Bill Text: TX HR1020 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizing the contributions of Sikhs to Texas and the Baisakhi festival.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-11 - Referred to State Affairs [HR1020 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1020-Introduced.html
| By: Meza | H.R. No. 1020 | |
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| WHEREAS Sikhs have been an influential and impactful part of | ||
| Texas since before the turn of the twentieth century, and have | ||
| persevered and flourished while contributing to the growth and | ||
| success of the Lone Star State, and | ||
| WHEREAS, Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion with nearly 30 | ||
| million adherents worldwide, including nearly one million who make | ||
| their home in the United States and over 50,000 in Texas alone; a | ||
| monotheistic and relatively young faith, it was founded just over | ||
| 500 years ago in the Punjab region of South Asia, and a number of its | ||
| followers immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s and a large | ||
| number sought refuge here to escape violence in the 1980s; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Sikh religion centers around the idea of | ||
| oneness, the concept of divine unity, and the belief that every | ||
| human being is equal in the eyes of God; in demonstrating the core | ||
| values of their faith, Sikhs strive to live their lives with honesty | ||
| and integrity, and to stand up for truth, justice, fairness and | ||
| egalitarianism; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Sikh community regularly engages in Sewa - | ||
| Selfless Service - a uniquely Sikh tradition of community service | ||
| to serve humanity as a way of everyday life; a defining example | ||
| being UNITED SIKHS, a United Nations affiliated Humanitarian Aid & | ||
| Advocacy Organization that has served in over 50 natural and | ||
| man-made disasters globally and in Texas including Hurricanes | ||
| Harvey, Irma, and Katrina; positively impacting both the economic | ||
| condition of the communities in which they reside as well as help | ||
| uplift and empower those same communities which they call home; and | ||
| WHEREAS in April, Sikhs around the world celebrate Baisakhi, | ||
| the day of creation of the Khalsa, in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, | ||
| which cemented the disciplines, traditions, and articles of the | ||
| Sikh faith, and | ||
| WHEREAS, During the observance of Baisakhi, which falls on | ||
| April 14th, 2023, Sikhs visit their place of worship known as a | ||
| Gurdwara, read their eternal scripture - The Guru Granth Sahib, and | ||
| take part in parades and martial arts processions known as Nagar | ||
| Kirtans; moreover, large celebrations take place globally | ||
| including in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, the birthplace of the Khalsa; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Sikh Americans have made a welcome contribution to | ||
| our nation through their many good deeds and achievements, and the | ||
| joyous occasion of Baisakhi provides a fitting opportunity to | ||
| recognize the vibrant Sikh community that resides in the Lone Star | ||
| State; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize the Sikh Baisakhi festival, and extend | ||
| best wishes to the Sikh community across Texas for a joyous | ||
| celebration and meaningful observance of this occasion. | ||
