The Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area (also known as Gurdwara Sahib of El Sobrante) is a Sikh gurdwara in the hills of unincorporated El Sobrante, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area.[1]
Overview
editThe Center was established in May 1979.[1]
The Center features large golden domes atop a pink-cream-beige tiled box arched structure. Regular services are held every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning.[1] The site is open to drop-in visitors from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.[2] Langar, which is a Punjabi term that means collective eating while sitting on the floor, is given daily, free of cost, to all visitors, Sikh or non-Sikh.[2] Visitors must cover their hair, be sober, have no drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products in their possession, and must enter barefoot after washing their feet.[2]
Shooting incidents
editIn 1985, a man was shot after removing another worshipper's turban.[3]
On January 23, 2000, a gunman, Joga Singh Sandher,[4] opened fire with an assault weapon on temple leader, local teacher, and human rights activist Ajmer Singh Malhi, killing him and seriously injuring another worshipper before being subdued by bystanders.[5][6][7]
Summer camps
editThe Center offers summer camps for K–12 students to teach them more about Sikhism and its history and to create a community. The summer camps typically follow the structure of a conventional primary school day, with different subjects (such as history and music), time to eat, and time for recreational activities.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c My Gurdwara, Gurdwara Sahib website, access date 20-02-2009
- ^ a b c Visiting Sikh Temple, Gurdwara Sahib website, access date 20-02-2009
- ^ Lee, Henry K. (2000-01-24). "Fatal Shooting At Sikh Temple / Religious leader killed -- worshipers pin suspect for cops". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
- ^ San Lorenzo man given 50-to-life sentence in Sikh leader's killing / Limo driver shot math teacher in temple by Henry Lee San Francisco Chronicle, 11-09-2001, access date 8-05-2012
- ^ Temple shooting at odds with Sikh beliefs, by John Boudreau, Contra Costa Times, 30-01-2000, access date 20-02-2009
- ^ Farewell to slain teacher and Sikh leader, by Shawn Masten, Contra Costa Times, 29-01-2000, access date 20-02-2009
- ^ Fatal Shooting at Sikh Temple by Henry Lee San Francisco Chronicle, 24-01-2000, access date 31-08-2011