BY MINU SINGH
PASADENA, CA - The Sikh community of California shared their 125-year history by presenting a float, ‘A Sikh American Journey’ at the prestigious Rose Parade of Pasadena held on New Year’s Day 2015. Since 9/11, many Sikhs have realized the need to get the word out about who they are. But that took on more urgency in 2012,
PASADENA, CA - The Sikh community of California shared their 125-year history by presenting a float, ‘A Sikh American Journey’ at the prestigious Rose Parade of Pasadena held on New Year’s Day 2015. Since 9/11, many Sikhs have realized the need to get the word out about who they are. But that took on more urgency in 2012,
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after a shooter killed six worshipers at a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, before turning the gun on himself. In 2013, SALDEF teamed up with researchers from Stanford University to conduct the first public perception assessment of Sikh Americans — entitled Turban Myths -which revealed discouraged results. Seventy percent of Americans could not identify a fellow Sikh American and one out of every five Americans experienced anger or apprehension when they saw a Sikh stranger with a turban and beard.Rashpal Dhidsa, a Fontana businessman, founder of the United Sikh Mission, has been a fan of the Rose Parade since he moved from India in the late 1980’s. He strongly believed that Sikhs in the U.S. would benefit from representation in a New Year tradition viewed by tens of millions worldwide. “Very few people know who we are. We love this country and all of us work hard to make this country strong,” said Dhindsa, “The float’s design is based on Sikh-American history which truly is a quintessential American story; a great fit for this year’s Rose parade theme of ‘Inspiring Stories’”, said Minu Singh, the Creative Director of the float.
The float was modeled after the Stockton Gurdwara, the first Sikh house of worship established in the United States 102 years ago. The design also included a cornucopia and a locomotive to represent Sikh laborers and farmers of the Central Valley of California.
The float, with 17,000 multicolored roses and 2,500 gerbera daisies, featured 11 community members to represent the Sikh community, including men and women who are members of California-based police forces and the national Army. It took a budget of Approximately $250,000, hard work of 500 volunteers, approximately two months to make this dream a reality.
According to Gurdeep Malik, Bicky Singh and Jatinder Singh, members of the fund raising committee, “This was an excellent value for money considering the substantial mainstream TV and media exposure”.
It is time we start telling our story, Jasjit Singh, Executive Director of SALDEF expressed “This New Year’s Day, Sikh-Americans celebrated their ancestors and their ongoing commitment to ensure that America is a land in which all Americans can pursue their unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Dhindsa and the team fully understand that it will take more than a single attempt to make a meaningful impact on raising Sikh awareness. “I am humbled by the opportunity to be part of this premiere to what I hope becomes great tradition” said Bicky Singh of Sikhlens.
The float was modeled after the Stockton Gurdwara, the first Sikh house of worship established in the United States 102 years ago. The design also included a cornucopia and a locomotive to represent Sikh laborers and farmers of the Central Valley of California.
The float, with 17,000 multicolored roses and 2,500 gerbera daisies, featured 11 community members to represent the Sikh community, including men and women who are members of California-based police forces and the national Army. It took a budget of Approximately $250,000, hard work of 500 volunteers, approximately two months to make this dream a reality.
According to Gurdeep Malik, Bicky Singh and Jatinder Singh, members of the fund raising committee, “This was an excellent value for money considering the substantial mainstream TV and media exposure”.
It is time we start telling our story, Jasjit Singh, Executive Director of SALDEF expressed “This New Year’s Day, Sikh-Americans celebrated their ancestors and their ongoing commitment to ensure that America is a land in which all Americans can pursue their unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Dhindsa and the team fully understand that it will take more than a single attempt to make a meaningful impact on raising Sikh awareness. “I am humbled by the opportunity to be part of this premiere to what I hope becomes great tradition” said Bicky Singh of Sikhlens.
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