Gurdwara Guru Nanak Satsang in Kupondole, Lalitpur is the main body of Sikh community in Nepal and was established in 1976 under the patronage of Sardar Pritam Singh. Sardar Pritam Singh had first arrived in Nepal in 1958 with three trucks from Jammu and Kashmir, India and established the first commercial transportation company in Nepal. He shared during his interview that he brought along with him many Sikh families from India and helped them settle down in different locations in Nepal. The first gurdwara was set up in a rented room in New Road. Later, as the Sikh community grew, they felt they needed a proper place of worship in Kathmandu and that resulted in the establishment of Guru Nanak Satsang, Kupondole. The large compound of the gurdwara houses the main shrine and a Yatri Niwas has been constructed to accommodate yatris - people coming to Nepal for religious, social and business activities.
Presently, a sacred gathering which is known as Satsang is held in Guru Nanak Satsang daily. Tourists and devotees who visit the gurdwara are offered langar (free meal), a tradition that was started over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak, as a service to the larger community. People visiting the gurdwara are offered food and shelter while spiritual songs and recitations sung here bring peace to their mind so that their heart can open to the divine. At Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara, Kupondole, religious programmes are organized every Saturday, on Gurpurabs to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Gurus and Sankranti (the transmigration of the sun from one zodiac to another). President of the Gurdwara-Sardar Pritam Singh says that everyone is welcome to the gurdwara regardless of caste, creed and status because Sikhism was founded on the principles of equality.
