Why “gurdwara” is a great word
GURDWARA — [Noun] A Sikh place of worship and assembly. From Punjabi ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ (gurduārā), from Sanskrit गुरु (guru, "teacher, spiritual guide") + द्वार (dvāra, "door, gateway"), thus literally 'the gateway to the Guru'. Unlike a temple, which houses an icon in a sanctum, or a mosque, which directs prayer toward a distant qibla, a gurdwara is defined by the enthroned, living presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. It is the scent of karah prasad from the shared kitchen, the murmur of Gurbani from a congregation seated on the floor, and the soft sway of the chaur over the sacred scripture—a door that opens not to an altar, but to a sounded word and a shared meal, a gateway perpetually ajar.