Gurdwara Sahib of San Jose- USA

Address

Gurdwara Sahib of San Jose- San Jose, California, USA

Deity

Guru Nanak Ji

Introduction

• Location: The Sikh Gurdwara of San Jose is situated in the Evergreen district of San Jose, California, USA. It is recognized as the largest gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) outside of India.
• Founding and Growth: Established in 1984 by leaders of the growing Sikh community, the gurdwara serves as a central place of worship and gathering for Sikhs in the area. It began modestly in a rented community center before evolving into a massive center of Sikh religious life.

Puranic Significance

• Early Years and Expansion: Initially, the community purchased a small building in East San Jose but quickly outgrew it. In 1995, they acquired land to build a larger gurdwara. After changing the location to a larger property in the Evergreen neighborhood, the first phase of the new gurdwara, covering almost 20,000 square feet, was completed in 2004.
• Completion and Size: The second phase was completed in 2011, making the gurdwara 90,000 square feet in size. The gurdwara’s design was overseen by the late architect Malkiat Singh Sidhu. On its opening day, the gurdwara hosted an estimated 20,000 attendees. It remains the largest gurdwara in North America and the largest Sikh center of worship outside of India’s Golden Temple.
• Location and Beauty: The property spans 40 acres in the Evergreen neighborhood, offering stunning views of Silicon Valley by day and city lights by night.

Special Features

• Main Diwan Hall: The gurdwara features a large prayer hall, known as the “Main Diwan Hall,” which hosts about 10,000 worshippers every Sunday.
• Langar: As per Sikh tradition, the gurdwara provides free meals through its Langar service in the accompanying kitchen and dining hall.
• Educational Facilities: The gurdwara also includes a school wing where approximately 700 students attend classes on Sundays. These classes cover Punjabi language, kirtan (devotional singing), and Gurbani (Sikh scriptures).
• Additional Amenities: The gurdwara offers recreational facilities such as basketball courts and a free health clinic, further emphasizing its role as a community hub.

Century/Period/Age

1984

Nearest Bus Station

San Jose

Nearest Railway Station

Santa Clara Station

Nearest Airport

San Jose (SJC)

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