In Chicago, Sikhs Celebrate Founder's Birthday

April 24, 2004

Source: The Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0404240157apr24,1,1738359.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed

On April 24, 2004 The Chicago Tribune reported, "Sikhs from around the world will gather this weekend in Island Lake at a humble white clapboard temple that once was a Methodist Church to pay tribute to a prophet. Thousands are expected to convene in the northern suburb, organizers say, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Guru Angad Dev Ji, who helped found the Sikh religion. Recognized for inspiring the core Sikh philosophy of equality, Guru Angad Dev Ji also is credited with starting a literary tradition and emphasizing family life. 'We want to tell society our prophet started a movement,'said Baba Daljit Singh Ji, who opened the Island Lake temple, called a Gurdwara, eight years ago. 'We want to tell society, in the 16th Century he did these things. It will be useful to do these same things in these times.' Of the 18 million Sikhs in the world, between 10,000 and 15,000 are in the Chicago area. Centennial celebrations hold great significance for the Sikh faith, the youngest monotheistic religion in the world."