Grand Opening Celebrations and Ceremonies of the Gurdwara Sikh Satsang in Indianapolis
A MASSIVE GATHERING OF SIKHS COMMEMORATED HISTORIC 327TH BAISAKHI; WELCOMED OPENING OF GURDWARA 74 SIKH SATSANG OF INDIANAPOLIS
Los Angeles/Apr 30, 2026
hKanwal Prakash "KP" Singh
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS LANDMARK HOOSIER SIKH MILESTONE:
The Sikh Satsang is the oldest and largest Sikh congregation in Indiana. The new Gurdwara Building at 10930 Southeastern Avenue, sits on an 18-acre land adjacent to the old Gurdwara Building that had been serving since February 1999, no longer large enough for the growing Hoosier Sikh population.
Gurdwara 74 has 38,000 square feet of usable space that includes a Sanctuary Hall (100x80 feet that can seat 1500 people); Langar Hall (80x80 feet) that serve Langar (vegetarian lunch) to 750 people at a time; and many rooms and space for multiple functions and emerging needs.
Once completed with five Gilded Domes and 4 Palkis (elegantly carved Kiosks) to enshrine Siri Guru Granth Sahibs (Sikh Holy Scriptures) that are on their way from Chandigarh, India. The Sikh Gurdwara will be a significant religious architectural addition to the growing Hoosier spiritual landscape.
Committed to education and learning, interfaith dialogues and humanitarian services, this Gurdwara (a place of Sikh worship) and open to all would truly be a welcome Sikh Gurdwara at the Crossroads of America in the Hoosier Heartland on Highway I- 74.
GURDWARA OPENING CEREMONY:
An estimated 12,000 Sikhs - from across the State of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, California, and other States gathered for this long-awaited dream of the Hoosier Sikh community's oldest and largest congregation. We were happy to welcome a multicultural and multi-generational crowd, that included Sikh Satsang friends - Raju Chinthala, a respected community leader; Anita Hjorth Lerche, the Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark in Indiana who is an internationally-renowned singer of Punjabi folk songs and Sikh Shabads.
They brought their prayers, festive spirit in a rich spectrum of traditional fashions that added joyful Punjabi textures, and generous blessings to support the shared dream of building iconic anchors and being at-home in America. An additional $400,000.00 were raised towards to $17.5 Million which is the estimated cost of this Project.
A SANCTURY REVERBERATING WITH SHABAD KEERTAN, KATHA AND PRAYER:
Throngs waited in line to place their offerings at the high throne where Siri Guru Granth Sahib (the Living Guru of the Sikhs) was enthroned in jeweled brocaded silks. Each person stepped up placed their offering and bowed to the ground and sat down to hear the amazing hymns of Ten Guru Gobind Singh, the Father of Khalsa who ordained the Sikhs to saint-warriors and to be defenders of freedom and human dignity at the Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) of 1699 at Siri Anandpur Sahib India. Three Groups of Raagis (religious singers) and a Group of Dhadies (Sikh Bards) provided enchanted music and narratives about the life and times of the Sikh Guru and the Sikh faith journey before and since. Inside and outside there was local and national ethnic Media coverage and live streaming. There was fabulous coverage by The Indianapolis Star.
OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY - FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP AND SUNSHINE:
Seventeen area restaurants provided familiar snacks prepared on the site; soft drinks, and Punjabi favorite fresh spiced sugarcane juice - an in-kind donation estimated at around $100,000. There were throngs of people soaking in the Indiana sunshine and meandering though an arcade where religious paintings and faith symbols were available for purchase. Throughout the afternoon, a freshly prepared Langar (a vegetarian) meal was served to thousands in the Langar Hall.
HOOSIER SIKH LEADERS WHO MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE:
Under the leadership of tireless stalwarts - Gurpreet Singh (President, Maninder Singh Walia (community leader), Gurmit Singh (Vice President) , Jagjit Singh (secretary), Harpreet Sandhu,
and Hardy Sikand (financial caretakers), and other dedicated sevak-leaders - the Hoosier Sikh community witnessed this proud moment become a reality.
EARLY PIONEERS, STRUGGLES, SACRIFICES, AND TRIUMPHS
An incredible hard work was initiated by generation before them that laid the foundation of this moment almost six decades later. It was a blessing to see some of them present, others represented by their children and grandchildren. We remember and salute their contributions at a trying time and standing tall against odds: Mohinder Singh, Daljit Singh, Raghbir Chinna, Avtar Singh Biring, Pritam Shaunki, Sukhbir Singh, Surinder and Baljit Dhesi, Dr. Girdhar Ahuja, Ranjit Sikand, Rajinder Kaur, Narvinder Singh, Tarlochan Bansi, others and KP Singh Family.
A PRAYERFUL REFLECTION AND SPIRIT OF CHARHDIKALA:
We are grateful to Sutgurujee for blessing us to witness this dream to become beautiful reality. It has been an incredible honor for me since September 28, 1967 and till today: To see my way through seva, learning and sharing, and stepping out the comfort box and not be daunted by not-so-friendly experiences and to pray for miracle breakthroughs. Mainstreaming, engagement, and friendly exchanges are helping to end stereotyping and wrongful associations and a spirit of greater acceptance at our crossroads and we see great opportunities and promising horizons for future generations.
We are learning to be partners in our shared responsibilities as Hoosiers. May the gleaming new Gurdwara be open to all; a center for interfaith learning and understanding; and a welcome sanctuary of peace and goodwill toward our neighbors and communities that share our Indiana home.
Sikh Scripture remind us that "God has Created our Earth as His Dhamsal as a Sanctuary for Prayer and Divine Worship." May this Gurdwara be a place of Light, Love and Seva, Peace and Friendship. These sacred Concepts reflect our daily prayer: "... Tayray Bhaanaye Surbut Da Bhulla: In Your Name, and By Your Grace may we seek Peace and Goodwill for All Creation." May each of us be stewards of this unifying humanitarian legacies, sacred lessons, and this Divine Call to rise and serve each new day. A Joyous and Blessed Baisakhi Everyone!!
Kanwal Prakash KP Singh (KP Singh Designs) - Indianapolis - April 26, 2026 (with Gurdwara Sikh Satsang, Gurpreet Singh, Maninder Singh Walia, Alexandria Burris, Bhai Sarabjit Singh Ragi, Harpreet Sandhu, Hardy Sikand, Chirjeev Kaur Oberoi, Anita Hjorth Lerche, Raju Chinthala, Jay Singh, Saurabh Raj Singh, Joyce A Bean Ketels, Rodney Lloyd, Sukhdip Singh, Tochi Dhadialla, Asawari Ripam, Gurbachan Kapoor, Jasmine Singh, Agiapal Singh Randhawa, Diego Morales, Gurdip Singh Narula, Githa Schultz, Jennifer Robinson, Frank Basile, Najia Sherzad Hoshmand, Erin Hougland, Rajwant Singh, Amy Pauszek, Harbhajan Singh, Sandra Williams Clark, Sue Finkam, Greg Ballard, Sikhlens.Net)
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