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
The San Antonio Military Health and Universities Research Forum (SURF) attracts presenters from around the nation to showcase the work of students, trainees, faculty and staff. The mission of the SURF conference is to “advance research collaborations among academic, military, and industry partners to improve health outcomes and readiness.”
TBDThe NHERI Summer Institute is a free event for early-career faculty, NHERI Graduate Student Council, K-12 educators from the San Antonio area, engineers, and researchers to learn more about the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) community.
La Villita Room (DBB 1.116,) Durango Building, Main CampusConnect with peer mentors and fellow first-gen and transfer students, and learn how you can join UTSA's First-Gen programs for the Fall 2023 semester.
Mentoring Hub (MS 2.02.02,) Multidisciplinary Studies Building, Main CampusBuilding the Dual Language Leader Symposium will provide a safe space for current and aspiring leaders to learn best practices, theories, policies, and systems that support a dual language bilingual education.
UTSA Southwest Campus, 300 Augusta St.Streaming of Spray the Word that will conclude with a discussion with San Antonio's Poet Laureate, Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson.
Aula Canaria (BVB 1.328,) Buena Vista Street Building, Downtown CampusCelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at our very own street fair - Calle UTSA. We will have activities, performances, food, music, and pinatas to break open! All free to UTSA students, faculty, and staff.
Student Union Paseo, Main Campus
