ENG-1999 — Page 424

RELIGION AND CUSTOM

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The Hindu Community

The religious and social activities of Hong Kong's 12 000-strong Hindu Community are centred on the Hindu Temple in Happy Valley. The Hindu Association of Hong Kong is responsible for the upkeep of the temple, which is also used for meditation periods, spiritual lectures, yoga classes and other community activities as well as the observance of major Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Dussehra, Holi and so on. Naming, engagement and marriage ceremonies are performed at the temple according to Hindu rites. Devotional music sessions and religious discourses are held every Sunday morning and Monday evening. The Sunday sessions are followed by a free community meal.

The Hindu Temple is an approved place of worship for the performance of marriages under the Marriage Ordinance (Chapter 181).

Other important services rendered by the temple include administration of last rites, arrangements for cremation and related ceremonies and the general upkeep of the Hindu crematorium at Cape Collinson.

The Sikh Community

The Sikhs distinguished by their stylised turbans and unshorn hair came to Hong Kong from the Punjab, in North India, as part of the British Armed Forces in the 19th century. Because of their generally strong physique, they also formed a large segment of the Hong Kong Police Force before World War II.

Today, members of the community are engaged in a variety of occupations. The centre of their religious and cultural activities is the Sikh Temple at 371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. A special feature of the temple, which was established in 1901, is the provision of free meals and short-term accommodation for overseas visitors of any faith.

Religious services, which include hymn-singing, readings from the Guru Granth (the Sikh Holy Book) and sermons by the priest, are held every Sunday morning. The temple houses a library containing a good selection of books on the Sikh religion and culture, and runs a 'starters' school for Indian children aged between four and six to prepare them for English primary schools in Hong Kong.

The main holy days and festivals observed by the Sikh community are the birthdays of Guru Nanak (founder of the faith), Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru) and Baisakhi (the birthday of all Sikhs).

The Jewish Community

Hong Kong's Jewish community, dating from the 1840s, comprises families from various parts of the world. There are three main synagogues: daily services are held at the Ohel Leah Synagogue (Orthodox), and Sabbath and festival services are also held at the United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong (Reform), both in Robinson Road, Hong Kong Island. Daily services are also held at the Chabad Lubavitch based in the Furama Hotel, as well as the Kowloon based congregations.

The Ohel Leah Synagogue was built in 1901 on land given by Sir Jacob Sassoon and his family and includes a Mikvah (ritual bath). There is also a Jewish Cemetery at Happy Valley.