A gurdwara (gurdwārā; meaning "door to the guru") is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs. People from Sikh faith with respect also refer gurdwara as Gurdwara Sahib. People from all faiths, and those who do not profess any faith, are welcomed in Sikh gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the current and everlasting guru of the Sikhs, the scripture Guru Granth Sahib, is placed on a takhat (an elevated throne) in a prominent central position. The raagis (who sing Ragas) recite, sing, and explain the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the congregation.
All gurdwaras have a langar hall, where people can eat free vegetarian food served by volunteers at the gurdwara. They may also have a medical facility room, library, nursery, classroom, meeting rooms, playground, sports ground, a gift shop, and finally a repair shop. A gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag.
The most well-known gurdwaras are in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab including Darbar Sahib, the spiritual center of the Sikhs and Akal Takht, the political center of the Sikhs.
