The month of November is dedicated to Sikh awareness and filled with festivity surrounding the Gurpurab
Staff Writer
The month of November is dedicated as California’s Sikh Awareness Month, an effort to appreciate the Sikh community and spread awareness about the religion’s philosophies, according to California’s Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 220.
Mrs. Kaur, a Health Education and Ethnic Studies teacher and practicing Sikh, said, “In the wider context of the community and America in general there is a lot being done for Sikh Awareness Month. A lot of organizations take part in raising awareness, especially on social media, going out and doing events and talking to people, which puts us on the map.”
For Gurnaksh Kaur (10), the month makes her feel seen. “I remember a couple years ago, at Thornton Junior High, every day of November, they would share a fact about Sikhism over the announcement. It just made me happy, because people would actually pay attention and ask me questions about them,” she explained.
“I would say there is a little more awareness about Sikhism than in previous years, considering that Fremont has a Sikh population,” said Mrs. Kaur. “But I don’t think there is much awareness on who exactly we are, where we are from, what we believe in, and so there is room for misunderstanding there. There is also not much knowledge among the student body about why we carry certain identities, to name an example, like why we keep our hair covered.”
The awareness month coincides with the Sikh celebration in mid-November of Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of ten Sikh Guru Sahibs. The Harvard Pluralism Project website states, “Guru Nanak’s divine hymns praised the One who cannot be defined by human categories or confined to human institutions. His simple path of hard work and ebullient praise eventually became a new religious tradition.”
“This time is humbling for me,” said Gurnoor Kaur (11). “It grounds me and reminds me to serve others. On the day of the Gurpurab, I am planning to go with my family to the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, and perform Sewa there.”
The importance of Sewa, or selfless service, is a core belief of the Sikh faith. “Sikhism teaches that Sewa is an act of service towards Waheguru [or God] and therefore must be done regularly in order to become closer to [Him],” explains BBC’s website. It describes, “Many Sikhs perform much of their Sewa by helping at the Gurdwara, including cleaning, washing dishes or serving in the langar.”
“The day that Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to this world was a revolutionary moment for us,” outlined Mrs. Kaur. “[The Gurpurab reminds us of] the very high-standard principles that keep us living in a certain discipline, so that we can look at ourselves every day and meet our eyes with ourselves, being content with our lives,” she said. “Sikhism is a way of life for us. And while we don’t impose it on anyone, everyone is always welcome to learn about us. So maybe this Gurpurab, people can come to the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib and see how we live our life and how we celebrate it.”
Many families visit the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib on the day of the Gurpurab, November 15, 2024, which is decorated for the festivities. “Every Gurpurab, I go to the Gurdwara Sahib with my family and friends to celebrate. Going there is nice because it helps remind me of my roots and Sikh history,” said Gurnaksh Kaur (10) (Photo Credit: Reddit r/Sikh).
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