Source: The Plain Dealer

On September 17, 1999, The Plain Dealer reported that Gurbachan Singh Bhatia, a Sikh priest from Ohio, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon after a minor traffic incident. The 69-year-old Bhatia, the first Sikh priest in Northern Ohio, was carrying a kirpan, or small knife, which is a Sikh religious symbol that shows one's willingness to defend one's faith. In previous court cases, the 1st District Ohio Court of Appeals overturned a Cincinnati Municipal Court conviction of a Sikh man for carrying a concealed weapon in...

Source: The Dallas Morning News

On July 31, 1999, The Dallas Morning News published an article on Sikh Camp at the Sikh Temple of North Texas in Garland, TX. It is a two-week camp for children ages 5-14 that immerses Sikh children in their faith, which is an experience rarely felt in American culture. The camp, in its 14th year, has drawn 30 children this year. Ritika Vohra, whose two daughters attend the camp, stated: "This is an opportunity for them to socialize with one another, and that's one of the most important things that we can give them here."...

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

On July 31, 1999 Akron Beacon Journal featured an article on the research of Northern Ohio's religious diversity by Pluralism Project affiliates. The "growth in religious diversity has been examined by two Kent State University researchers... Dr. David Odell-Scott, associate professor of philosophy... and Dr. Surinder M. Bhardwaj, a professor of geography... received a 1998 grant through the Pluralism Project at Harvard University to map the religious diversity of Northern Ohio... As a result of that work, the researchers have...

Source: Sacramento Bee

On April 19, 1999, the Sacramento Bee reported on the 300th anniversary celebrations of the Khalsa which took place on Sunday, April 18th in Sacramento and Yuba City, California. Even with all of the celebrations, the Sikh New Year, Vaisakhi, is supposed to be reflective. Dr. Narinder Singh Parhar, a Roseville, CA internist who maintains Khalsa practice, explained that, "it's a time for (believers) to see if they've been good Sikhs. Are they sticking to the principles? Are they sticking to the causes?"

Source: The Indianapolis Star

On April 17, 1999, The Indianapolis Star reported on the new Sikh temple in Indianapolis. Though the Sikh community established itself in Indianapolis in the 1960s, Sikhs have been worshipping in rented houses and community centers for the past several decades. Today, more than 200 Sikh families are a part of the new temple community. They are happy to be able to celebrate the Sikh New Year, Vaisakhi, and the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa in their own temple.

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On April 17, 1999, The Houston Chronicle reported on the festivities of the Sikh community in Houston commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa on Wednesday, April 14th. More than 600 Sikhs joined the festivities on Wednesday. Additional events are scheduled in Houston throughout the year.

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On April 17, 1999, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported on the celebrations in the Sikh community of Atlanta for the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa to take place on Sunday, April 18th in the community's gurdwara.

Source: The Washington Post

On April 11, 1999, The Washington Post published an article on the celebratory march of Sikhs on Saturday, April 10th along Constitution Avenue from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol for the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. With approximately 25,000 Sikhs, the march was largely to celebrate the Sikh religion, but it also brought calls for an independent Sikh nation in the Punjab province of India.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 10, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article on Sikhism to mark the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. On Sunday, April 4th, "more than 10,000 Sikhs celebrated the anniversary in a colorful procession of floats through downtown Los Angeles."

Source: The Plain Dealer

On April 10, 1999, The Plain Dealer reported that there is a planned procession along Public Square in Cleveland on April 24th to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. With two gurdwaras and an estimated 500 families in the greater Cleveland area, the Sikh community has a growing presence in the area. Ohio Governor Bob Taft officially designated April 14th Khalsa Sikh Day in recognition of "the faith, rich cultural heritage and family values" that Sikhs promote."

Source: The New York Times

On April 5, 1999, The New York Times reported that the first international Sikh convention took place in the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ on Saturday, April 3rd as a prelude to many of the international festivities for the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. With about 6,000 people in attendance, the daylong event was "part academic convocation, part political rally, and part performance with songs, skits, and a tae kwon do demonstration." Rajnarind Kaur, an analyst with J.P. Morgan, stated: "There has never been...

Source: The New York Times

On February 25, 1999, The New York Times reported that El Quijote, a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan, paid a settlement of $10,000 to Jaswinder Pal Singh for discriminating against his religious expression. El Quijote, which has a policy of not allowing men to wear headgear in the restaurant, refused to service Singh in 1996 because he was wearing a turban. Singh, who is a computer science professor at Princeton University, filed a federal lawsuit in 1997 against El Quijote. In the settlement, the restaurant is going to change...

Source: Montreal Gazette

On February 11, 1999, the Montreal Gazette reported that Ranjit Singh, the international leader of Sikhism, was suspended by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), which is the body that appointed Singh in India. Last summer, Ranjit Singh excommunicated 7 Sikhs from British Columbia who refused to carry out Singh's controversial edict to remove tables and chairs from temple dining halls. The edict resulted in several violent clashes among the Sikhs in British Columbia. Ranjit Singh doesn't accept the SGPC's decision...

Source: The Arizona Republic

On January 9, 1999, The Arizona Republic reported that the International Symposium on Khalsa will be held on January 9-10, 1999 in Phoenix. The symposium will be the U.S. celebration of the 300th anniversary of when the Guru Gobind Singh established the current Sikh identity. Yogi Bhajan, the Sikh leader in the Western Hemisphere, is the featured speaker at the event.

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On November 29, 1998, the Houston Chronicle reported on the tradition that has developed at the Star of Hope shelter in Houston with the area Sikh community. What started five years ago as an annual feast prepared by the Sikh community at the shelter has turned into a monthly event. The Sikh volunteers, who buy, cook and serve the food, create an Italian-Mexican offering of enchiladas and lasagna to suit the Texan diet. Hardeep Kaur Singh, one of the volunteers, stated, "we thought we needed to give back to this community...