​BY DEEPINDER SINGH
LOS ANGELES, CA – Nearly 15,000 Sikhs from across California and around gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April  8 to celebrate Baisakhi with religious fervor and enthusiasm. Sikhs all over the world celebrate Baisakhi as the day of their identity as Khalsa. On the day of Baisakhi in 1699, 

NEW YORK - Thousands of turbans were on the heads of people from different races, religions and nationalities in the city's Times Square as Sikhs launched the annual series of Turban Day events to promote understanding of their faith and dispel stereotypes about the piece of attire. On Saturday, volunteers from Sikhs of New York organisation tied turbans on the heads of visitors while explaining its significance for Sikhs and telling them...

​BUENA PARK,CA- Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) organized the 20th Know Your Rights Forum at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha here on March 11. The forum was attended by around 300 members of the Sangat. The speakers included, Pearl Saracho of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Puneet Sandhu of the South Asian Bar Association, 

BY A STAFF REPORTER
RIVERSIDE, CA - The Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir held its annual Maha Shivaratri celebrations on Feb 13 with traditional fervor amidst the offering of prayers and `abhisheka,’ with over 1500 devotees in attendance. Days before the event the Mandir was beautifully  decorated with the help of dozens of volunteers.

NORWALK - ​The Shree Pashupatinath and Buddha Mandir observed Maha Shivaratri over a period of three days, from Feb. 11 -13. The temple, which acquired an occupancy certificate a mere two months ago, organized a ‘pranpratistha’ ceremony and consecrated ten deities. On the day of Maha Shivaratri, chanting of mantras took place for an hour after which prasad was served. The temple was visited by a large number of devotees each...

The worship at the Hindu Temple at Northridge, on February 13 on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri was a unique one. This year, in what organizers claimed was the first time in the US, a five foot tall Shiva Lingaof 51,000 Rudrakshabeads was the center of prayer an adulation by devotees.The idea was initiated by Pandit Prakash Pandya, the main priest of the temple. The Linga not only drew crowds but also went toward bringing members...

​BY MANSI MOTWANI
LOS ANGELES, CA – Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, it is celebrated at night. Maha Shivaratri is notable for its introspective focus, fasting, meditation and self-study. Devotees mark this night as one “overcoming darkness and ignorance,” 

​MONTEBELLO - Montebello’s Shri Nand Shiv Durga Mandir was open on Feb 13 from 6 am in the morning until midnight. Devotees offered milk, yogurt, honey and fruits to the Shiva Lingam. The temple conducted two rudra abhishekhams. In the evening, children performed a drama based on Lord Shiva’s wedding to Goddess Parvati. Dances were performed and prizes were awarded to children. The closing  aarti then took place. 

BY A STAFF REPORTER
LOS ANGELES, CA –  With the mandatory evacuation orders lifted, the Vedanta Society’s Santa Barbara Temple will open to the public on Feb. 11.​ A team of professional cleaners is stationed on site, and are cleaning the temple, bookstore, and all the buildings with  heavy duty machinery. Though the temple and convent were spared...

CHANDIGARH - When Canada's young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Golden Temple complex, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines, next month, he will carry a political message to a big constituency back home. With a big Punjabi, especially Sikh, population settled in countries like Canada, Britain and the United States, a visit to the temple by leaders from these countries is becoming a must on their travel itinerary in India.