April 20, 2007

San Jose Sikh Temple launches second phase of construction project

The third largest city in California and the 10th largest city in the United States is also the home of the country’s largest Sikh temple, the San Jose Sikh Gurdwara.

The Sikh religious leaders, in ceremonial garb, during the Nishan Sahib ceremony by the flagpole. The kirpans, or ceremonial swords, are an integral part of the Sikh religion.

In 2004, the first phase of the temple’s construction was completed after 10 years of advocacy work and plenty of local community interaction and involvement. After dust of the first building’s construction settled into a regular schedule of spiritual and social activities that is vital to the Sikh community’s commitment to its traditional ties to India and integration to American life, the San Jose Sikh Gurdwara’s founders and board of directors started its plans for Phase Two of the 94,000 square-foot temple.

The San Jose Sikh Gurdwara, nestled in the Evergreen Valley hills of San Jose at 3636 Murillo Avenue, is considered “a home away from home” to the growing 50,000-plus Sikh population in Silicon Valley and the Indo-American community. The present-day San Jose Gurdwara had its beginnings in a makeshift temple inside a trailer on White Road in 1992. The founders’ group then bought five acres of land on Quimby Road where they built their first gurdwara. After selling this property for $11 million, the group bought the 42-acre Murillo Avenue property through its fundraising efforts.

Bob Gill, the temple construction project’s general manager and board member, announcing to the public that the City of San Jose is finalizing the approval of the temple’s second phase construction.

Last April 14 and April 15, the Sikh community celebrated the annual Festival of Vaisakhi, which marks the Punjabi New Year and the start of the harvest season. Several traditions were observed such as the yearly change of the Nishan Sahib, the white Sikh holy flag made of cotton and emblazoned with the Sikh symbol (the Khanda), which is found in every Sikh gurdwara from its metal flagpole.

During the festivities, Bob Gill, the temple construction project’s general manager and board member, announced to the public that the City of San Jose was finalizing the approval of the temple’s construction of the second phase.

“The second building will house a huge prayer hall, several meeting rooms and classrooms, and a larger kitchen to accommodate our langar (where free community meals take place after a Sikh service),” said Gill, who added that the San Jose Sikh Gurdwara also wished to extend their condolences and prayers to the families and friends of the 33 people who died in the recent Virginia Tech tragedy.

Gill confirmed that fundraising activities started so that the gurdwara could be finished as scheduled in the last quarter of 2008.

Interested donors from the Sikh community and the wider communities can make out their checks to “San Jose Sikh Gurdwara,” with a memo line, “Building Fund.” They can send their tax-deductible donations to the San Jose Sikh Gurdwara, 3636 Murillo Avenue, San Jose, CA 95148. A free clinic, sponsored by the San Jose Gurdwara in cooperation with a diverse group of community volunteers and medical professionals, will be held at the temple on Sunday, April 22, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone is invited.