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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The United States is enriched by the diversity of
3its residents who have cultivated a climate of social
4tolerance and intellectual pluralism that has sustained the
5nation throughout its history; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Sikh community, which originated in Punjab,
7India and began immigrating into the United States over 100
8years ago, has played an important role in developing Illinois
9and the United States; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sikhism is the world's fifth-largest religion,
11with nearly 30,000,000 adherents, roughly 1,000,000 of whom
12call the United States home; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of
14India during the 15th century, the Sikh spiritual tradition is
15rooted in the belief that every person is equal, regardless of
16race, gender, sex, or creed; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Believing that every person shares a connection
18through the idea of oneness, the Sikh community emerged as a
19force for social justice by encouraging female participation
20in religious services and initiating interfaith efforts to
21combat oppression and injustice; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Sikh religion's central principles of
2truthful living, service to humanity, and devotion to the
3divine being that all faiths worship inspire its believers to
4create inclusive communities where all are respected; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Through leading charitable events, the Sikh
6community embodies the sense of public service that underlies
7the founding principles of the United States; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Sikh community has played an important role
9in supporting and enriching the social fabric of the State;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi,
12on the first day of the month of Vaisakhi in the Sikh calendar,
13which typically falls on April 14; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Vaisakhi is a special occasion in which Sikhs
15remember the founding in 1699 of the Order of Khalsa, a
16fellowship of devout saint-soldier Sikhs, by the 10th Sikh
17Guru to fight tyranny and oppression, which played an
18important role in shaping the religion's history and identity;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, It is altogether fitting and proper to celebrate

 

 

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1the day of Vaisakhi alongside Sikhs throughout the world and
2to honor the lasting contributions made by the Sikh community
3to the State of Illinois and the United States; therefore, be
4it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of
7April 2023 as "Sikh Heritage Month" in the State of Illinois to
8bring attention to those of the Sikh religion and celebrate
9their contributions to the State of Illinois.