ITC exhibit offers opportunity to learn more about the Sikh community
Sikh community
Sikh community
Share this Story(Feb. 25, 2015) - A new exhibit featuring the Sikh community is on display for the public to visit and learn more about their religion, history and culture. “Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab” originated at the Smithsonian and will run at the UTSA institute of Texan Cultures until Jan. 3.
Equality for all people regardless of religion, race, gender or class – it sounds like the American way. It’s also the Sikh way. Since Guru Nanak established the foundation of Sikhism in the early 16th century, members of this religion and culture have struggled to bring about these ideals in society, not by conquest or war, but through hard work, teaching and understanding.
Today, members of the world’s fifth largest religion can be found across the globe, including in Texas and San Antonio. The ITC will give the community an opportunity to explore the Sikh culture through the exhibit sponsored by the Sikh Heritage Foundation.
The exhibit covers the tenets of the religion, the history of the people and various aspects of their culture. Like Judaism, the religion is a way of life that binds together a culture, transcending the borders of any homeland.
Sikh men are often identifiable by their uncut facial hair and wearing of turbans. This is prescribed by the religion, as hair is seen as a gift from God, and the turban serves not only to contain the hair, but also as an outward symbol of devotion.
Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab traces the origins of the religion to the works of Guru Nanak and his nine successor Gurus. As the exhibit progresses through history, it follows the geopolitical environment of the Punjab region and how neighboring Hindus and Islamic Mughals impacted the Sikhs. Because of the religion’s geographic origins and Sikhism’s tolerance of other religions, Sikh philosophies include teachings attributable to Hindu and Islam.
In Texas, Sikhs worked on the railroad and many began building new lives in El Paso, integrating with the local population. In San Antonio, today’s Sikh community comprises some 300 families and will open its second temple in 2015.
A Sikh Family Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. The event will offer hands-on opportunities to learn about the Sikhs and their traditions.
The Institute of Texan Cultures is located on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus, 801 E. César E. Chávez Blvd., a short distance from the Alamo and the River Walk. Regular hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $8 for adults (ages 12-64); $7 for seniors (ages 65+); $6 for children (ages 3-11); free with membership, UTSA or Alamo Colleges identification.
For more information, call 210-458-2300 or visit TexanCultures.com.
Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
Come celebrate the doctoral students graduating this commencement season.
H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms, UTSA Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203Celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203First Friday Stargazing gives anyone free access to the night sky using university telescopes and teaching equipment. Weather permitting, experienced astronomers will provide a handful of telescopes of varying designs, give training on how each operates, and point to various astronomical objects that may appear in the sky for that given time of the year. If you have a telescope and do not know how to operate it, feel free to bring it and get instructions on its use.
4th Floor of Flawn Science Building, Main Campus
