Community Corner
Sikhs of New York Tie 8,000 Turbans on the Heads of Times Square Visitors, Receive Congressional Proclamation for Turban Day
The Sikhs of New York have presented Turban Day in New York since 2013 to educate about the religion, which preaches the equality of mankind
NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 19, 2017) – Thousands of New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe crowded into Times Square on Saturday and many came away for the first time wearing a turban on their head and learned about Sikhism, one of the largest religions in the world. The Sikhs of New York presented Turban Day as part of the annual mid-April celebration of Vaisakhi, which is commemorated by millions of Sikhs annually.
“At Turban Day, we tied 8,000 turbans regardless of age, color, gender or race,” said Chanpreet Singh, the founder of the non-profit organization. “These are core Sikh values and American values that make us Sikh Americans. Our diversity is our strength.”
The Sikhs of New York have presented Turban Day in New York since 2013 to educate about the religion, which preaches the equality of mankind and all human beings. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion with more than 25 million followers worldwide. Sikhs came to the U.S. about 125 years ago and there are about 700,000 Sikh Americans.
Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) presented the Sikhs of New York with a U.S. House of Representatives proclamation declaring April 15, 2017 as Turban Day to recognize the non-profit organization’s efforts to educate the community about the religion.
The free event also included cultural and musical presentations.
Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We greatly appreciate the many volunteers who lent their time and contributed generously to support Turban Day,” said Singh. “This educational endeavor would not be possible without our hundreds of volunteers and supporters.”
About Sikhs of New York
With a collective effort from the communities of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the Sikhs of New York aims to bring a modern approach to re-establishing the Sikh identity in the United States. A blend of traditions, cultures and beliefs together represents the ideology of Sikhs of NY. For more information, please visit www.sikhsofny.org.
