Sikh Temple - 1/1/2014

After we returned home from our Stockton site adventure and were recording our visits in the database, we realized that we missed a Stockton site.  Bummer!!! 

Not to fear, we convinced Jammy and Granpa to drive us over there after brunch at our favorite burger joint in Stockton, Bob's at the Marina.  CHL site 1039 is the Sikh Temple of Stockton.
The Sikh's originally bought the farmland in 1912 and used a farmhouse that was on the property as their temple until in 1930 they could build a proper temple.  The farmhouse is still there and being used as their library.  If you go to their website they have photos of the original farmhouse and they even broadcast their services inside the temple.

I had no idea that there was such a large Indian population in the Central Valley, but we have seen several Sikh temples in our travels.  This particular temple is of note not only for being one of the first, but it is still in use.  While we visited we could hear the calming chant coming from inside-- it was also fun to watch all the children climb the trees outside. 

 

From the California website:  The Sikhs-from the Punjab region of India-are an important immigrant group in California since about 1900.  Most were drawn to agriculture in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, since those flat expanses were similar to the Punjab.  The 1915 temple was one of the first religious centers for Indians in the United States.  A replacement temple was constructed in 1930 and the 1915 building is used as the temple library.  The temple helped maintain Punjabi traditions and to establish better understanding of the Sikh people by the community at large.  Many events at the temple, and the temple’s charity kitchen, were open to all, regardless of religion or nationality.  Stockton’s Sikh Temple is still an important institution for many Sikhs that remain in the region.