The Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area
About twenty five miles north of San Francisco, El Sobrante Gurdwara Shaib is located at the hilltop of the El Sobrante Valley hills. It is serving the Sikh community in the Bay Area and given the name Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area.
The Sikh Center of the San Francisco Bay Area was officially established on December 31, 1968, after a series of informal gatherings that began with the inaugural meeting at 1436 Henry Street in Berkeley. The meeting was attended by prominent individuals such as Narinder Kapany, Janmeja Singh, Jaspal Rao, JP Singh, and Gurpreet Jalewalia. These founding members came together with a shared vision to create a place of worship and community for Sikhs in the Bay Area. The El Sobrante land was purchased in 1973, followed by the construction of parking lots and roads in 1976. The first phase of the building was completed in either 1980.1
Previously local Sikhs usually carried out the religious ceremonies in their homes; however, as more and more Sikhs immigrated to the Bay Area, Sikh community decided that a Sikh Temple was necessary to serve local Sikhs in terms of carrying out general ceremonies such as weddings and Akhand Path ceremonies, etc.Situated at the hilltop, its architecture and uniqueness attracts many people to come and see the site. At the northeast wing of Second floor, a huge deck offers a breath taking view of the El Sobrante valley and San Pablo Bay.
Refrences
1. Singh, JP. (2024, September 22). Dr. JP Singh shared valuable historical insights regarding the conception of the Gurdwara in El Sobrante, CA by the early Sikh pioneers of the Bay Area Sikh Sangat. El Sobrante; California.
