New Sikh Temple in San Jose

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While Manish reports on the celebrations @ Amritsar, in local news, the Bay Area Sikh’s have opened the nation’s largest Gurdwara in San Jose – MercuryNews.com | 08/28/2004 | Gurdwara facts

The new San Jose gurdwara will be the largest and most expensive in the country. The Bay Area is home to four other Sikh temples, in Hayward, Pittsburg, El Sobrante and Fremont. Fremont’s temple, built in 1991 for $1.8 million, had been the nation’s largest. The San Jose gurdwara: Cost $10 million, which was collected over 10 years. Was paid for with $6.75 million from the sale of its former home on Quimby Road, and $4.36 million from individual loans and donations from the Sikh community. Encompasses three buildings that total 20,000 square feet on 40 acres in the Evergreen district.

When planned, the Gurdwara raised some controversy –

Plans for the 40-acre property sparked controversy when Sikhs first unveiled their goal to move from the old temple on Quimby Road. A vocal minority of neighbors feared there would be traffic and noise headaches and criticized the magnitude of the project, which was scaled back to meet some of the concerns. Public hearings in San Jose lasted late into the night and at times erupted into name-calling. Protesters carried signs reading “No Sikh Jose.”

But all’s well that ends well –

“I’m very emotional,” said Amrit Singh Sachdev, 49, a computer engineer. “This is bringing back memories for me, when the whole street shuts down, just like in India.” The ceremony, which drew about 7,000 guests, signified a happy chapter in a rocky journey that began in the early 1990s.

Whole streets shut down like in India? Well, I suppose there’s always a temple opening up somewhere….

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11 thoughts on “New Sikh Temple in San Jose”

  3. Can you please post any pictures from the ceremony of the new Gurudwara in San jose

  4. can we do community service at the temple and who can we talk to and can you give me their #

    Thank you very much:)

  6. The San Joes Gurdwara is a very nice place to be when you want to visit our Gurs. This Gurdwara is so beautiful. I love being there every time i am there.

    Can we have our community Service there pleace?

    Thnak you Very, very much. Love from our Gurs, Hardeep

  7. I saw a guy there on the day it opened……..very religious….who I happened to have seen again few days ago……if u r tht person….contact me!:) P.S very great depiction of our pride in religion is what this gurdwara shows

  9. Many of the people at this temple are crooks looking to steal peoples money. Don’t be fooled. God is in you heart and by the good deeds one does. I have seen how these priests take money from innocent people. Sadly most decent people don’t get involved with temple politics and association. Those that do get involved have often done so for completely selfish reasons. It is today a business. I am dissapointed with these “leaders” of Sikh religion.

  10. Overall a filthy place full of rats and flys due to very unhygenic conditions. Very dirty place. Maybe the health dept. should pay a visit there.