For Mysore's tiny Sikh community, faith goes beyond the tiny aboard of guru and god. Doors at the Gurudwara are open to anyone, who put in a small contribution and is ready to serve fellow human beings. No wonder you feel immense peace and joy in this temple, where one has to cover the head as a mark of respect to the gurus and the humanity.

"This's our contribution to Mysore's great cultural tradition," proudly reply members of the community, asked why a Gurudwara here? They add the idea stems from Guru Nanak's establishment of a Dharmashala, where people congregated for evening prayers after a day's toil, and shared food and water.

Located on the Bangalore Road, behind ESI Hospital, the Gurudwara's splendour gradually unfolds as you walk through the doors. A flight of stairs leads you to the congregation hall, the three domes above stand as palpable symbols of Sikh architecture. On a well decorated pedestal in the eastern corner of this hall lies Sri Guru Granth, which Sikhs regard as their 11th Guru. From this hall, the stairway descends into Langar or dining hall that can accommodate 300 people at a time.

The structure's corner is shaped like a half-star, a feature normally found in South Indian temple architecture, a further evidence of the community's effort to blend Sikh and Mysore features. The temple has facilities to lodge pilgrims, a place for Granthi (reader of scriptures), an office room etc. Behind Langar Hall, there's a clean and hygienic kitchen were Langar (the sacred food) is made.

Before the 90's, the Sikh community congregated for prayers in private residents. In 1991, Chiranjeev Singh IAS proposed the idea of having a Gurudwara. And work began with procurement of land from the city corporation. What came up as a small structure in the beginning then slowly expanded to its present size in 1994.

Sital Singh, president of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, who coordinated efforts to create the Gurudwara, was humble in his accomplishments. He owes it all to god. For the internationally renowned architect Sri Giridhar though, designing and building the Gurudwara is fulfilment of a promise he made to his mother.

In September 2004, the Gurudwara celebrated its Prakash Divas, which coincided with the Guru Granth's 400th Prakash Divas at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, celebrated by Sikhs around the world.

The Guru's divine Shabad is recited here in the mornings to the musical accompaniments. A task that requires skill and elegance, the recital is performed by a skillful Granthi appointed by the committee that runs the Gurudwara. Unlike fellow faithfulls elsewhere, Sikhs in Mysore can schedule their congregations on Sundays. In fact, important celebrations like Guru Nanak's birthday, Vaisakhi and Prakash Divas are held on the weekends.

Langars are special here, as devotees can contribute, cook and share the sacred food. The Gurudwara plays host to 250 to 300 local engineering and medical college students, who have Langar here from time to time, with students of NIE being the most regular attendants.

Organising Akhand Path or continuous recitation of Sri Guru Granth is a practice among the Sikhs on special occasions. After 48 hours of uninterrupted singing, prayers are held at the Gurudwara. The Guru Singh Sabha is the registered body of the Sikhs who ought to become its members. The committee appointed or elected by the Sabha runs the Gurudwara's daily affairs. The Sabha has plans to construct an apartment block, to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims.

Efforts by the Sikh community to promote smooth inter-faith relationship have won them respect among Mysore's residents. Despite their small numbers (hardly ten families), they are regularly invited to programmes of other faiths and Sarvadharma Sammelanas. Indeed, living in harmony is an ideal close to the hearts of Sikhs in Mysore