SACRAMENTO, California, USA—Over the past few years, the Sikh Community of Sacramento, California, (USA) has suffered from a variety of vicious attacks due primarily to their distinct appearance. Most Sikhs wear a dastar (turban), and as a result have been mistakenly identified by some people as belonging the group of Islamic terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks on American soil.
On August 5, 2012, a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, was attacked. More than half a dozen Sikhs were murdered. The gunman died in a shootout with attending law enforcement, one of whom was severely injured. On March 8, 2011, in the Sacramento area, two Sikh men were shot in a quiet neighborhood while out for an evening stroll along a frontage street along highway 99 in Elk Grove. A Taxi driver was also attacked in West Sacramento.
Members of the Sikh Community in collaboration with the executive of their local basketball team the Sacramento Kings, have arranged to celebrate Sikh Night on the evening of April 13, 2014. The birth of Sikhism as an organized, and established, religion took place in the Punjab on April 13, 1699, or Vaisakhi Day, therefore “Sikh Night” with the Sacramento Kings will not only be a Sikh Community Appreciation night, it will also be a Vaisakhi Day celebration of the birth of Sikhism.
April 13, 1699 is when Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru (teacher) of Sikhism, initiated Sikhs into what is known today as the “Khalsa” Order, or Brotherhood of the ‘Pure.’ The Guru called for volunteers from within the congregation at Anandpur Sahib, who had gathered to listen to their spiritual leader. The first five volunteers became his Panj Pyare, or five beloved, with whom he created what came to be known as the Khalsa sect of warrior saints.
Sikhs have a glowing reputation of military service within the British Armed Services. Sikhs were the last group to be taken over by the British during the time they were building their empire of The British Raj in India. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh the Sikhs fought three battles with the British before the British succeeded ultimately in taking over, due more to corruption within the Indian leadership, than to victory in battle. Upon acceptance of British rule, the Sikhs became the dominate force within the British Indian Army, who are remembered for there unquestionable loyalty, honor, bravery, and valor.
Today many young Sikhs serve in the US armed services, but Sikhs in full religious attire, who maintain unshorn hair and beard, are restricted from joining. Only a handful of such Sikhs have been allowed on active duty. One such exception is Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi who has been engaged with the Department of Defense, and congress, to bring about accommodations which will allow other Sikhs to serve with their articles of faith.
The Sikh Community Appreciation event with the Sacramento Kings will highlight the local Sikh community during the Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game on Sunday April 13, 2014. On this day many local Sikhs will gather in their gurdwaras (houses of God) to celebrate the birth of their religion with their local community groups. Later in the evening, Sikhs will gather at Sleep Train Arena to celebrate with the Kings. The event will include folk dances from the Punjab region, which are synonymous with Punjab, the homeland of Sikhs, and the holy shrine Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab.
Local Punjabi Sikh businesses, and families, have joined forces with the Sacramento Kings in holding an Essay competition for K-12 school children. The winners of the Essay Competition will receive a game ticket along with a voucher for soda and snacks.
The Sikh community is reaching out to other ethnic communities which together make Sacramento the most diverse city in the nation, inviting them to join in fellowship and celebrate their diversity, their unity, and their love for the Sacramento Kings, who are now here to stay thanks to Vivek Ranadive, and his ownership group which includes Raj Bhathal, a Punjabi from Southern California, and of course Shaq O’Neil.
