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Houston, Texas - On Sunday, March 30th 2008, the Sikh Center of Gulf Coast Area, Inc. 8819 Prairie Drive, Houston was one of the major venues of a special Field Trip Organized by the “Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston.” About 53 members participated. The uniqueness of this interfaith gathering was that the visiting members of various Faiths visited The Sikh Center, to see the actual functioning of the congregational meeting .
Interfaith Ministries have been very actively organizing interfaith activities such as Seminars, Panel Discussions and such Field trips to give feel of the real ceremonies of various Faiths. The credit goes to Ms. Lauren Salisbury, Amazing Faiths Project Coordinator for arranging this trip. Interfaith Ministries is doing such marvelous activities to promote mutual understanding, for over a decade.
The Sikh Center of Gulf Coast Area is the major Sikh Institution in the Southern USA, established in 1972. Its first inaugural function in 1973 was hailed by National TV as, ”A Religion of Love that has expanded the religious horizon of Houston beyond Judo-Christianity.”
After, welcome by Mrs. Inderjit Kaur, a brief demonstrative religious ceremony, that included singing of the hymns (Mool Mantra) by Jasmeeta Singh, there was a question and answer session. Mrs. Rupinder Kaur Kindra , Mrs. Joginder Kaur Manchanda, Gurugyan Kaur Khalsa and Mrs. Kiran Kaur fielded variety of questions ranging from : Primary Belief, Holy Land, Holy Text, to whom the prayers are offered, Religious Prophet(s), Gods, Religious Holidays, Congregational activities, sizes, services, formats and organizational structures with special emphasis on “Passing on the Traditions”, values of tolerance and personal practices.
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