Help Us build a work of Sikh art…
Shaheed (ਸ਼ਹੀਦ) Fountain
A sculptural work of art celebrating sacrifice and tolerance
We are building an eye catching fountain to spread awareness of Sikhism, a 500 year old religion from India that believes in tolerance, respect for all religions, and service to community.
Please help us finish construction on this unique fountain by donating here. (Donations are tax deductible.)
This is a digital rendering of the Sikh Fountain. The top part of the fountain is made from stainless steel. Thanks to donations from generous supporters, the top part has already been constructed (see update below). Now we are collecting funds to build the base of the fountain, and to install the completed structure at the SNC Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) in Houston, Texas, USA. The finished fountain will be located in the courtyard. It will be visible through large windows from both levels of the temple. The fountain will be 24 feet high, and 36 feet in diameter. (Details may change as construction proceeds).
Each element of this unique fountain is steeped in meaning. Please read more about the fountain, and its meaning here.
UPDATE:
April 2024
We are thrilled to inform our sangat (community) that, thanks to your help, the construction of the upper part of the Shaheed Fountain (steel structure) has been completed.
The fountain was shipped from the manufacturing site in China and was received at the SNC where the parts are currently being stored.
Now we are raising funds for the installation of the fountain, and to build the water base that will be constructed to go under and the fountain. Please help us finish this exciting project and be a part of this endeavor by donating generously.
MATCHING DONATIONS!
An anonymous donor has graciously agreed to match 100% any donations made during the Baisakhi month of April 2024. Please use the button below to go to our donation page and make your donation today.
Thank you for your support!
Our Goal: Making the public aware of SIKHISM
Sikhs wear turbans and have beards, and are therefore constantly mistaken for fundamentalist groups like Al Qaeda, Taliban and ISIS, whose beliefs are diametrically opposed to the the tenets of Sikhism. As a result of this mistaken identity, based just on their appearance, Sikhs have suffered some of the highest rates of hate crimes in the US.
Balbir Singh Sodhi, a kind hearted Sikh man, was gunned down after 9/11 solely due to his turban (photo courtesy of the Sodhi Family).
Following the fateful events of 9/11, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man peacefully planting flowers was shot dead after being mistaken for Taliban. In the first 30 days after 9/11 over 300 accounts of violence and discrimination against Sikh Americans were recorded by the Sikh Coalition.
Sadly, twenty years hence, many more fatalities and hate crimes continue to this day. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, yet the general public continues to be unaware of who the Sikhs are and what they believe in.
A group of civic minded Sikhs in the Houston area have decided to change this.
Working through a non-profit charity called the Sikh National Center, they are building a fountain so unique that it will capture the imagination of the public and press alike. It is their hope that the curiosity and press generated by this one-of-a-kind fountain will help them spread awareness of Sikhism, and reduce the number of hate crimes taking place against the Sikh community every year.
Please help us make this fountain a reality by contributing what your heart tells you.
