FAITH CELEBRATIONS, COMMEMORATIONS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Kanwal Prakash Singh
July 08, 2015

June 2015 was a month of spiritual significance for several faith communities in Indiana. The plans for Indy’s Festival of Faiths, scheduled for August 30th at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Downtown Indianapolis took a major leap forward; we learned about the long-awaited “Sacred Journeys” Exhibit at The Children’s Museum opening the same weekend in August, presenting prospects of sharing and cooperation.

Hindu Temple of Central Indiana:

June 2015 became a month of other momentous community events: religious celebrations, commemorations, and historic transitions. A week-long colorful ceremonies marking the rededication of the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, built in the architectural tradition of an ancient Hindu Temple in India, attracted thousands. Many City and State dignitaries, interfaith leaders, and the faithful from across the Midwest and beyond attended the dedication of the landmark Hindu Temple in Central Indiana.

Gurdwara, Greenwood, Indiana:

 Taking center stage in the enlarging spiritual landscape of Indiana was the grand opening of Gurdwara Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji in Greenwood. The Gurdwara dedication was attended by Honorable Diego Morales, Special Assistant to Indiana Governor Mike Pence; Greenwood Mayor and Police Chief, Indiana State Representatives, and over a thousand Sikh Americans and their friends.

 There is a new cultural vibrancy in the Indian, Asian, and Sikh Diaspora in the United States and other continents, reflecting a major commitment to create institutions of learning, worship, and service, anchored in native traditions, cultural heritage, and spiritual foundation, to share with the world and future generations. This was another milestone in our journey to serve and celebrate the recently arrived cultures, faiths, and populations. We are fulfilling long-awaiting dreams: new places for ceremonial gatherings, prayer and exultation of faiths; sacred spaces for preserving heritage and uplifting the human spirit.

 At the Sikh Gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) in Indiana and around the world, there were solemn remembrances of the Martyrdom of the Fifth Sikh, Guru Arjan Dev, at Lahore in June 1606 on the orders of the Moghul Emperor Jahangir; commemorations of the 31st Anniversary of Indian Army’s “Operation Bluestar” in 1984 at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and other Sikh Gurdwaras in the Punjab where thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed. There were prayers for peace and universal harmony and goodwill toward all humanity. As an act of solidarity, the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis collected funds and tons of clothing for the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal.

 ADDRESSING TOMORROW’S CONCERNS TODAY

As the Sikh American community in the USA has grown in size and stature, lingering issues of unfounded stereotyping, mistaken identity due to their sacred articles of faith, bullying of Sikh children in schools, workplace discrimination and harassment, unprovoked violence and safety issues, and the denial of being able to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces remain to be addressed. The biggest hurdle in this area has been the entrenched perceptions about unfamiliar traditions and governing rules that need to be revisited and revised in light of the many diverse faiths, cultures, and communities make up today’s America. These are our new frontiers of opportunities and challenges, where civic engagement, networking, vigorous advocacy, and learning about new lands and cultures may serve us well.

 The Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis has been a leader in this effort in central Indiana for the last 40 years. National Sikh organizations and Sikh media have been leading the efforts for better understanding of Sikh American concerns. The wheels of societal change move slowly and always need sustained effort, commitment, and imaginative daring ideas. The urgent matter of individual and community health, because of its universal and direct impact, on the other hand, has caught the attention of Sikh congregations in central Indiana.

A YOUNG HEALTH ADVOCATE IN OUR MIDST

Miss Lavleen Kaur Samra, a Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University, is leading this effort. Lavleen is pursuing her research in Health Behavior and Preventive Medicine. With charts, graphs, and diagnostic equipment, Lavleen has been visiting Sikh Gurdwaras in central Indiana, addressing congregations, distributing health-related literature and healthy choice advice regarding food, diet, nutrition, and do’s and don’ts for healthy, disease-free life choices. Lavleen is passionate, articulate, understands her audience, addresses them in Punjabi, and knows how to win trust in her cause, which she hopes will be their cause and a catalyst for change. Lavleen is frank and persuasive in bringing home the dangers of alcohol, sweets loaded with sugar, food preparations floating in cooking oil. She offers alternatives and cautions moderation. Suddenly, we are learning about healthy food and sensible diet changes that can prevent many devastating diseases: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and a host of other health challenges.

 Lavleen is eminently qualified to lead this effort with her Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University, Master’s Degree in Behavioral Community and Social Health from Indiana Wesleyan University, and sound training in family values and discipline at home. Eager parents love her bold, refreshing and non-threatening approach and flock to her with their concerns and questions. Lavleen offers with home-spun humor: “Enjoy your food, but eat less;” “substitute vegetable oils with coconut oil;” “skip too many sweets and spare yourself early onset of diabetes;” “live healthy and tension free and prevent heart disease and heart attack.” The body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, as the Sikh sacred scripture reminds us. To serve God and to reach one’s full potential, one needs to be wise about one’s health, diet, exercise, and rest.

 Lavleen Samra’s all-important, timely community seva, and health awareness efforts, especially focused on women’s health. This is critical at a time when our Gurdwara Langars have become feasts: serving deep fried foods and rich sugar-loaded sweets as a featured delicious welcome fare as the worshippers arrive. The money saved by curtailing our current excessive indulgences could be channeled into making health fairs a regular feature of our Gurdwara services. Some of the saved revenue should be allocated towards paying for the health awareness literature and supplies needed at health fairs. Maninder Walia, President of Sikh Satsang, has expressed that we consider a stipend for the special sevas that we receive from gifted volunteers like Lavleen. I think such encouragement sends a message that we value and welcome critical services and initiatives that benefit families. Our small investment may someday earn big rewards for promising youth leaders as we encourage their professional pursuits in their chosen fields.

  ENCOURAGING BIG IDEAS AND DARING PURSUITS

Community leaders and parents must encourage young people to pursue careers that inspire them to be among the brightest and best, lead them on paths to become successful innovators, trailblazers, and leaders in their fields; assure undreamed-of honors and rewards. New Gurdwara buildings have their rightful place, but it is our commitment to great ideas and doing something about them, making the right and timely investments that may hold the key to a future worthy of limitless opportunities and potential. We have to set our mind and spirit to such a vision, and Sutguru will lead us the rest of the way in the intensely-competitive Holla Mohallas of our times. For “Wahegurujee Kee Fateh: All victories belong to the Wonderful Lord,” we have to strike the right and wise balance.

 Indianapolis, Indiana USA  <>  www.KPSinghDesigns.com  <>  March 27, 2015

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