Forwarded by SPN member Tejwant Singh ji Malik
Located in the foothills of the Mount Diablo range on a former apricot orchard, Gurdwara Sahib is one of the largest Sikh temples in North America. The architecture is Indo-Persian, a fusion of Hindu and Islamic elements. Gurdwara Sahib features onion domes, frilled archways, fountains and panoramic views.
OPEN MINDS
Sikhism originated 500 years ago in the Punjab region of India. Its founder, Guru Nanak, preached monotheism, women’s equality and rejection of the Hindu caste system.
PASS THE LENTILS
Every Sikh house of worship, or gurdwara, has a langar, or community kitchen, where free vegetarian food is served seven days a week. Langars were revolutionary in India because everyone ate together, regardless of caste. Typical fare at Gurdwara Sahib is rice, lentils, yogurt and roti (bread). Diners must be barefoot and wear a head scarf, and everyone eats on the floor.
THE WAY TO SAN JOSE
Sikhs first came to California in the early 1900s to work on railroads and farms in the Sacramento Valley. There are now 1 million Sikhs statewide and 300,000 in the Bay Area. The first gurdwara in California was built in Stockton in 1915, and there are now about 20 around the state. Approximately 5,000 members attend the San Jose gurdwara.
LEADING THE WAY
Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian-American, Indian-American and Sikh United States congressman when he was elected in 1957. Born in Punjab, he won three elections to represent Riverside and Imperial Counties in Southern California.
IT’S ALL IN A NAME
Sikh women go by the surname Kaur (princess); men use Singh (lion). This tradition promotes social equality (the names do not have a caste designation) and sexual equality (married women do not adopt their husband’s name).
DRESS CODE
The turbans worn by Sikh men and some Sikh women are made of cloth that can be up to 33 feet long. Baptized Sikh men and women are supposed to carry kirpans (ceremonial daggers), a custom often challenged by airport security officials.
ABOVE THE RIM
Two Sikh teenage brothers — Sim Bhullar is 7 feet 4 inches and Tanveer is 7-2 — are hot college basketball recruits with N.B.A. potential. Their prospects, both as cultural ambassadors and as superstar players at the Kiski School in Pennsylvania, are seen as on par with China’s Yao Ming.
Local Intelligence - Sikh Gurdwara Sahib Temple - NYTimes.com
Located in the foothills of the Mount Diablo range on a former apricot orchard, Gurdwara Sahib is one of the largest Sikh temples in North America. The architecture is Indo-Persian, a fusion of Hindu and Islamic elements. Gurdwara Sahib features onion domes, frilled archways, fountains and panoramic views.
OPEN MINDS
Sikhism originated 500 years ago in the Punjab region of India. Its founder, Guru Nanak, preached monotheism, women’s equality and rejection of the Hindu caste system.
PASS THE LENTILS
Every Sikh house of worship, or gurdwara, has a langar, or community kitchen, where free vegetarian food is served seven days a week. Langars were revolutionary in India because everyone ate together, regardless of caste. Typical fare at Gurdwara Sahib is rice, lentils, yogurt and roti (bread). Diners must be barefoot and wear a head scarf, and everyone eats on the floor.
THE WAY TO SAN JOSE
Sikhs first came to California in the early 1900s to work on railroads and farms in the Sacramento Valley. There are now 1 million Sikhs statewide and 300,000 in the Bay Area. The first gurdwara in California was built in Stockton in 1915, and there are now about 20 around the state. Approximately 5,000 members attend the San Jose gurdwara.
LEADING THE WAY
Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian-American, Indian-American and Sikh United States congressman when he was elected in 1957. Born in Punjab, he won three elections to represent Riverside and Imperial Counties in Southern California.
IT’S ALL IN A NAME
Sikh women go by the surname Kaur (princess); men use Singh (lion). This tradition promotes social equality (the names do not have a caste designation) and sexual equality (married women do not adopt their husband’s name).
DRESS CODE
The turbans worn by Sikh men and some Sikh women are made of cloth that can be up to 33 feet long. Baptized Sikh men and women are supposed to carry kirpans (ceremonial daggers), a custom often challenged by airport security officials.
ABOVE THE RIM
Two Sikh teenage brothers — Sim Bhullar is 7 feet 4 inches and Tanveer is 7-2 — are hot college basketball recruits with N.B.A. potential. Their prospects, both as cultural ambassadors and as superstar players at the Kiski School in Pennsylvania, are seen as on par with China’s Yao Ming.
Local Intelligence - Sikh Gurdwara Sahib Temple - NYTimes.com
