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"A blindfolded martial arts master splits a coconut on the head of his colleague without touching his head, an action so fast he had the club raised again before the coconut fell." (source: Jessica Skropanic | Record Searchlight)

Picture of the Day: Vaisakhi celebrations in Redding, California

May 6, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As many Sikh communities across the United States have done in the past month, the Sikh community near Redding, California, held their annual Vaisakhi celebration in that city. The Vaisakhi Festival and Day of Non-Violence involved participation by the area’s diverse communities. See more photos and video at the Record Searchlight and read more at the Anderson Valley Post.

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day, Sikhism • Tags: Anderson, Baisakhi, California, Day of Non-Violence, Redding, Vaisakhi

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"Thousands walk in Renton’s Khalsa Day parade. Sikh men, and some women, wear turbans as one of five external articles of faith called the five Kakars. Women also wear long headscarves called dupattas at religious ceremonies to show respect." (source: Erika Schultz)

Nagar Kirtans to be held in CA and WA this weekend

May 3, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tomorrow, two Nagar Kirtans (religious processions) will be taking place in Redding, California, and in Renton, Washington, to commemorate Vaisakhi, one of the most significant dates on the Sikh calendar. In Renton, exhibits featuring historic Sikh artifacts will also be available for viewing: The Sikh Military Heritage Exhibit The Sacred Words: An Exhibit of the Sikh Written Word The Sikh Community: Over a Hundred Years in the Pacific Northwest Officially on April 14, Vaisakhi celebrations have been taking place across […]

Categories: Events • Tags: "Washington, Anderson, Baisakhi, California, Nagar Kirtan, Redding, Renton, Vaisakhi

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Assembly Member Dan Logue (second from right) presents ACR-20 to Sikhs in Yuba City, California. (source: News East West)

CA Senate and Assembly call for post-secondary education about Sikh Americans

April 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In February, California State Assembly Member Dan Logue introduced a resolution entitled ACR-20: Postsecondary education: instruction in world religions: Sikhism which called for Sikhism to be included in world religion courses at California’s public post-secondary institutions. The resolution was cosponsored by Assembly Member Henry Perea. While non-binding, the resolution seeks to raise awareness about Sikh Americans. After it was passed by the State Assembly in March, Assembly Member Logue’s office announced yesterday that the State Senate has also passed the […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: ACR-20, California, California State Assembly, California State Senate, Dan Logue, Henry Perea

"Nazar Kooner addresses the gathering at the Sikh temple on South P Street with Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and sister-city Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora of Amritsar to his left earlier this month in Bakersfield." (source: Bakersfield Californian)

Mayor of Amritsar is impressed with Bakersfield, California

April 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In August 2011, the city of Bakersfield, California, announced a “sister-city” association with Amritsar, Punjab, India, the center of the Sikh faith and home to Darbar Sahib (aka the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s central Gurdwara). Recently, the Mayor of Amritsar visited Bakersfield, an unassuming city 100 miles north of Los Angeles that contains a large Sikh population and is economically based on the agricultural industry: Amritsar, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora told the Hindustan Times, is a far cry from the squeaky […]

Categories: News Bits, Politics • Tags: Amritsar, Bakersfield, Bakshi Ram Arora, California, Darbar Sahib, Harmandir Sahib, Harvey Hall, India, Nazar Kooner, sister-city

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A protestor holds up a sign during a "Free Bhullar" rally in San Francisco, CA, April 18, 2013. (source: Sikh Roots)

Picture of the Day: “Free Bhullar” rally in San Francisco, CA

April 19, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, demonstrators assembled outside the Indian consulate offices in San Francisco and New York to protest the imminent execution of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar in India. Devender Pal Singh’s conviction in the case of a 1993 assassination attempt in India was based on very questionable grounds, and while the judiciary seeks to execute him when he is deemed mentally fit, voices opposing the execution have been increasing within India and abroad.

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights, Events • Tags: California, Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Devender Pal Singh Bullar, protest, San Francisco

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"A flag waves in the wind atop a flagpole wrapped in orange material outside the Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in celebration of Vaisakhi" (source: Michael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton)

Vaisakhi celebrations continue across the United States

April 16, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending the Vaisakhi celebration at the Sikh Center of Pacific Coast Gurdwara in Selma, California, which brought together a large gathering of Sikhs from the Fresno County area for a Nagar Kirtan (religious procession). It was very well attended and the atmosphere was quite festive. A local television station covered the celebrations in Selma, which you can watch here. I certainly enjoyed my first visit to this Gurdwara and celebrating with them the […]

Categories: Events, Sikhism • Tags: Albany, Bothell, California, Dallas, Lawrenceville, Los Angeles, Nagar Kirtan, New Jersey, Niskayuna, Niskayuna Gurdwara Sahib, Seattle, Selma, Sikh Center of Pacific Coast, Sikh Center of Seattle, Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Southern Methodist University, Stockton, Texas, Vaisakhi

The Panj Pyare, or Five Beloved Ones, lead the Nagar Kirtan in Los Angeles, California on April 7, 2013. (source: SikhNet)

Picture of the Day: Leading the Los Angeles Nagar Kirtan

April 12, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On April 14, Sikhs across the United States and around the world are celebrating Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi), which is the most significant celebration on the Sikh calendar. In many cities, this celebration includes a Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) through the city, and these are taking place across the country this month. In Los Angeles, California, Vaisakhi was celebrated on April 7 with a large Nagar Kirtan originating at the Los Angeles Convention Center (pictured above). Similar celebrations are also taking […]

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day, Sikhism • Tags: Baisakhi, California, Los Angeles, Nagar Kirtan, New York, Panj Pyare, Selma, Stockton, Vaisakhi

"Sikh devotees throw rose petals into a float bearing Guru Granth Sahib during the annual Hola Mohalla, Sikh Martial Arts Parade and Gatka Exhibition Gallery on Sunday afternoon (03-31-13) in Livingston, CA." (source: Merced Sun-Star)

Picture of the Day: Hola Mohalla celebrations in Livingston, California

April 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Merced Sun-Star reports on yesterday’s 15th annual Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) in Livingston, California, to celebrate the Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla. Over 3,500 people attended the event in this central Californian city. “We always make an attempt to invite everyone. We want them to be part of the event,” [Livingston Mayor Pro Tem Gurpal Samra] said. “It’s not just for us. It’s for everybody in the community.” Read more at the Merced Sun-Star.

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Hola Mohalla, Livingston, Nagar Kirtan

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Guru Nanak portrait c. 1770 (source: The Sikh Foundation)

Picture of the Day: 18th century portrait of Guru Nanak

March 29, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

According to the Sikh Foundation, the Satinder Kaur Kapany Gallery at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California, is “the only permanent collection of Sikh Art in a North American museum.” Due to the delicate nature of the collection, the pieces in the gallery are rotated every six months. The Sikh Foundation provides a sample of the artwork on display during this spring, including the above portrait that is believed to be of Guru Nanak (the founder and first […]

Categories: Art, Events • Tags: Asian Art Museum, California, Guru Nanak, San Francisco, Satinder Kaur Kapany Gallery

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: California

Picture of the Day: Vaisakhi celebrations in Redding, California

Nagar Kirtans to be held in CA and WA this weekend

CA Senate and Assembly call for post-secondary education about Sikh Americans

Mayor of Amritsar is impressed with Bakersfield, California

Picture of the Day: “Free Bhullar” rally in San Francisco, CA

Vaisakhi celebrations continue across the United States

Picture of the Day: Leading the Los Angeles Nagar Kirtan

Picture of the Day: Hola Mohalla celebrations in Livingston, California

Picture of the Day: 18th century portrait of Guru Nanak