# Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan Medway | Gurdwara UK > Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan in Medway, Kent is a Ravidassia place of worship offering kirtan, langar and community services in south-east England. # Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan Get Directions Share: Entry: Dress Code: Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan is a Ravidassia place of worship and community centre situated in Medway, Kent, United Kingdom, serving the local Ravidassia and wider South Asian community in this part of south-east England. The bhawan is dedicated to the life, teachings, and spiritual legacy of Guru Ravidass (c. 1450–1520), the revered saint-poet of the Bhakti movement whose forty-one shabads and one salok are enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal scripture of the Sikhs. The name 'Bhawan', meaning 'sacred abode' or 'house', reflects the devotional character of the institution, which functions simultaneously as a spiritual sanctuary, a community meeting place, and a hub of social welfare activity. The congregation at Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan gathers for regular religious programmes including kirtan (devotional singing), path (recitation of sacred scripture), and katha (exposition of Gurbani). The institution upholds the core Ravidassia and Sikh values of seva (selfless service), simran (meditation on the Divine Name), and satsang (holy congregation). The langar (community kitchen) remains one of the most cherished expressions of these values, providing free vegetarian meals to all visitors without regard to caste, creed, or background, embodying the egalitarian philosophy that Guru Ravidass championed throughout his life. Medway, encompassing the historic towns of Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, and Rainham, is home to a modest but deeply rooted South Asian diaspora, many of whom trace their origins to the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The bhawan serves as a cultural anchor for this community, offering a space where Punjabi language, music, and tradition are preserved and passed down to younger generations born in the United Kingdom. Programmes for children and youth are believed to be an important part of the bhawan's outreach. Beyond its liturgical function, the bhawan engages in charitable activities aligned with Guru Ravidass Ji's teachings on social justice, human dignity, and the upliftment of marginalised communities. The saint himself challenged the oppressive caste hierarchy of medieval India, and this reformist ethos continues to animate the institution's work in a contemporary British context. Visitors of all faiths and backgrounds are warmly welcomed to attend services, share langar, and learn about the rich spiritual heritage of Guru Ravidass Ji. ## Significance Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan in Medway holds profound spiritual and cultural significance for the Ravidassia community in Kent and the surrounding region. As one of the few dedicated Ravidassia bhawans in south-east England, it serves as a vital centre of devotion for communities who might otherwise have to travel considerable distances to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, or London — cities with larger and more established Ravidassia congregations. The bhawan's spiritual significance is rooted in its role as a living expression of Guru Ravidass Ji's teachings. His message of universal brotherhood, the oneness of God (referred to as Nirankar, the Formless One), and the fundamental dignity of every human soul resonates powerfully within a multicultural British context. The bhawan provides a space where devotees can connect with a devotional tradition that has its roots in fifteenth-century Varanasi yet speaks directly to contemporary concerns of equality, inclusion, and social justice. Culturally, the bhawan is a guardian of Punjabi heritage in Medway, nurturing the Punjabi language, classical kirtan traditions, and festival observances that might otherwise be diluted in the diaspora setting. For the second and third generation of British-born community members, it offers a meaningful connection to ancestral identity. The institution's commitment to the langar tradition also makes it a visible expression of open-hearted generosity within the broader Medway community. ## Nearby Gurdwaras ### Siri Guru Nanak Gurudwara Gillingham, United Kingdom 4.2 km away Siri Guru Nanak Gurudwara is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in Gillingham, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Siri Guru Nanak Gurudwara welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ### Kent Ramgarhia Darbar Sikh Temple Gillingham, United Kingdom 4.3 km away Kent Ramgarhia Darbar Sikh Temple is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Kent Ramgarhia Darbar Sikh Temple welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ![Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/thumb.php?f=GravesendGurdwara3436.JPG&w=600) ### Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara Gravesend, United Kingdom 9.5 km away Open daily; the Gurdwara is accessible f... The Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, located on Saddington Street in Gravesend, Kent, is the largest Gurdwara in Europe and one of the largest Sikh places of worship outside India. Rising majestically above the town centre, its five gleaming marble domes are visible from the River Thames, making it an architectural landmark of national significance as well as the spiritual heart of one of Britain's most established Sikh communities. The Gurdwara takes its name from Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, whose teachings of equality, selfless service, and devotion to the one God infuse every aspect of life within its walls. Inaugurated on 19 November 2010—the auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak's birthday (Gurpurab)—the current building was constructed at a cost of £18 million, funded entirely through voluntary donations from the local Sikh community. This extraordinary act of collective generosity reflects the deep roots and faith of Gravesend's Sikh diaspora, which has called the town home since the 1950s. The complex is a comprehensive facility by any measure. It can accommodate up to 1,200 worshippers at one time across its three prayer halls (Darbar Sahib), and features two langar halls where free communal meals are served daily to all visitors without distinction. Beyond the religious spaces, the Gurdwara houses a fully equipped lecture theatre seating 140 people, an ICT suite, a library, Punjabi language classrooms, and a day centre for elderly community members. Outdoor sports facilities, including a football pitch used by Guru Nanak Football Club, occupy the surrounding grounds. Gravesend is home to an estimated 15,000 Sikhs—more than 15 per cent of the total population of the Borough of Gravesham—making it one of the most significant Sikh communities in the UK outside London. The Gurdwara serves as the community's cultural, religious, educational, and social hub, welcoming worshippers and curious visitors alike seven days a week, free of charge. Guided tours are available for schools, community groups, and individual visitors wishing to learn about Sikh history and traditions. The only requirements for entry are a covered head and removal of shoes before entering the prayer halls. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gurdwara demonstrated the Sikh principle of sewa (selfless service) by providing over 60,000 free meals to NHS hospital staff, isolated residents, and people in need across the borough—an act of community solidarity that earned widespread admiration. Whether you come to participate in worship, share the langar, attend a cultural event, or simply admire one of the most architecturally striking religious buildings in the United Kingdom, Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Gravesend offers a profound, inclusive, and deeply welcoming experience to all who visit. Historical ### Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara Gravesend, United Kingdom 10 km away Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in Gravesend, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ## Detailed History The Ravidassia community in the United Kingdom began establishing formal places of worship from the latter decades of the twentieth century, following waves of Punjabi immigration to Britain that began in earnest in the 1950s and intensified through the 1960s and 1970s. Families from the Doaba region of Punjab, many of whom belonged to the Chamar community that revered Guru Ravidass as their supreme spiritual guide, settled across cities and towns in England, and their desire to maintain their distinct devotional tradition led to the founding of bhawans and deras across the country. Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan in Medway is believed to have been established in the late twentieth or early twenty-first century, as the South Asian population in the Medway towns grew sufficiently to sustain an independent congregation. The exact founding date remains to be officially confirmed by the managing committee. Like many similar institutions across the United Kingdom, the bhawan likely began as small gatherings in private homes or hired community halls before the congregation accumulated sufficient funds and community support to acquire or lease a dedicated premises. A defining moment for Ravidassia congregations worldwide came with the assassination of Sant Niranjan Dass and the critical wounding of Sant Ramanand in Vienna in 2009. This tragedy prompted Ravidassia communities globally, including those in the United Kingdom, to reaffirm their distinct religious identity. The Ravidassia community formally adopted the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji as their own independent sacred scripture and declared Ravidassia a separate religion, a declaration that resonated deeply with bhawans such as the one in Medway. Over the years, the bhawan is believed to have undergone expansions and renovations to accommodate a growing congregation and expanded programme of activities. Key celebrations such as the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass Ji (Guru Ravidass Jayanti), which falls on the full moon of the month of Magh (typically January or February), are believed to have grown substantially in scale, drawing devotees from across Kent and the wider south-east of England. ## Structures in the Complex ### Darbar Hall (Main Prayer Hall) Prayer Hall The central prayer hall where the sacred scripture is installed on a decorated palki beneath a canopied throne. The hall is adorned with traditional fabrics and hosts all kirtan, katha, and congregational worship activities. ### Langar Hall Community Kitchen and Dining Hall A dedicated space housing the community kitchen (langar) where free vegetarian meals are prepared and served to all visitors. The langar hall embodies Guru Ravidass Ji's teaching of equality and open-handed generosity. ### Nishan Sahib Religious Flagpole The triangular pennant atop a tall flagpole outside the bhawan, bearing devotional insignia that identifies the building as a Ravidassia sacred space and serves as a visible landmark for the local community. ### Entrance and Shoe Room (Joota Ghar) Entrance Facility A designated area at the entrance of the bhawan where visitors remove their shoes and, if needed, receive a head covering before entering the darbar hall — a practice of reverence observed in all Sikh and Ravidassia places of worship. ## Visitor Information ### Dress Code Modest, clean clothing is required. Heads must be covered; head coverings are available at the entrance. Shoes must be removed before entering the darbar hall. ### Photography Photography inside the darbar hall may be restricted out of respect for worshippers — seek permission from the management before taking photographs. ### Etiquette Bow respectfully before the scripture upon entering the darbar hall. Maintain silence or speak softly. Do not turn your back to the Granth Sahib. Alcohol, tobacco, and non-vegetarian food are not permitted on the premises. ## Climate & Best Time to Visit ## Langar (Free Community Kitchen) The langar hall is believed to accommodate several dozen diners at one sitting, with continuous service throughout major festival days. Seating Capacity ## Architecture Siri Guru Ravidass Bhawan in Medway is believed to occupy a converted or purpose-adapted building characteristic of many diaspora places of worship in the United Kingdom, where existing structures such as former churches, community halls, or commercial premises are transformed into devotional spaces. The interior is typically centred on the darbar hall, where the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji or the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is installed on a decorated palki (palanquin throne) beneath a decorative canopy. Vibrant fabrics in saffron, blue, and white — colours associated with the Ravidassia tradition — are believed to adorn the interior. A separate langar hall accommodates the free community kitchen that serves all visitors. Outside, the premises likely display devotional signage and the Nishan Sahib, a flagpole bearing the triangular Ravidassia or Sikh pennant that identifies the building as a sacred space. ## Structures in the Complex ### Darbar Hall (Main Prayer Hall) Prayer Hall The central prayer hall where the sacred scripture is installed on a decorated palki beneath a canopied throne. The hall is adorned with traditional fabrics and hosts all kirtan, katha, and congregational worship activities. ### Langar Hall Community Kitchen and Dining Hall A dedicated space housing the community kitchen (langar) where free vegetarian meals are prepared and served to all visitors. The langar hall embodies Guru Ravidass Ji's teaching of equality and open-handed generosity. ### Nishan Sahib Religious Flagpole The triangular pennant atop a tall flagpole outside the bhawan, bearing devotional insignia that identifies the building as a Ravidassia sacred space and serves as a visible landmark for the local community. ### Entrance and Shoe Room (Joota Ghar) Entrance Facility A designated area at the entrance of the bhawan where visitors remove their shoes and, if needed, receive a head covering before entering the darbar hall — a practice of reverence observed in all Sikh and Ravidassia places of worship. ## Events & Celebrations ### Religious Festival #### Guru Ravidass Jayanti The birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass Ji, celebrated on the full moon of Magh (January/February), is the most important annual occasion at the bhawan. The celebration includes akhand path (continuous scripture reading), kirtan darbars, a nagar kirtan procession through local streets, and all-day langar served to the wider community. #### Baisakhi Celebrations Baisakhi, celebrated on 13 or 14 April each year, commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 and the Punjabi harvest festival. The bhawan marks the occasion with special diwan programmes and community langar. #### Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (November full moon) is observed with special prayers and kirtan, reflecting the shared spiritual heritage between Ravidassia devotion and the broader Sikh tradition. ### Regular Worship #### Weekly Diwan (Satsang) Regular congregational worship programmes are held at the bhawan, typically on weekend mornings and evenings, featuring kirtan, katha, and ardas (communal prayer), followed by langar. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### About the Gurdwara Guru Ravidass (c. 1450–1520) was a saint-poet of the Bhakti movement from Varanasi, India, revered for his teachings of universal human dignity, devotion to the Formless God, and rejection of caste discrimination. Forty-one of his shabads are enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The bhawan honours his spiritual legacy and serves as a centre of worship for his followers. ### Visitor Information Yes. Like all Sikh and Ravidassia places of worship, the bhawan warmly welcomes visitors of every faith, background, and nationality. The langar (free community meal) is open to everyone without exception. Visitors should wear modest, clean clothing. It is mandatory to cover the head before entering the darbar hall — scarves or head coverings are available at the entrance if you do not have your own. Shoes must be removed at the door. ### About the Faith Both share many traditions including kirtan, langar, and reverence for the Guru Granth Sahib. Ravidassia bhawans specifically centre their devotion on Guru Ravidass Ji and, since 2010, many have adopted the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji as their primary scripture. The Ravidassia community formally declared itself a distinct religion in 2010. ### Events & Festivals Guru Ravidass Jayanti — the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass Ji — is the most significant annual celebration. It falls on the full moon of the month of Magh (usually January or February) and is marked with extended kirtan programmes, processions, and all-day langar. ### Community & Volunteering Seva (selfless service) is a cornerstone of Ravidassia and Sikh philosophy. Volunteers are welcome to assist with langar preparation and service, cleaning, and event organisation. Contact the bhawan's managing committee directly to express your interest. ### Getting There Gillingham railway station in Medway is the nearest mainline station, with regular Southeastern train services from London. Local Arriva bus services connect the station to surrounding residential areas. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are also readily available. 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