When I visit a Sikh temple, should I take off my shoes and socks and bathe barefoot?
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Respected Peter;
Thank you for asking this question.
Actually, this question hints towards a ritualistic thinking. There are no rituals in Sikhi.
Yes, there is a protocol. When visiting a Gurduara, one is going into a gathering and a place to be kept clean.
You might have noticed that some people take of shoes as they enter their home. This is just to keep the home dust and germs free. Whenever one is going into a crowd, one makes sure they do not have body odor or smelly breath. they might use perfume and chewing gum, or mouth freshener etc.
To keep the Gurduara environment dust free and germs free it is a protocol to take off shoes and, in some cases, even socks, before entering the Gurduara Hall. Similarly, it is important that a person is clean and have a fresh breath when going into Gurduara. For that reason, cleaning one’s body is important.
By the way, all these practices / activities are for reasons like the one’s shared above and have no spiritual value. In Sikhi, true spiritual value lies in one’s way of life and not in rituals.
Hope this helps understand the reason behind such protocol.