Travel
The Way To San Jose
by HANK PELLISIER
Located in the foothills of the Mount Diablo range on a former apricot orchard, the Gurdwara in San Jose, California, U.S.A. is one of the largest Sikh temples in the area. The architecture is Sikh/Punjabi - a fusion of subcontinental and Persian elements. The building features uniquely Sikh domes, frilled archways, fountains and panoramic views.
OPEN MINDS
Sikhism originated more than 500 years ago in the Punjab region of the subcontinent. 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 - [vegetarian only for the sake of simplicity and ensuring the same cuisine is offered in all gurdwaras everywhere, regardless of affluence or the lack of it, within local congregations].
Langars were revolutionary in India because this new Sikh concept it insisted that everyone ate together, regardless of faith, caste, status, gender, etc. Typical fare is rice, lentils, yogurt and roti (bread). Diners must be barefoot and wear a head covering - a scarf will do - and everyone eats sitting on mats neatly laid out on the floor - [again, for simplicity and to avoid ostentations!]
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 a million Sikhs statewide and 300,000 in the Bay Area alone. 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 18 feet long. Each amritdhari - [that is, those who have taken on the full discpline of the Khalsa Order, taking vows of a life dedicated to the service of humanity] - c - Sikh man and woman is required to carry a kirpan (ceremonial daggers) on his/her person as an article of faith (not unlike a Christian wearing a cross).
ABOVE THE RIM
Two Sikh teenage brothers - Sim Singh Bhullar is 7 feet 4 inches and Tanveer Singh 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.
[Courtesy: The New York Times]
June 20, 2010