Gurdwara Nanak Darbar SahibVerified
Are you ready to feed your body and soul?
Gurdwara · Olathe, KS · Since 2014
- June 2014Opened
- Sundays & ThursdaysDiwan
- After every diwanLangar
- EveryoneOpen to
Plan a visit
Every Sunday
Sukhmani Sahib paath 9:00–10:30 AM · katha and kirtan 11:00 AM–12:30 PM · ardas 12:35 PM · langar 12:45 PM. Thursdays: Rehras and kirtan 6:00–7:15 PM, ardas, langar 7:30 PM.
Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib · 126 S Cherry St, Olathe, KS 66061
Cover your head, leave your shoes on the rack, and walk in — no membership, no invitation, no charge. Langar Hall is in the basement; the free meal after diwan is for everyone.
Directions open Google Maps for Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib's Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib.
Coming up1
Old Settlers Fair — langar for thousands, parade & Gatka
Wed SEP 9 – Sat SEP 12 · Langar booth 9 AM–8 PM Thu–Sat · parade line-up Sat 9 AM · Booth outside the gurdwara, 126 S Cherry St, Olathe · Saturday parade route (about two miles)
Sewa shifts: Wed 4–8 PM langar prep and 6–8 PM booth setup; Thu & Fri 9 AM–10 PM; Sat 7 AM–10 PM with clean-up 9–10 PM. Wear kesari (or royal blue) traditional clothes and comfortable shoes; arrive by 8 AM to walk the parade.
Details & tickets ↗
Programs8
Sunday diwan
EveryoneSundays · Parkash 6:00 AM, Sukhmani Sahib 9:00 AM, katha & kirtan 11:00 AM · Darbar Hall · Free
The week's main gathering. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed (parkash) at 6:00 AM; Sukhmani Sahib paath runs 9:00–10:30 AM, then a short break, then katha and kirtan from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, ardas at 12:35 PM and langar at 12:45 PM. Teachings are presented and explained in many ways and languages so everyone can follow — come for any part of it.
Details on their site ↗Thursday evening diwan
EveryoneThursdays 6:00–7:30 PM · Darbar Hall · Free
A weeknight diwan for people who can't make Sunday: Rehras Sahib and kirtan 6:00–7:15 PM, ardas 7:15–7:30 PM, then langar sewa at 7:30 PM.
Details on their site ↗Langar — the free kitchen
Everyone, any faithAfter every diwan · 12:45 PM Sundays, 7:30 PM Thursdays · Langar Hall (basement) · Free
In their own words: when you come to Gurdwara, make your way to Langar Hall where you can get a free meal or choose to serve others. It is a duty of the faith to feed anyone regardless of faith, gender, race or color — understood as not just feeding, but sheltering, clothing and caring for well-being. The food is vegetarian. To serve, ask one of the volunteers.
Gurpurab weeks — Sehaj Paath, kirtan, diwan
EveryoneFour times a year, Sunday to Sunday · Darbar Hall
The big observances — Guru Nanak Dev Ji's and Guru Gobind Singh Ji's gurpurabs, Vaisakhi, and the Shaheedi Purab of Guru Arjan Dev Ji — each run as a full week: a Sehaj Paath begins on Sunday morning and continues morning and evening through the week, with evening kirtan on Friday and Saturday (Saturday's is by Kansas City youth), the bhog on the closing Sunday at 10:00 AM, diwan 11:00 AM–1:00 PM with the Bhai Sahiban and sangat kirtanis, and langar at 1:00 PM. Dates for each year are posted on their events page.
Details on their site ↗Old Settlers sewa
Volunteers of every ageSeptember 9–12, 2026 · Booth outside the gurdwara · the Saturday parade
Each September the Johnson County Old Settlers fair sets up right outside the gurdwara, and the sangat serves langar to thousands of guests at a booth on the street, walks the Saturday parade behind a Sri Harmandar Sahib model float, and hosts a Gatka (Sikh martial art) demonstration by Gatka Master Deep Singh Ji and Jaskirat Singh Ji of Gatka Federation USA. Even 15–30 minutes of sewa helps — see the schedule below.
Details on their site ↗Mini Gatka camp — Sikh martial art
Ages 10 and up · adults encouragedGurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib
Short defensive-skills camps with Gatka Master Deep Singh Ji and Jaskirat Singh Ji of Gatka Federation USA, run over a Friday–Sunday around their September visit (two evening sessions and a Sunday morning). The events page lists the camp without a year, so call before you plan on it: Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh, 913-444-1031.
Details on their site ↗Youth kirtan
Kansas City Sikh youthSaturday evenings of gurpurab weeks, 6:00–8:30 PM · Darbar Hall
The Saturday-evening kirtan of every gurpurab week is sung by Kansas City youth — the sangat's next generation on the harmonium and tabla.
General Body meetings
Sangat membersTwice a year, Saturdays 3:00 PM · Langar Hall (basement)
The gurdwara is run in the open: a budget meeting in December approves the year's budget, and the annual meeting in July gives the income-and-expense update and approves the new Executive Committee. Agendas are posted on the events page.
Details on their site ↗
Weekly rhythm
- 6:00 AMParkash of Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Darbar Hall
- 9:00–10:30 AMSukhmani Sahib paath · Darbar Hall
- 11:00 AM–12:30 PMKatha and kirtan · Darbar Hall
- 12:35 PMArdas · Darbar Hall
- 12:45 PMLangar sewa · Langar Hall (basement)
- 6:00–7:15 PMRehras Sahib and kirtan · Darbar Hall
- 7:15–7:30 PMArdas · Darbar Hall
- 7:30 PMLangar sewa · Langar Hall (basement)
About Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib
Olathe's gurdwara — Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib (GNDS), built by kar seva and opened in June 2014, and open to all regardless of age, sex, race or belief. Come for kirtan from the Guru Granth Sahib, katha explained in many languages, and langar, the free community kitchen every gurdwara keeps — Sundays and Thursday evenings. Remove shoes, cover your head, and you are family.
Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Sahib is the Sikh gurdwara in Olathe: a red-brick building on South Cherry Street that the sangat renovated with its own hands — the kar seva of 2013–14 — and opened over three days, June 20–22, 2014, raising the Nishan Sahib outside from a cherry-picker while the whole community watched from the sidewalk. The founders were the GNDS Sadh Sangat, the local congregation itself, whose sixteen founding members served from 2011 to 2015; today a five-member board and a seven-member executive committee run it, with two Bhai Sahiban, Bhai Surinder Singh and Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh, leading the diwans.
The gurdwara is open to all, regardless of age, sex, race or beliefs — the site says so on its front page, and means it. Come and listen to the verses of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the living Guru of the Sikhs, in the Darbar Hall (darbar means 'court', as of a king); the teachings are presented in many ways and languages so that everyone can understand. Then go downstairs to the Langar Hall for a free vegetarian meal, or pick up a ladle and serve one. As they put it: Gurdwara is really pronounced gur-duara — 'through' or 'by means of' the Guru.
The rhythm is simple. Sunday is the big diwan — Sukhmani Sahib at 9, katha and kirtan at 11, langar at a quarter to one. Thursday evening is the smaller one. Four times a year a gurpurab turns into a full week of Sehaj Paath, evening kirtan and a closing diwan, and every September the Old Settlers fair lands on the street outside and the sangat feeds thousands of Olathe neighbors from a booth on the curb.
Walking in for the first time
Their visitor guidelines, in their own words and order. Nobody expects you to know all of this — a sewadar will help.
- Everyone, Sikh or not, must cover their head in the main areas. Head coverings for men and boys are normally available at the gurdwara (a large knotted handkerchief is fine; baseball caps are not). Women and girls need a headscarf — there is usually a box of scarves, or bring your own.
- Remove your shoes before the Darbar Sahib (main prayer hall) and the Langar Hall and put them in the shoe racks. Wash your hands before entering.
- Dress so you can sit comfortably and decently on a carpeted floor: loose clothing that covers most of your legs. There are no chairs, though a few are kept in the Langar Hall for people who can't sit on the floor.
- On entering the Darbar Sahib, a small bow to the Guru Granth Sahib shows respect. Sit cross-legged; don't turn your back to the Guru Granth Sahib or point your feet toward it. Men usually sit on one side and women on the other.
- Switch off your phone and keep quiet inside the Darbar Sahib — everyone is welcome to sing along with the shabad kirtan.
- You will be offered kara parshad, a sweet made of flour and butter, in cupped hands, eaten with the right hand. Ask for a 'very small portion' if you're unsure; don't refuse it or throw it away.
- In the Langar Hall, ask for less rather than waste — say 'very little' and the sewadar will come round again if you want more. Most people take langar; it is regarded as a blessing from the Guru.
- No smoking in or near the premises, no tobacco inside, and no entering under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Don't bring drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, meat or offensive materials anywhere near the gurdwara. Unsure about something? Ask.
How a gurpurab week runs here
The four big observances follow the same Sunday-to-Sunday shape, as posted for 2025–26. Each year's dates go up on the events page.
- Sunday: Arambh Sehaj Paath 9:30–10:30 AM, continuing 5–8 PM
- Monday–Thursday: Sehaj Paath 7–9 AM and 5–8 PM
- Friday: Sehaj Paath 8 AM–6 PM · kirtan 7–8:30 PM
- Saturday: Sehaj Paath 8 AM–6 PM · kirtan by Kansas City youth 6–8:30 PM
- Closing Sunday: bhog 10 AM · diwan 11 AM–1 PM with the Bhai Sahiban and sangat kirtanis · langar 1 PM
- Observed 2025–26: Gurpurab Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Nov 2–9) · Gurpurab Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Jan 4–11) · Vaisakhi (Apr 12–19) · Shaheedi Purab Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Jun 14–21)
- Also on the calendar: Bandi Chhor Divas / Diwali (an evening of kirtan, ardas and langar) and a New Year's Eve program of Rehras, langar and kirtan to midnight
Old Settlers — langar for the whole town
The Johnson County Old Settlers fair — Olathe's 128-year-old September festival, with the largest parade in Kansas — is held right outside the gurdwara, and the sangat treats it as its biggest outreach of the year. Langar is served to thousands of guests from 9 AM to 8 PM on all three days at a booth outside the premises; on Saturday the community walks the two-mile parade behind a Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) model float, hands out water bottles along the entire route, and dedicates the walk to the First Parkash Utsav of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Gatka Master Deep Singh Ji and associates from Gatka Federation USA perform. Wear kesari or royal blue, wear comfortable shoes, and tell them ahead of time if you need a ride for the parade.
The story so far
- 2011–2015Founding years — the GNDS Sadh Sangat and sixteen founding members establish the gurdwara
- 2013–14Kar seva: the sangat renovates the South Cherry Street building itself
- Jun 20–22, 2014Opening ceremony — the Nishan Sahib is raised outside 126 S Cherry St
- 2015–Elected boards and executive committees on two-year terms; annual audits
Who runs it
Every name and number below is published on their Management page — this is a sangat that governs in the open.
- Bhai Sahiban: Bhai Surinder Singh (602-551-1361) and Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh (913-444-1031)
- Board of Directors 2025–2027: Amarjit Singh, Inderjit Singh, Karnail Singh Dulku, Kulwant Singh Randhawa, Navdeep Singh
- Executive Committee 2026–2028: Amarjit Singh, Jaswant Singh, Kanwarjit Singh, Pritpal Singh Grewal, Shital Singh Cheema, Sucha Singh, Teja Singh
- Auditor: Gurvinder Kaur
- Founders (2011–2015), the GNDS Sadh Sangat: Amarjit Singh, Baldev Singh Khera, Harbans Singh, Harjit Singh Gill, Karnail Singh Dulku, Kirpal Singh Hansi, Kulwant Singh Aujla, Piara Singh
- …and Ram Singh, Saminder Singh Sandher, Satnam Singh Badwal, Satnam Singh, Satpal Singh Naura, Sucha Singh, Tarsem Singh, Tirath Singh Tiwana
Flyers & photos
Tap one to open it full size — handy for forwarding.
Questions people ask
When should I come for my first visit?
Sunday. Sukhmani Sahib paath is 9:00–10:30 AM, katha and kirtan 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, ardas at 12:35 and langar at 12:45 PM — arrive any time and stay for the meal. If Sundays are hard, Thursday evening runs 6:00–7:30 PM with langar after.
I'm not Sikh. Am I welcome?
Yes — the gurdwara is open to all regardless of age, sex, race or beliefs, and langar is for anyone. Cover your head (scarves and coverings are kept at the door), take off your shoes, and you're in.
What do I wear, and where do I sit?
Loose clothing that covers most of your legs — you'll sit cross-legged on a carpeted floor in both halls. There are no chairs, apart from a few in the Langar Hall for people who can't sit on the floor. Men usually sit on one side and women on the other. Try sitting on the floor at home first if you're not sure your outfit works.
How does langar work?
After diwan, everyone goes down to the Langar Hall in the basement for a free vegetarian meal, sitting in rows on the floor. Ask for 'very little' and the sewadar will come back round if you want more — taking less beats wasting food. Want to serve instead of eat? Ask any volunteer.
Is there something for kids — a Punjabi school or classes?
Their website doesn't list a Punjabi school or regular children's classes. What it does show: youth lead the Saturday-evening kirtan of every gurpurab week, and a mini Gatka (Sikh martial art) camp for ages 10 and up runs around the September visit of Gatka Federation USA — call Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh at 913-444-1031 to sign up or to ask about anything for children.
How do I book an akhand path, a sehaj path, or a family program?
The website doesn't publish a booking process or fees. Call the gurdwara at (913) 839-9100, email gnds@kcsikh.org, or speak to one of the Bhai Sahiban — Bhai Surinder Singh (602-551-1361) or Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh (913-444-1031).
How can I do sewa?
Ask a volunteer in the Langar Hall any Sunday or Thursday — cooking, serving and cleaning up are open to everyone. The biggest sewa of the year is the Old Settlers fair in September, when the sangat serves langar to thousands from a booth outside; the sign-up sheet on their events page says even 15–30 minutes helps.
How do I donate?
Online through the Donate link on this page (their Autobooks payment page), or in person. The website doesn't state a tax ID or 501(c)(3) status — ask the executive committee if you need a receipt for taxes.
Where do I park?
Their website doesn't say. The building fronts South Cherry Street in Olathe with street parking outside; during the Old Settlers fair (September 10–12 in 2026) the fair takes over the street right outside, so plan for that week.
What are the gurpurab dates?
For 2025–26 they observed Guru Nanak Dev Ji's gurpurab Nov 2–9, Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Jan 4–11, Vaisakhi Apr 12–19 and Guru Arjan Dev Ji's Shaheedi Purab Jun 14–21, each as a Sunday-to-Sunday Sehaj Paath week. Dates for late 2026 onward weren't posted when we checked — their events page is where they appear first.