Community Voice

Saturday, 15th Dec 2007

2nd Poh (Samvat 539 Nanakshahi)

Foundation Stone laid for Austin Gurdwara in Texas

Gr Gr AMdr Drmswl hovY kIrqn sdw ivsoAw]

ghar ghar a(n)dhar dhharamasaal hovai keerathan sadhaa visoaa||

Everyhome has become a place of dharm where praises are forever sung blissfully (Vaars Bhai Gurdas ji)

Austin, Texas – Sikhs were overjoyed during the laying of the foundation for their first Gurdwara in Austin on 9th Dec 2007, by Giani Gurdev Singh Ji from the United Kingdom and Prof. Harcharan Singh Ji.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony. Seen in Picture (L to R) Ramanpreet Singh, Dr Harnek Singh Bains, Gurpreet Singh (UNITED SIKHS), Giani Gurdev Singh Ji from UK, Prof Harcharan Singh Ji, Rajinder Dhillon

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harnek Singh, Chairman of the Gurdwara committee, said “Waheguru has showered his blessings on us. He has now shown us the path. We need to work very hard in the coming months. It will be a big challenge for us and we will require everyone’s support in this huge task.”

Ajit Singh clearing the ground ahead of the Foundation Day ceremony

The growing Sikh community of 35 families has not had a purpose-built Gurdwara building and the weekly congregational prayer is held in a small 2-room mobile-home, and a monthly prayer is held in a rented hall in a Church. The nearest Gurdwaras to Austin are San Antonio (85 miles), Houston (170 miles) and Dallas (200 miles).

UNITED SIKHS members, Ramanpreet Singh and Jasleen Kaur had their Anand Karaj ceremony on Friday, 7th Dec 2007, at the existing ‘mobile-home Gurdwara’.

“It was great to have our Anand Karaj ceremony here in Austin in presence of our friends and family. But we dearly wished for a bigger hall and a permanent building” said Jasleen Kaur. And with the construction work now started their prayers and wishes will now come true.

Ramanpreet Singh and Jasleen Kaur’s Anand Karaj

Raagi Jatha performing Keertan during the Anand Karaj ceremony

The new Gurdwara Sahib will be located at 5104 Avispa Way, Austin, TX 78738 and is located in a 3 acre site within a mile from the newly built Hill Country Galleria Mall. Four major Highways intersect near the Gurdwara and the Scenic, Mansfield Dam is barely 10 miles. It will cost $500, 000 to build bringing the total cost of the project, including land cost, to $1 million.

“With the Gurudwara Building being established, we can properly teach our children about our culture and history. Also, we now do not need to travel all the way to nearby cities for Kirtan programs and Sunday diwans” said Harpreet Kaur.

Children getting involved in the ceremony

The 5000 sq feet Gurdwara building, expected to be ready by June 2008, will comprise a Darbar Sahib (Prayer Room), Langar Hall (community dining hall), History Museum & Library , basketball court and a parking lot.

Dr. Yadvendra Singh, a member of the sangat, believes that the new Gurdwara building will help his children in making their faith stronger. “A local Gurdwara will certainly help my kids in understanding our faith and beliefs and in protecting our identity as Sikhs,” he said.

Please visit the Austin Gurdwara Sahib Website http://austingurdwarasahib.com/ for more details and to offer seva, in whatever way possible.

Let us all join in extending our support and encouragement to the Austin Sangat. May Waheguru shower blessings on the sangat.

Issued by:
Gurpreet Singh
UNITED SIKHS
Austin, Texas
1 888 2431690

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