On February 7, 2002, Hauppauge High School hosted the Multifaith Forum to help increase awareness about the world religions.  We represented Sikhism on this day amongst other religions such as Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Universalism and Brahma Kumaris. We took an active role behind and in front of our booth to recruit the incoming groups of students to give an educational insight to our religion and to expose them to various outward symbols of Sikhism and to the most glaring of them all, Kes. 

Excitement built instantaneously when Sikh teenage volunteers began to tie turbans on the faculty and the student body.  The interest and enthusiasm of both the volunteers as well as those having themselves adorned with the Pagris was apparent by the queues of people waiting to undergo the unmatchable experience.

As our booth looked very attractive with the various articles, photographs, books, scriptures and linguistic materials present on the tables and hung on the walls, it drew the attention of many students.  They stood reading through our scriptures, flipping through photographs of the holy Harimandir Sahib, touching and feeling some symbols as Kara, Kanga and Kirpan and asking numerous questions about the origin of the religion, the reasons for maintenance of Kes and the meaning of Mool Mantra.  We engaged ourselves in mini discourses with individuals and groups of curious students and uncovered some truths, while clarifying many misconceptions about our religion. 

I came to a realization that the future of our religion is at stake and it is imperative that the youth and adults take an active role in promulgating the existence of Sikh religion amongst their peers and other friends.  This can be achieved by organizing and participating in similar events or undertaking other tasks in the broader American community.

Source: Raj Singh

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