Gurdwara launches community wellbeing event

Gravesend's Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara is one of the largest Sikh complexes outside of India

A Sikh community in Kent is preparing to mark the storming of India's Golden Temple 40 years ago with a wellbeing event.

"Everyone is welcome to help and to be helped in this community," said Jagdev Singh Virdee, joint secretary of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims died when the Indian Army attacked the Golden Temple in Amritsar during Operation Blue Star in 1984.

Sikhs mark the anniversary each year with special prayers and in Gravesend there will be events on Sunday to remember the deadly military offensive in 1984 and to offer free health, legal and wellbeing support to locals.

Mr Singh Virdee said the Gurdwara wanted to "take advantage of high footfall" to give back to the community.

Events include documentary screenings and historical talks.

Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal, a joint secretary, said it was "a very important day".

"In fact, this whole week in the Sikh calendar (is important)," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"So we want to combine it with helping people in their daily lives whilst we commemorate the past."

“It’s a very emotional subject, most families from the Punjab region have been impacted by those events of 1984."

'Selfless service'

Last year the Gurdwara, which has a specialist health and wellbeing team, trained 14 volunteers in mental health first aid and says it encourages people to spot the signs.

Mr Singh Virdee said: "We're finding a big increase in people with poor mental health and in the area. The number of deaths by suicide has gone up significantly in the last few years."

"The deaths by suicide that we've come to hear about range in age from 16 to 65. Three quarters have been men and a quarter women.

"It's a key ethos for Sikhs to do selfless service. Some donate money or time, but for this people in the congregation who are in various professions are giving up their time for the wider community."

Health screenings including medication reviews, blood pressure and BMI checks as well as legal advice and mental health support will be available on 9 June from 10:00 to 14:00 BST at the site in Khalsa Avenue.

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