Moving to a new home can be exciting and stressful all at once, with research by Yopa indicating that it can be even more mentally challenging than adapting to major life events such as divorce. This is the case for adults and children, so if you are planning on moving to a new house soon, it is important to create a welcoming, cozy ambiance so your family adapts relatively quickly. A good place to start is by prioritizing your diwan hall, where your family can rely on prayer and worship to feel more united with each other and Waheguru.
Making Preparations Before Your Move
Home purchases involve many steps, including obtaining a pre-approval letter from your bank, submitting your best offer, submitting a deposit, and carrying out due inspections. By the time your offer is accepted, you will probably have been through more than one negotiation involving price, your moving date, and whether or not your new home will include furniture. In the midst of all these financial obligations and paperwork, don’t forget to plan in advance for key pieces of furniture you may need for your new home. For your diwan hall, for instance, you may need storage furniture for the volumes of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, decorative art, a chennai if desired for your diwan hall, and other items. During this time, you can also sew or embroider your own ramalas to cover the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in your diwan hall.
Preparing Your Diwan Hall
As your main room of worship, your diwan hall should be meticulously cleaned and be clear and spacious enough to inspire peace and tranquility. After all, you will be using it for temporary purposes such as the akhand path or permanently (for instance, for the daily practice of taking a Hukam). Before setting up your Manji Sahib, give carpets or flooring a good clean and dust wall décor and storage furniture. Give the room a fresh lick of paint. If your diwan hall is part of an open-floor plan, compartmentalize it through the use of screens or vertical ‘living walls’.
Creating a Serene Diwan Hall
Place a rug or clean sheet on the floor to create a space of sanctity. On top of this sheet, place your Manji Sahib or low platform. If you prefer, you can also use a Palki Sahib or canopied throne. Place another clean sheet over the Manji Sahib. Take out your ramalas, placing one under the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and allowing excess fabric to extend downwards to the floor. Use smaller ramalas on both sides of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and between the first and last page and cover of the volume you are currently reading. Take a large ramala and cover the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, allowing it to drape downwards towards the floor as well. If necessary, place low-lying storage furniture next to the Manji Sahib so you can keep additional volumes of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
Expressing Your Love for God and Guru Nanak through Personal Touches
Both in your diwan hall and beyond, fill your home with items that express your love for God and the teachings of Guru Nanak. You may use fragrant natural candles, indoor plants, flowers, and other symbolic items. Prioritize colors, decorative pieces, and artwork that fosters your discipline and allows you to work on your interior process in a more concentrated way.
Moving to a home can be stressful but it can also be an excellent opportunity to create a spiritually fulfilling home. When making your move, dedicate the biggest or best room to your diwan hall, as this is the place where you will read the sacred text and perform your acts of worship. Make sure the rest of your home is also clean, tidy, and uncluttered. When choosing furniture and decorative pieces, opt for those that promote tranquility and enable you to work on yourself more efficiently.