Sikhism at the Oriental Museum

Over the past two years, BSDC has collaborated with Durham University’s Oriental Museum on a variety of exciting projects, including our monthly Creative Health Workshops for people living with chronic pain. May’s session was particularly special, as it responded to the Museum’s new ‘Sikhism’ section, and marked Vaisakhi, a festival which celebrates the Sikh new year, and is a reminder of faith, identity, and the oneness of humanity.

Having grown up in Bradford’s Sikh community, Sikhism is a religion and philosophy close to Balbir’s heart, and the Sikh values of community and generosity inform BSDC’s work today. With the support of the museum’s learning coordinator, Charlotte Spink, Professor of Bioscience, Paul Chazot, and leading member of Manchester’s Sikh foundation, Ishnoor Kaur, the workshop was a great success, and an opportunity to reflect on BSDC’s journey so far.

The Sikhism Section

The workshop began in the Oriental Museum’s new Sikhism section, the contents of which was recently gifted to the museum by a local gurdwara. As well as exploring the collection, the group was treated to a devotional song, led by Ishnoor, and accompanied on tabla by Ani Mukherjee. Under Ishnoor’s guidance, the group took part in a medative, musical chant, which reminded Professor Paul Chazot ‘of the rhythm of heartbeats and brainwaves’.

It was as if a spell had been cast. A sense of community and peace which transcended culture, religion, and background radiated from the group. One participant described how the music ‘gently washed the pain away’, demonstrating art’s power to transport and absorb the mind, allowing pain to fall away for a period of precious respite.

“ When I arrived, I had pain all down the side of my left leg, but after sharing music together, the pain was completely gone.

- Creative Health Workshop Participant ”

Vaisakhi Exhibition

The group also got the chance to experience a new pop-up exhibition, curated by Balbir Singh, which acts as a photographic sketch of Bradford’s 2026 Vaisakhi Parade. The exhibition supplemented the workshop, providing personal insight into an important Sikh festival. This was followed by some time to sit and reflect while sharing Indian sweets, traditionally eaten on Vaisakhi to celebrate the new year.

For more information about the exhibition, visit our blog here.

Object Handling Session

Having been given insight into Sikh practices and celebrations, the Creative Health Group had the opportunity to handle some important Sikh objects from the Oriental Museum’s archives. Led by Ishnoor and Charlotte, the workshop was rich with information, but what could have been a lecture became a lively conversation, with participants chiming in with questions at every opportunity. Regardless of your religious beliefs, there is a lot to be learn from Sikhism’s message of community, equality, and care for one an another.

Spiritual Voyager

Ishnoor Kaur

Musician

Aniruddha Mukherjee

Photographers

Elia Tomé
Morgan Girvin

Videographer

Meg Erridge

Find out more

Vaisakhi Exhibition, curated by Balbir Singh