We visit after sunset and it's cold but we still have to go barefoot. We have to step into a pool to clean our feet as we enter and some kind soul has made it warm water. We have come to watch the Palki Ceremony. This is an astonishingly beautiful temple and it has an effect on all of our (British) tour group (all of whom seem to be Atheists as far as I can determine). Sikhism was founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak who was unimpressed by both Hindu and Muslim religious practices and campaigned for equality and against the Hindu caste system. At about 2% of the population there are about 20m Sikhs in India.
The temple is covered in 750kg of pure gold and is in the middle of a large pool. Sikhisms Holy Book is kept here and taken out every evening (Palki ceremony where a huge ornate and heavy sedan chair is used to carry the book) to be stored overnight in the nearby palace.
It's a wonderful place.
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