CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Mayor Jerry P. Dyer
_____ _________________________________ ________________________________ LEE BR JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor TYLER MAXWELL, Council President
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ESMER ANNALISA PEREA, Vice President MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember District 2
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PAUL C MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3 LUIS CHAVEZ, Councilmember District 5
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GARRY GARRY BREDEFELD, Councilmember District 6 NELSON ESPARZA, Council District 7
WHEREAS, Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion with more than thirty million adherents worldwide and an estimated 500,000 Sikh Americans; and
WHEREAS, Sikhs have been living in the United States for more than 100 years . During the early 20th century, thousands of Sikh Americans worked on farms, in lumber mills and mines, and on the Oregon, Pacific, & Eastern Railway. They have made countless contributions to our country; and
WHEREAS, 2023 is the 554th birthyear of Guru Nanak, the first of ten gurus and founder of Sikhism.
Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak’s Gurpurab (birth anniversary) worldwide and recognize it as one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar; and
WHEREAS, Vaisakhi is also a historically significant day for Sikhs and is celebrated worldwide on April 14th as the birth of Khalsa, a tradition of initiating Sikhs and promoting equality; and
WHEREAS, Sikh-Americans distinguish themselves by fostering respect among all people by practicing the three key pillars in Sikhism – Kirat Karni (honest living) Vand Chhakna (sharing with others) and Naam Japna (remembrance of God); and
WHEREAS, the Sikh community is important to California’s diversity, with more than 25% of Sikh Americans living in the state. Fresno has become a cultural center for Sikhism with a large and vibrant community; and
WHEREAS, today, the City of Fresno seeks to further celebrate its diversity and afford all residents the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history of Sikh Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and Members of the Fresno City Council, do hereby proclaim November 2023 to be:
“Sikh Heritage Month”
In the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 2nd day of November 2023.
Recognizing Sikh Heritage Month