as I can see, it's mainly the history of our denominations that separates us.

Furvah: And our beliefs about Ali and the Mahdi.

Zainab: Yes, we believe that the Mahdi is a hero who will appear in the far future to defeat evil before the Day of Judgment. We don't know who the Mahdi will be. Some Sunnis believe it will be an ordinary person who will rise up and lead us. Others believe it will be Prophet Isa (Jesus). Who knows?

Furvah: We believe it will be one of our Imams. Which Imam depends on which type of Shia you are. Usually it's the last Imam. He's hidden from us until his time comes. For Twelvers like me, it'll be the 12th Imam. His name is Muhammad al-Mahdi.

Zainab: Okay, but on the whole, the teachings don't seem massively different.

Furvah: Yeah. I think most of our beliefs, and most things we do are the same.

Zainab & Furvah: What do you think?

Understanding Denominations: Islam

Video length - 09.13

Published date - Feb 2026

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

In this film, we explore Sikh perspectives on climate change through the lens of religious teachings and ethics. Sikhism teaches that the Earth is sacred, a divine creation of Waheguru, and must be treated with reverence and care. The principle of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’—working for the well-being of all—extends to protecting the environment and all forms of life. The Sikh faith emphasises humility, selfless service (seva), and living in harmony with nature as core spiritual values.

Sikh commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in practices like communal kitchens (langar), which promote plant-based diets and reduce waste, and the use of renewable energy in gurdwaras around the world. Through these teachings and practices, the Sikh tradition calls for urgent and compassionate action to address climate change, highlighting both personal responsibility and collective effort to safeguard the Earth for future generations.

By linking spiritual values with environmental activism, Climate Change: Sikhism shows how faith can inspire a more just, green, and sustainable future for all.

Transcript

Climate Change: Sikhism

Prubhjyot: My name is Prubhjyot Singh and I am a co-founder of Eco-Sikh UK. Eco-Sikh UK are here to inspire the youth of the Sikhs here in the UK to come out and look after their environment and realise that we need to change ourselves, change our lifestyles to make a change for the environment and look after our well-being and our future generations well-being. Sikhs come from an area in India called Punjab, which is in the north west bordering Pakistan. A lot of Sikhs back in the days were farmers who would grow their own food and feed their families and live sustainably. Land of Punjab is very rich in agricultural land in terms of farming. Making our own food, growing our own food and feeding our families. Traditionally, we would pass down the knowledge of good farming and living sustainably and being stewards, good stewards of the land, down generation by generation. A lot of these values have now been lost when our families have moved into the Western world. As Sikhs, we believe in Guru Granth Sahib ji and Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Whereas most people will see it as a book where it has all of our messages written within it, we as Sikhs don't describe it as a book. Guru Granth Sahib Ji for us is a living guru which has all the knowledge contained within it. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji actually begins not with a word but with a number, and the number is one, and the number one symbolises oneness of everything. As Sikhs, we believe there is there is one God. But however, that one actually has a deeper meaning to it, which we believe it to be is there is nothing but God. So if you see that as everything is created by that oneness, we are part of that oneness. As human beings, as the animals that are out there, the environment, the trees, the water, this planet, the whole universe is part of that oneness. There's a line in Guru Granth Sahib Ji which says Pavan guru pani pita Mata tata mehat, which basically translates to that pavan. The air is our guru, the water is our father and the planet Earth. The mother is our Mata. So we need to look after the three elements.

We need to look after the Mother Earth for it to provide us with a living environment, a fresh air environment where we can go and have fresh water. We need to be able to live in balance, in sustainable balance within the creation and the environment around us. When it comes to looking after the environment, it's important for us to have a sustainable view. We need to be able to live within our means. We need to be able to look after the environment that we live in. So rather than destroying the trees or cutting them down or building on agricultural land, we need to have a balance where we're provided with the elements that we require. We require fresh air, we require water, we need all these elements to survive. And one of the biggest facts we need to remember is that Mother Earth will thrive without human beings. Whereas human beings cannot live without the natural environment and the fresh air and the oxygen that the environment provides us.

So two really important concepts in Sikhism is a seva. And sever is all about selfless giving. You might have seen Sikhs go out there and feed the poor. You might have seen Sikhs donate a lot of money to a good cause. However, we're not very good at when it comes to the environmental things. And now I think that's where sarbat da bhala is very important. So sarbat da bhala basically means. Good for all. While feeding the poor is feeding the poor. And obviously you're providing food and you're providing money for good causes. But when it comes to the environment, by planting a tree that will give oxygen to anyone that walks past that tree, and it brings that sarbat da bhala concept into a whole new vision. As eco Sikhs have been planting trees alongside Canal and River trust, we've been part of the longest orchard in the world. We've helped clean up canals, we've helped pick up litter. We've helped communities live in a better environment. Eco-Sikh is not just an organisation in UK, it's a worldwide organisation and one of our biggest teams is currently in India working on a project called Guru Nanak Dev Ji Sacred Forest. This was to celebrate Guru Nanak's 550th birthday. The concept of this project is to bring back biodiversity back into the areas where we had lost it over the last 40 to 50 years. For every tree we plant, it acts like a home or a habitat for insects, birds and animals. It's great to bring that wildlife back to the local community there. It also helps in carbon capture and bring down the pollution within those areas. So in 2019, it was Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary. This is a really important celebration for the Sikh's all around the world. While planting the 550 trees involved, we were approached by the Holy Trinity Church vicar and he wanted to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th alongside the Sikh community. This was a great idea. The whole community got together, and we decided that the 550th tree would be planted in the courtyard of the Holy Trinity Church.

At this event, we had various different faiths, including the Sikhs, the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, the Jews and all the local community. This event really encompassed the message that Sikhi really brings out and Guru Nanak's message of oneness, that everything is one. The whole universe is created in that one's form. There is nothing but God. God is in all. And this event really showed that if the communities can get together and work together, we can really make a positive change in saving our environment. While a lot of the skills that we required in Punjab are not required here in the Western world, here at Ecosikh, we want to make sure that we're still keeping the values of being good stewards and sustainability, and we're passing them down to our younger generations. We can do that by reducing our plastic usage within our houses, eating local food rather than getting food from across the world, eating seasonal food, maybe reducing our water usage, maybe walking to the local supermarket. There is so much you can do at home. Start at home and then take it to the local communities. Take it to your local groups. Take it to the local gurdwaras. It's important for us all to push together and make a positive impact for the environment. Eco-Sikh hold regular talks with gurdwaras our place of worship, where we talk about how to make Gurdwaras environmentally friendly. There's many ways of doing this. This could be from looking at solar panels, using electric usage, reducing our water usage, or how we recycle our food waste from our langar, which is our community kitchen. There's so many ways of getting the community involved in helping out with all of this, but the most important part is it's not just the Sikhs, it's all the communities together. Whether you're a muslim, whether you're a Hindu, whether you're Sikh, Christian, it doesn't matter who you are. It's going to take not just one community. It will take all the communities to work together. It will take all the religions to work together. It will take the whole planet to work together. It's about everyone saving the environment for the future generations.

Climate Change: Sikhism

Video length - 07.47

Published date - Sep 2025

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

This animated film is part of a portrait series that brings big names from history and faith to life. In this episode, we take a closer look at Jesus of Nazareth—someone whose life and message have shaped the world in a monumental way.

Told through bold animation and down-to-earth narration, the film covers the key moments in Jesus’ life: from his birth in a stable, to being baptised in the River Jordan, to the way he taught and connected with people from all walks of life. We follow his journey through the highs and lows—including his crucifixion and the mystery of the resurrection.

Whether you know a little or a lot about Jesus, this film offers a fresh take on his story—showing why his words and actions still matter today. It’s an animated snapshot of a life that changed history, packed with themes of love, justice, sacrifice, and hope.

Transcript

A Portrait Of Jesus Transcript

Narrator: Down through history, there have been special people who stand out because they were inspiring. They challenged beliefs, had new ideas, and sometimes even changed the world. One of those people is Jesus of Nazareth and here's a portrait of his life. Jesus began Christianity, and nearly everything we know about him comes from the Christian holy book, which is called the Bible. This is what Christians believe. Jesus was a Jew who was born in Bethlehem to a virgin called Mary in about four BCE.

A little over 2000 years ago, he started out as a carpenter, but when he was about 30, he was baptized by his cousin John and became a travelling preacher. During his famous sermon on the Mount, Jesus summed up his teaching with the words do to others what you would have them do to you. He also told stories with a point called parables that gave his audience something to think about, and he performed miracles changing water into wine, calming storms, healing the sick, even raising the dead.

He chose 12 men known as disciples, which means pupils or followers, to help spread his teaching. They describe Jesus as the Messiah in Hebrew or Christ in Greek. At first, they hoped he would be a new king of the Jews, but the better they got to know him, the more they came to believe that he was actually God in human form or God's Son. When he was about 33, Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman governor. But on the third day after his execution, he came back to life, which shows God's power over evil and the promise of life after death. Jesus rose up to heaven, promising that one day he would return. Today, Jesus's example and teaching continue to inspire billions of people around the world.

A Portrait of Jesus

Video length - 02.05

Published date - Aug 2025

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

From the critically acclaimed BBC Two and iPlayer series Pilgrimage follows well known personalities of differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey of discovery as they tackle some of the most famous walking routes across the UK and Europe. In this series the Pilgrims go to Wales in Pilgrimage The Road Through North Wales.

In this Pilgrimage Moment, Spencer and Eshaan discuss whether or not St Winefride and Jesus Christ were real.

See the whole episode on on iPlayer here.

Transcript

Pilgrimage Moments: Fact or Fiction?

Spencer: The Winifred story dates 630 A.D, yeah?

Eshaan: Right. Yeah.

Spencer: So 630 years after Christ. Like when? At what point does, um, fiction blend to turn to actual history? Like, do you know what I mean?

Eshaan: Winifred existed. From what I understand, Winifred existed. Like, she's a real woman, irrespective of the story.

Spencer: Winifred was a real person?

Eshaan: A real person, a real person from a noble family, probably quite well-educated. There's evidence to prove that.

Spencer: Okay. So? So I thought, like, Winifred was a kind of.

Eshaan: Just a character.

Spencer: Well, I wasn't sure. Right? Yeah, yeah. So. But the person the Saint Winifred existed?

Eshaan: Existed.

Spencer: Okay. Okay. So okay. That does that does make a difference to me because I have been sat here thinking that, you know, this is all Cinderella mounds type thing.

Eshaan: So you thought this was a bit like a Winifred theme park, a bit like Harry Potter Park or something?

Spencer: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, basically. Well, no, I'm just wondering when things became more, um, real.

Eshaan: Perhaps when the people were able to document these things, when you were able to start beginning to document.

Spencer: So, like, Jesus Christ definitely existed?

Eshaan: Yeah.

Spencer: I thought he could have been made up as well.

Spencer: That's not disputed. So I didn't realise that. So I thought Jesus Christ was either something that you believe in or you don't. But I, I kind of thought he was fictitious.

Eshaan: Yeah. No, no, no.

Eshaan: He's a real person.

Spencer: I honestly feel like this is a big deal.

Eshaan: Yeah, I can see it in your eyes.

Spencer: Yeah, yeah. No, it is like I've not. I have kind of likened religion to, to to just fairytales before.

Eshaan: Yeah yeah of course.

Spencer: Because it's kind of like well they're great stories. Yeah. People. And they transcend time because they're such good stories. Yeah. But like the fact that some of the I was about to say, key players when Jesus Christ was a bit more than the key player I think.

Eshaan: Muslims think he's the vice captain. Yeah, they think Muhammed is the captain and Jesus is the vice captain. That's what they believe.

Spencer: Muhammed is Allah is he?

Eshaan: No.

Spencer: Who is Muhammed?

Eshaan: Muhammed is the prophet.

Eshaan: He's the prophet of God.

Spencer: I think. Let's not.

Eshaan: There's too much.

Spencer: It's too much for my kind of medium sized mind in this moment.

Eshaan: Yeah to take in.

Spencer: But I'm. I'm far more into Winifred now that I know she was real.

Amanda: So you're all excited that you found out that Jesus was a real person Spencer?

Spencer: Yeah. Yeah, honestly. Honestly I kind of feel a bit stupid but yeah yeah, it's changed a lot. I did. Yeah.

Amanda: No, he was here. He was on this earth.

Spencer: Real dude!

Amanda: Yeah, he's a real dude.

Christine: But is there like photographic evidence?

Eshaan: There weren't photographs.

Christine: See is there any evidence at all?

Amanda: Yeah, it's all it's all scriptured.

Pilgrimage Moments: Fact or Fiction?

Video length - 03.15

Published date - May 2025

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

Come and join us for Vaisakhi – the Indian spring harvest festival, which has been celebrated for centuries. Vaisakhi is of special importance in Sikhi as it marks the day the Khalsa was established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

Our film highlights the vibrant traditions and practices associated with Vaisakhi, from the Nishan Sahib Seva – the service of cleaning and putting up a new Nishan Sahib (flag), and the sharing of langar (community meals) to the recitation of prayers and music that fill the air. The celebrations of Vaisakhi showcase the spirit of togetherness, faith, and cultural pride. With beautiful illustrations and live action combined, we hope that we can get you excited for the festival of Vaisakhi!

Transcript

Vaisakhi Transcript

Contributor 1: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Jaya Narrator: Every spring all over the world, Sikhs like me celebrate the festival of Vaisakhi. It's been a harvest festival in India for thousands of years. But for Sikhs it has an extra special meaning because it's also where the Khalsa began. Khalsa means the pure ones and it's what we call the community of Sikhs who have fully committed themselves to Sikhi. This is our temple where we worship and get together as a community. It's called a Gurdwara, which means House of the Guru because the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is here. Our living Guru, in the form of a book on the days leading up to Vaisakhi an Akhand Path will be held. This is when the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is read out loud from beginning to end. It takes 48 hours to read all 1,430 pages, so different readers take turns. On the day itself. Everyone goes to the Gurdwara in the morning for prayers and to hear the Guru Granth Sahib Ji being read.

Contributor 1: Vaisakhi to me means coming together as a whole community to celebrate the birth of the Khalsa. Celebrating togetherness and oneness. No matter what faith you are, what creed you are, what gender you are. We all come together as one.

Contributor 2: Vaisakhi to me is also a good time to reflect, to be grateful for all that we have.

Jaya Narrator: Vaisakhi is celebrated on the first day of the Sikh month of the Vaisakh, which falls on the 13th or 14th of April.

Contributor 3: Vaisakhi is signing up to the code and conduct of the Sikhs, and the storytelling that goes on in these days reminds you of the sets of values that created the Sikh faith.

Jaya Narrator: At Vaisakhi we remember an important event in our history. In 1699, the Sikh community didn't feel much like celebrating the harvest festival. They were facing vicious persecution from the Emperor Aurangzeb just for being Sikhs. 23 years earlier. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru and leader of the Sikh people, had been beheaded on the emperor's orders. Many people had decided that rather than share the fate of their guru, they would abandon Sikhi altogether. Now the Sikh community was in danger of falling apart, and it was up to Guru Gobind Rajij, the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur to do something about it. In the weeks leading up to Vaisakhi, word went out that the guru was asking every single Sikh to attend a special celebration in the town of Anandpur. And on the day, tens of thousands of people gathered in front of Kashgar Fort, where a large tent had been put up. Guru Gobind Rajij walked out in front of the crowd. He was an impressive sight in his saffron robes, his hair tied neatly in a turban. He held a sword above his head and it flashed in the sunlight. The crowd fell silent, waiting for their guru to speak. Who among you is willing to die for God and for their guru? Who will give their head to my sword? What did he mean? Eventually a man made his way up to the front. It was Daya Ram, a young man from a well-to-do family. The guru welcomed him like a brother and took him into the tent. Then a hush descended as the crowd strained to hear what was going on. There was a swish of a sword and a sickening thud. The guru emerged alone from the tent and waved his sword for all to see. Shock ran through the crowd like a wave. The blade was covered in blood. Had the guru beheaded Daya Ram. Who else is willing to give their life for God and for me? This time everyone remained absolutely still frightened to move. But then another man stepped forward. A farmer called Dharam Das. As before, he was welcomed by the guru and led inside the tent. Everyone held their breath, a swish, a thud, and the guru re-emerged, brandishing his bloodstained sword. Panic began to spread. My sword is still hungry. Who else is willing to give their head to serve me? Unbelievably, three more men volunteered. A tailor called Mokham Chand. A barber called Sahib Chand. And a water carrier called Himmat Rai. One at a time, the guru took them into the tent and then came out alone, his blade sticky with congealing blood. The crowd was in confusion. No one could understand what was happening. But then the guru threw back the flaps of the tent and all five men walked out alive and well. They were wearing turbans and saffron robes like the guru, and they were all smiling. Five men from very different backgrounds, standing shoulder to shoulder with the guru. Five men who were willing to die for their guru if necessary. The crowd cheered. The guru announced that they would be known as the Panj Piare, the beloved five. He invited them to drink holy water called Amrit, and then he anointed them, sprinkling the Amrit on their heads and eyes. They were the first members of the Khalsa, the Pure Ones. Sikhs who were truly committed to Sikki. The guru asked the Panj Piare to baptise him with Amrit in the same way. And then the crowd rushed forward, all eager to join the Khalsa. Each person was given a new name, Singh, which means lion for men and Kaur, which means princess or leader for women. Guru Gobind Rajij became Guru Gobind Singh Ji and new life was breathed into the Sikh people as they stood proudly together. They were more than a match for the Emperor. The Panj Piare are represented at our celebrations by members of the Khalsa, sometimes called the Khalsa Panth, which means the way of the Pure Ones.

Contributor 4: So the Panj Piare, they're the first Sikhs to be initiated into the Khalsa Panth. So Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who was the 10th guru of the Sikh religion, he felt it was necessary to create a distinct identity for the Sikhs in which they were clearly recognised and could follow a code of conduct which helps them in their daily life.

Contributor 5: The underpin of love and compassion and humility, of telling the truth and living a very simple lifestyle and being content with what you have.

Contributor 6: So Khalsa is someone who actually fights for the justice, someone who fights for the righteousness. Someone who is not biased. He would not take the side of his own religion or his own people. He would fight for righteousness. That is Khalsa.

Jaya Narrator: Vaisakhi is a popular time of year for people to join the Khalsa, which they do in the same way as the Panj Piare and the guru did by going through the Amrit ceremony or Amrit Sanchar.

Contributor 7: I was fortunate to take the Amrit Sanchar ceremony two years ago, when I felt it was the right time in my life to commit to the Guru's teachings and way of life. The Amrit Sanchar ceremony is open to all regardless of your faith, your background, your age, your colour. It's open to everybody. Through that ceremony, essentially, you're saying that you give your head, you will live a disciplined life, and ultimately you'll believe in the force of one. In treating humans together, humanity together, but also how you will conduct yourself and with others around you. Also, at that time, the Sikhs are given the five symbols of the Sikh faith. The Kesh, which is the long uncut hair, the Kara, which is the steel bangle, the Kirpan which is the sword that you may see worn on the outside, the Kachera, which is the the shorts that are worn as undergarments. And finally the Kangha, which is used to keep your your hair tied up as well.

Jaya Narrator: Every Gurdwara has a flag outside, like this one called a Nishan Sahib, which symbolises that everyone is welcome at the Gurdwara for food and help. At Vaisakhi it's taken down and a new one is put up in a ceremony called the Nishan Sahib Seva.

Contributor 5: Today is also particularly special because as you can see behind me, we are going to be doing the Nishan Sahib Seva. So the Nishan Sahib is our flag and the Nishan Sahib can be seen in every Gurudwara. Wherever you go in the world, there will always be a Nissan Sahib up and this time of year it's taken down and we clean it. We redress it, if you like. So that because the colours fade with the weathering over the year. So new bright robes are put onto the Nissan Sahib and everybody loves joining in, in that process. Especially children that like to see it all being done.

Jaya Narrator: All Gurdwaras have a Langar a dining hall that serves free vegetarian food so everyone eats together. And then celebrations often continue long into the night.

Contributor 7: It's springtime in India. It's about actually, you know, the start of a new beginning. It's a time for people to come together. The Sikh faith congregation around the world comes together to reflect on the values of the Sikh faith. But then also, I think it's an opportunity for us all to come together and think about how we want to lead our lives as well, and what was set out by the gurus initially, then how we want to take that forward in our daily lives as well.

Vaisakhi

Video length - 11.06

Published date - Apr 2025

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Join Maria and Jayne as they explore the key similarities and differences between Roman Catholic and Protestant branches of Christianity. Through a conversational format they discuss these denominations and their shared beliefs and unique practices, offering insights into the historical, theological, and cultural distinctions that shape their faiths.

The film delves into topics such as the structure of church leadership, styles of worship, sacraments, and the role of tradition versus scripture. It examines rituals like baptism and communion, contrasting Catholic beliefs in transubstantiation with Protestant symbolism. It also touches on theological concepts like salvation, confession, and the afterlife, presenting perspectives on purgatory, saints, and direct prayer.

The film highlights both common ground and diversity within Christianity, encouraging viewers to appreciate the richness of its traditions. Perfect for students and anyone interested in the history and practices of Christian faith.

Transcript

Understanding Denominations: Christianity

Hi. I'm a Christian and so am I. But we come from different denominations of Christianity. A denomination is a branch or group within a religion. I'm a Roman Catholic and I'm a Protestant. We both believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died and rose again and then went to heaven. Jesus left his apostles, his messengers, to spread his teaching and made Peter their leader. And we believe that's when the Catholic Church started. The word Catholic comes from the Greek word katholikos, which means universal because the church was for everyone. But in the year 1054, the Great Schism happened. The church split into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, so called because it was based in Rome, and it became more and more powerful throughout Europe. Then in 1382, a professor at Oxford University, John Wycliffe, argued that it was time for the church to be reformed. But the Reformation Formation didn't really get going until 1517, when a German priest called Martin Luther started a protest against the Roman Catholics and the Protestant Church was born. Or the Protestant churches were born because there are different denominations within Protestantism, right? Yeah. In fact, I wouldn't usually call myself a Protestant. I'd call myself a Baptist, which is the Protestant denomination which I belong to. But there are also Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Quakers. There are lots of them. I get it. So what are the main differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants? Well, let's start with the church itself. The building, I mean, take a look. Roman Catholic churches usually have a lot of decoration and other stuff. The most common symbol we use is the crucifix. Jesus on the cross. It's a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us when he was crucified. Protestant churches tend to be plainer. Our symbol is an empty cross. Sometimes called a Latin cross. It reminds us that Jesus rose from the dead.

A Roman Catholic church is led by a priest. Only men can be priests and they can't get married or have children. They usually wear a white dog collar and put on long robes called vestments during services. We tend to call our church leaders ministers or pastors because we believe in the priesthood of all believers, that the leader of the church is no different to the rest of us. Most Protestant denominations have male and female pastors. They can get married, and they don't usually wear dog collars or vestments, although some do. The priesthood is something special in the Roman Catholic Church, especially the Pope. We believe that the Apostle Peter was the first pope, and the blessing he was given by Jesus has been passed down from man to man until we get to the present day Pope who leads the church. It's called the apostolic succession. We don't have a single leader. There's the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England. But other Protestant churches have their own leaders. The Roman Catholic Church's authority comes from the Bible and 2000 years of tradition. In Protestant churches, authority comes just from the Bible. We both believe in the Bible, which is a collection of 66 books written by different authors over about 1500 years. Reading the Bible and learning from it is really important to Protestants. The main focus of our services is a sermon, a talk given by the pastor to help explain the Bible's teachings. The Roman Catholic Bible has 73 books. The Protestants removed seven of them. Bible study is less important to us. We tend to concentrate on the sacraments, which are seven special ceremonies that were given the stamp of approval by Jesus. Baptism. Confirmation. Eucharist. Confession. Anointing of the sick, holy matrimony, and holy orders. Most Protestants would say there are only two sacraments Baptism and Holy Communion, but we do them differently. Baptism is a ritual wash symbolising the removal of sin and the start of a new life. Yeah, although we would say it's more than just a symbol, it's important that people get baptised so that they can become part of the church as soon as possible, whether they're babies or adults. We do it by sprinkling them with holy water from a big basin, like this, called a font. We have believers baptism, which means we only baptise people who can decide for themselves if that's what they want. Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan, so most Protestant churches will imitate that with baptism by full immersion, which means they go completely underwater in a baptismal pool or baptistry. Like this.

Celebrating the Eucharist, which we do during a service called mass, is central to Roman Catholic life. We're more likely to call it Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, or breaking of the bread. It's when we share bread and wine to symbolise the body and blood of Jesus. He asked his followers to remember his death on the cross in this way. But again, we would say it's more than just a symbol. Roman Catholics believe that while the outward form of the bread and wine stays the same, their essence becomes the body and blood of Jesus who is there again at the mass. The belief is traditionally called transubstantiation. People usually come up to the front of the church to receive the bread and wine from the priest. Although wafers are often used instead of bread, in Protestant churches, it's more usual for everyone to stay in their seats and for the bread and wine to be passed along the rows. The bread is usually actual bread, but a lot of churches use red grape juice instead of wine. You don't believe the bread and wine changed in any way? No, mostly some Protestants believe that the bread and wine are changed in a spiritual way. That they are blessed by God and become holy. But we don't believe that they are Jesus's body and blood. One of the sacraments you don't have is confession. We sit with the priest and tell him our sins, the things we've done wrong, and he forgives us on behalf of God and gives us a penance, which is something we do to show that we're sorry. We usually give him prayers to say. We can go to our pastors for advice, but we pray directly to God for forgiveness. We can pray directly to God as well, but our priests act like go betweens for us.

You also pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus and the saints, don't you? That's right. Saints are people who lived really holy lives. People we can be sure are in heaven. And do the saints answer your prayers? No. It's still God who answers the prayers. It's a bit like asking a friend to pray for you, but a saint has the advantage of already being in heaven and closer to God. It's why we have pictures and statues of saints and the Virgin Mary, which you won't find in a Protestant church. We only pray to God. Our worship tends to be very traditional classical music and prayers from a book. Up until the 1960s. It was all in Latin. But since then our worship has been in the language of the worshippers. Although some churches still like to use the Latin Mass, Protestant worship has always been in the worshippers language, and we tend to have a more modern style of music. Many churches even have their own bands to lead the singing. The mass follows a written pattern called a liturgy, and it's been the same for centuries. Our worship is a bit looser, although our service will still have a structure with singing, prayers and a sermon. You don't use a prayer book? No. Although I should explain the Church of England here, which is a special case. It all started with Henry VIII, famous for having six wives. Exactly. Until the 1530s. England was a Roman Catholic country. But Henry VIII wanted to divorce his first wife and marry his mistress. The Pope said no. So Henry told the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, to create a Church of England that wasn't under the pope's authority. This developed into a church with Protestant beliefs, but a lot of Catholic traditions. So many of them still use prayer books and more formal styles of worship. And they have priests. Yeah, but men and women can be Church of England priests and they can get married. Okay, so what happens when we die? Salvation. We're saved from hell and go to heaven to be with God. It's not quite that simple for Roman Catholics. We believe that salvation is a lifelong process. We're saved by our faith in God and the good works we do. Protestants believe that salvation is by faith alone. You've probably heard us talking about being born again, yeah? Well, we believe that once you've accepted Jesus as your Savior, that's it. You're going to heaven. It's a once in a lifetime thing, so you don't have to do any good works. We don't have to. But we believe that once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit will help them to become a better person. So they'll be doing good things for other people anyway. Roman Catholics believe that after death, really good people go straight to heaven and really bad people go straight to hell. But we also believe in a place called purgatory, which is where most people go to be purified of their sins before moving on to heaven. Protestants just believe in heaven and hell. We've got this life to get saved, and then we go to one or the other for eternity. But in the here and now, would you say we have more in common than differences? I don't know. What do you think?

Understanding Denominations: Christianity

Video length - 09.50

Published date - Jan 2025

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Holy Cribs: The Gurdwara

Arvinda Singh, a young Sikh, gives TrueTube a tour of his Gurdwara, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Southall. He shows us the prayer hall, the dining hall and even the Guru Granth Sahib’s bedroom!

Curriculum Mapping

Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teaching and practices - Sikhism - The nature of God linked with the worship of God in Sikhism. The Mool Mantra and how Sikhs pray and meditate mainly at home. Worship in the gurdwara The features of the gurdwara and its role in the Sikh community. To study the building’s design and function and identify the main features, external and internal. Worship in the Gurdwara - This covers how Sikhs show their respect when they are in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Langar -This covers the practice of eating together. It links the topics about equality, sewa and the gurdwara together.

Area of study 2 - Section 3: Living the Sikh Life - Sikhism - Features of the gurdwara: the nature, history and purpose of the design of the Gurdwara as the ‘Door/Gate of the Guru’, including Rahit Maryada Chapters 4–6; how and why objects of devotion are used within the gurdwara: Guru Granth Sahib, Takht, Chanani, Chaur, the langar hall, four doors, and the Nishan Sahib; divergent understandings of the importance of these features in Sikh life today. The gurdwara: the role and importance of the gurdwara within the Sikh community including reference to Guru Granth Sahib 1391; activities that take place within the gurdwara and why; the nature and importance of visiting Sikh historical gurdwaras: the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar (the Golden Temple); divergent understandings of the importance of making such visits including reference to Guru Granth Sahib 4. Langar: the history of langar including Guru Granth Sahib 967; the nature and purposes of langar; the significance of langar for Sikhs today, especially as an expression of sewa.

2.1 Unit 1 PART A - Sikhism - Core beliefs, teachings and practices - Practices Worship  Features of the gurdwara  Role of Guru Granth Sahib in worship  Features of service; role of granthi and epilogue  Distribution of karah prashad  Role of langar in the gurdwara – concept of equality and selfless service (Guru Granth Sahib 349).

Component 3 (Route A) -Option 5: Sikhism - Practices: The gurdwara: practices in Britain and elsewhere ➢ The importance and the role of Bhatra and Ramgarhia gurdwaras in Britain as places of worship, social and community functions ➢ Religious features: artefacts, Guru Granth Sahib, langar (as an expression of sewa - selfless service to others) and associated practices Worship ➢ The role and importance of prayer in the home ➢ Significance of the practice of meditating on the name of God

Transcript

Holy Cribs: Gurdwara

Arvinda: Sat sri akal ji! Welcome to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall! My name is Arvinda Singh and I'm a Sikh. Our religion is often called Sikhism, but we like to call it Sikhi. This is the Gurdwara. This is our holy building where we come to worship Waheguru, which is the name of God. I'm going to give you a tour now. Just before we go inside, I want to show you the Nishan Sahib. This is a special flag in front of every Gurdwara. This is usually yellow or orange in colour and has a blue symbol on it called the Khanda.

Right then. Come on in.

The first thing we do is cover our heads. A lot of Sikhs, especially men, wear a dastar or a turban, but everyone else wears a headscarf such as these. We also take our shoes off and put them in the shoe rack. The last thing we do is wash our hands. This is a sign of respect, but we will need clean hands later because there will be food. The word Gurdwara means door to the Guru in Punjabi, it is where we come to pay our respects to Waheguru and our holy book the Guru Granth Sahib ji. We cover our hair, take our shoes off and wash our hands as a sign of respect. The main part of the Gurdwara where we listen to the Guru Granth Sahib ji is called the diwan hall or the prayer hall. But we'll need to be very quiet. The Guru Granth Sahib ji is treated like royalty, it sits at the front on a raised platform called the takht, which means throne. The canopy above it is called a palki. And the cushion it rests on is called a manji sahib. When we come here, we always pay our respects to the Guru Granth Sahib ji. We walk down to the front, bow and maybe give an offering. It's usually money, but it can be food or a new cloth to wrap the Guru Granth Sahib ji in when it isn't being read. Some people like to walk clockwise around the takht as a symbol that the Guru Granth Sahib ji, is a centre part of their lives. Then being careful not to turn our backs to the Guru until we are a little distance away, we go and sit down. Everyone sits on the floor as a sign of equality. Men sit on one side, usually the right, women on the other side. This is so that we are concentrating on Waheguru and the words of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and not on each other. Services can go on for hours, so people often come and go as they like. There's no particular day for worship. The Gurdwara is open every day, but it gets crowded on a Sunday when most people are off work. Mostly we sit and listen to the words of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The person reading it is called a granthi. The granthi isn't a priest and can be any man or woman who can read Gurmukhi. That's the Punjabi alphabet and it was used to write the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, because Sikhi began in Punjab in the north of India.

As the granthi reads, he or she waves a fan made of hair or feathers called a chauri. In India, important people will be fanned to keep them cool and to keep flies off them. It became a symbol of respect even when it isn't hot. So now it's done for the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Every day the granthi gives a special reading called a hukam. He or she opens the Guru to whichever page it falls open and reads the words. The idea is that this isn't random. Waheguru chooses which words are most suitable for people to hear. Sometimes we have musicians called ragis who sing hymns called bhajans. And often these words come from the Guru Granth Sahib ji. Singing hymns like this is called kirtan. The drums are called tabla, and the keyboard is called a vaja or harmonium in English and works by pumping air through it by hand.

Arvinda At the end of the service, everyone stands to say a special prayer together called the Ardas. There's always a big bowl of karah parshad. This is a sweet porridge made with lots of sugar and butter. It is a symbol of Waheguru ji's blessings as everybody shares from the same bowl. And it's very delicious.

Gurdwaras are often very beautifully decorated. This symbol the Khanda, was the one on the Nishan Sahib outside. And this is Gurmukhi writing. It says Ik Onkar, which means there is only one God. And those are the very first words of the Guru Granth Sahib ji. Those words were written by Guru Nanak dev ji. He was the very first leader of the Sikhs beginning in the year 1500, and he was given the title Guru, which means teacher, Sikh means pupil. There were ten Gurus in all who led the Sikhs, one after the other for about 200 years. Then the last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji, said that after his death, the writings of the first five Gurus and the ninth Guru would become the 11th and final Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib ji, which is why we give it so much respect. The Guru Granth Sahib even has its own room with a bed where it's kept overnight when it isn't being read. Gurdwaras have other rooms that could be used for community activities like this library. And every Gurdwara has one of these: a Langar or a dining hall. Anyone and everyone can share a free meal here. This is another symbol of equality. Back in the day in India, upper class people wouldn't mix with working class people and definitely wouldn't eat with them. So Guru Nanak dev ji started the Langar to encourage equality. The food here is always vegetarian so that everyone, no matter what their religion or if they just don't eat meat, can share the same meal. The people cooking food, serving it and washing up the plates are all volunteers. We call it seva, doing work to help other people. So next time you're passing by a Gurdwara, make sure to put a headscarf on and come and enjoy a free meal. Thank you for coming to the Gurdwara. Goodbye.