Local businessman Gurninder Singh, owner of Dino’s Pizza on 625 Homestead Ave. here in Holyoke, every year organizes the Sikh flag-raising ceremony in from of City Hall to honor the lives and struggles of the Sikh.

The flag-raising took place on April 1, 2023.

From Sikh.Net, a website that provides information and more about the Sikh: https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/who-are-sikhs-what-is-sikhism”

Sikhs at a Glance

• 99 percent of people wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs from India
• Sikhs  have been in the U.S. for over 100 years
• There are roughly 700,000 Sikhs in the U.S. today
• Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion with 25 million adherents worldwide
• Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service
• Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban
• The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice
• Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam

Sikhism – The word Sikh (pronounced “sickh”) means ‘disciple’ or ‘learner.’ The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism.  Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women.  Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others.  Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.”