'Our spirit lives on': On Vaisakhi, Sikh Hoosiers work to heal after FedEx shooting (2024)

On a day when the Sikh community around the world is rejoicing, the atmosphere inside the GurdwaraSikh Satsang of Indianapolis turned somber.

Sikh Hoosiers on Sunday observed Vaisakhi, which traditionally marked the celebration of the harvest festival in Punjab, India. It'salso a celebration of the culmination of the Sikh faith.

But this time, for several minutes, many sat in silence, some with tears in their eyes as they listenedto arecount of themassacre, just two days earlier,that took the lives of four of their own in Indianapolis.

Though there was sorrow and grief, they welcomed hundreds of their members andguests — many who were there for the first time and leaders of Indianapolis' interfaith community— to the Gurdwara, or temple, with open arms and a smile.They offered them food and offered to interpret for them prayers andscripturesspoken in Punjabi.

The event Sunday aimed to help the community heal.

"This is who we are, we are happy, fun, loving people,"Gaganpal Singh Dhaliwal, 29, said. "We have to tell our story. We have to show that our spirit, as Americans, lives on."

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Dhaliwal spoke to the crowd Sunday and shareddetails of how a gunman opened fire Thursday night killing eight people and injuring several others at a FedEx operations center on the southwest side of the city.

Though it wastough for many and will at first bring sadness, he said, sharing details about the victims, survivors, and how families are copingcan bring the community closer and encourage them to speak up against recurring violence.

"We have to put a face to it, we have to tell people exactly what happened, what they were doing and who the people were," Dhaliwal, who has spent time with victims' families in the past couple of days, told IndyStar.

'Peace for the families'

Sikh Hoosiers often welcome guests to the Gurdwara, they feed the hungry and are always readyhelp those in need.

"This is a dedicated community that is not asking for more than what they deserve. It is not asking for any special favors. It wants to work hard and earn its place, "Kanwal Prakash “KP”Singh said. "We can't bring (the victims) back. But this a small step as weare seeking peace for the families. What we cando is to releasepositive vibrations. positive energy, and positive prayers for our city and our people,"

Representatives from the Indianapolis Jewish, Muslim andAsian American communities shared messages of support withthe Sikh community during the Vaisakhi celebration.Elected officials, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, U.S. Rep. Andre Carson and Judith Thomas, Indianapolis Deputy Mayor of neighborhood engagement also attended the event.

"We are here to support you and to listen," Thomas told the crowd Sunday. "We need to be able to say, 'We need to change laws to make us all safe'. We need to come together as a city to talk about how we can make a real difference."

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'Our spirit lives on': On Vaisakhi, Sikh Hoosiers work to heal after FedEx shooting (2)

'One human family'

Maninder Singh Walia, aGurdwaraSikh Satsang of Indianapolis board member said Sikh Hoosiers are mourning along withthe families of non-Sikh victims as well.

The victimswere identified Friday asKarli Smith, 19;Samaria Blackwell,19;Matthew R Alexander,32;Amarjit Sekhon,48; Jasvinder Kaur,50;Amarjeet Kaur Johal, 66;Jaswinder Singh,68; andJohn Weisert, 74.

"We are one human family," Walia said. "Check on your neighbors, regardless of race, religion, learn from each other. Show compassion, respect and kindness. That's how you can help us."

There are an estimated 5,000 Sikhs in Central Indiana and 10,000 in the state.

According to the Sikh Coalition, a national organization that advocates for Sikh American civil rights,the culmination of the Sikh faith happened in1699 A.D., when Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, called on all Sikhs to gather in the city of Anandpur on Vaisakhi, which is the day that traditionally marked the celebration of the harvest festival in Punjab, India.

During Vaisakhi, Guru Gobind Singh asked the Sikh community members to abandon their last names and to adopt shared surnames that signify equality and royalty.

This is why so many members of the community share the same middle name.

Sikh women were granted the last name 'Kaur,' andmen were given the last name 'Singh.' These names drew from royal surnames in South Asia. Sharing surnames cultivates a sense of kinship, to erase inequalities on the basis of caste. It shows that everyone is equally divine and sovereign.

IndyStar reporter Natalia Contreras can be reached at 317-518-2829 or natalia.contreras@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter, @NataliaECG.

'Our spirit lives on': On Vaisakhi, Sikh Hoosiers work to heal after FedEx shooting (2024)
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