Hollywood Sikh Temple

Last updated
Hollywood Sikh Temple
U.S. - Los Angeles Metropolitan Area location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area
General information
Location Los Angeles, California
Address1966 N Vermont Avenue and 4624-4636 W. Finley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Coordinates 34°06′29″N118°17′31″W / 34.108°N 118.292°W / 34.108; -118.292
GroundbreakingFirst in 1913, Second in 1994
OpenedFirst in 1969, Second in 1996
Renovated1938, 1969, 2016-2019
DemolishedFirst in 1986
OwnerSikh Study Circle, Inc
Design and construction
Architect(s)M. Sudhakar
Website
hollywoodsikhtemple.org
DesignatedAugust 9, 2023
Reference no.1292 [1]

Hollywood Sikh Temple, also known as Hollywood Sikh Gurdwara and Vermont Gurdwara, is a Sikh temple located at 1966 N Vermont Avenue and 4624-4636 W. Finley Avenue in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally opened in an existing structure in 1969, the current temple was built in 1996 and declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2023. [2]

Contents

History

The first Hollywood Sikh Temple, founded by Dr. Amarjit Marwah, [3] opened in 1969, making it the first Sikh temple to emerge in the United States following India's independence from British rule. Its dedication coincided with the 500th anniversary of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak. [2] [4] It was located in a 1913 single-family residence that was altered in 1938 to become a hotel and restaurant, [5] on the corner of Vermont and Finley Avenue, an intersection that in 2019 was named Dr. Amarjit Marwah Square in honor of the temple founder. [6]

By the mid-1980s, between 200-300 Sikhs attended Sunday services at the temple, and in 1986, the temple was demolished to make way for a larger one. [5]

The new, larger temple opened in 1996, [2] [3] with its dedication ceremony presided over by "the supreme and highest spiritual and temporal authority of the Sikh religion visiting from India.” This temple underwent an extensive remodel between 2016 and 2019, and in 2023, it was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, as it was deemed to exemplify "significant contributions to the broad cultural, economic or social history of the nation, state, city or community for its association with the social and cultural development of the Sikh community in Los Angeles." [5]

Architecture and design

The current building is square is design and made of concrete with stucco cladding. Fenestration consists of rectangular and arched sash windows. The building faces Finley Avenue, with a recessed entrance that features wood-panel doors and marble-clad steps. The Vermont Avenue facade is equally ornate, with an arcade that features arches and awnings. Both facades feature second story bays with khandas and gold lettering that explain the history of the building. The final two facades face neighboring properties and are more utilitarian in their design. The roof is flat and features 23 gold-painted, varying-sized onion domes, most of which are at the four corners of the building. [5]

The first floor interior consists of an ornate entrance hall and main hall, as well as a shoe room, langar hall, kitchen, and various other rooms more functional in their design. The entrance hall is circular and features paintings, display cases, and a large chandelier, while the main hall features double-high ceilings, multiple chandeliers, circular platforms and an elevate throne, and a mural of Amritsar's Golden Temple. The second floor features a room to for the Guru Granth Sahib that features a chandelier, a throne with a canopy, and decorative wallpaper, as well as a library and sleeping quarters. Throughout the building, the ceiling is made of plaster and the floors are either tile, marble, or carpet. Integrity of the building, both interior and exterior, is high. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara</span> Place of worship in Sikhism

A gurdwara or gurudwara is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs but its normal meaning is place of guru or "Home of guru". Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as Gurdwara Sahib. People from all faiths and religions are welcomed in gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takht in a prominent central position. Any congregant may recite, sing, and explain the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the rest of the congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lahore Fort</span> Citadel in Lahore, Pakistan

The Lahore Fort is a citadel in the city of Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. The fortress is located at the northern end of the Walled City of Lahore and spreads over an area greater than 20 hectares. It contains 21 notable monuments, some of which date to the era of Emperor Akbar. The Lahore Fort is notable for having been almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century, when the Mughal Empire was at the height of its splendor and opulence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple</span> Gurdwara in Hong Kong, China

Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple, originally known as Sri Guru Singh Sabha, is a Gurdwara in the Wan Chai District of Hong Kong, on the junction of Queen's Road East and Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island. It was re-opened on 8 September 2022 by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, after a 5 year renovation project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Capitan Theatre</span> Cinema in Hollywood

El Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States. The theater and adjacent Hollywood Masonic Temple are owned by The Walt Disney Company and serve as the venue for a majority of the Walt Disney Studios' film premieres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Cultural Center</span> Landmark building in Chicago, United States

The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago Landmark building operated by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Cultural Center houses the city's official reception venue, where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed presidents, royalty, diplomats, and community leaders. It is located in the Loop, across Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapurthala</span> City in Punjab, India

Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture self-narrate its princely past. It is also known as city of Palaces & Gardens. According to the 2011 census, Kapurthala is the least populated city in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatehgarh Sahib</span> City in Punjab, India

Fatehgarh Sahib is a city and a sacred pilgrimage site of Sikhism in the north west Indian state of Punjab. It is the headquarters of Fatehgarh Sahib district, located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Sirhind. Fatehgarh Sahib is named after Fateh Singh, the 7-year-old son of Guru Gobind Singh, who was seized and buried alive, along with his 9-year-old brother Zoravar Singh, by the Mughals under the orders of governor Wazir Khan during the ongoing Mughal-Sikh wars of the early 18th century. The town experienced major historical events after the martyrdom of the sons in 1705, with frequent changes of control between the Sikhs and Mughals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh architecture</span> Style of architecture

Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Keshgarh Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib are prime examples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garfield Building (Los Angeles)</span> United States historic place

The Garfield Building is a thirteen-story Art Deco style historic structure in Los Angeles, California. Designed by American architect Claud Beelman, construction lasted from 1928 to 1930. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattles Mansion</span> Historic house and park in Hollywood, Los Angeles

The Wattles Mansion, formally known as Jualita, is a former estate in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. The mansion is a Mission Revival style mansion built in the estate in 1907 for wealthy Omaha banker Gurdon Wattles as his winter home; the estate contains a complex of gardens. It was sold to the city in 1968 and became the Wattles Garden Park, operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks. The mansion and gardens were designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Park Masonic Temple</span> United States historic place

The Highland Park Masonic Temple, also known as The Mason Building or The Highlands, is a historic three-story brick building on Figueroa Street in the Highland Park district of northeast Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villa Bonita</span> United States historic place

Villa Bonita is an historic apartment building on Hillcrest Road in Hollywood, California. The building is located a short walk from the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, just north of Franklin Avenue and west of Highland. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 based on its architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security Trust and Savings</span> Building in Los Angeles, California

Security Trust and Savings, also known as Security Trust, Security Pacific Bank, Security Bank Building, and Cahuenga Building, is a historic seven-story office building on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It is notable for its architecture, its history with Hollywood, and its association with fictional detective Phillip Marlowe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Bihar</span>

The state of Bihar in eastern India, is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world with a history going back 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from the innumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over the state. Bihar is home to many tourist attractions and is visited by large numbers of tourists from all over the world. Around total 6 million tourists visit Bihar every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Karnataka</span>

The antiquity of architecture of Karnataka can be traced to its southern Neolithic and early Iron Age, Having witnessed the architectural ideological and utilitarian transformation from shelter- ritual- religion. Here the nomenclature 'Architecture' is as old as c.2000 B.C.E. The upper or late Neolithic people in order to make their shelters by their own they constructed huts made of wattle and doab, that were buttressed by stone boulders, presumably having conical roof resting on the bamboo or wooden posts into red murram or paved granite chips as revealed in archaeological excavations in sites like Brhamagiri, Sanganakallu, Tekkalakota, Piklihal. Megaliths are the dominant archaeological evidence of the early Iron Age. There are more than 2000 early Iron Age burial sites on record, who laid the foundation for a high non-perishable architecture in the form of various distinct architectural styles of stone-built burials, which are ritualistic in its character. The active religious architecture is evident 345 with that of the Kadamba Dynasty. Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India originally known as the State of Mysore. Over the centuries, architectural monuments within the region displayed a diversity of influences, often relaying much about the artistic trends of the rulers of twelve different dynasties. Its architecture ranges dramatically from majestic monolith, such as the Gomateshwara, to Hindu and Jain places of worship, ruins of ancient cities, mausoleums and palaces of different architectural hue. Mysore Kingdom (Wodeyar) rule has also given an architectural master structure in the St. Philomena's Church at Mysore which was completed in 1956, in addition to many Dravidian style architectural temples. Two of the monuments are listed under the UNESCO World Heritage List of 22 cultural monuments in India. Styles of Indo-Saracenic, Renaissance, Corinthian, Hindu, Indo-Greek and Indo-British style palaces were built in Mysore, the city of palaces. Sikh architecture at Bidar (1512) and also in Bangalore in 1956 can also be cited as having an impact on the architectural composition of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Temple</span> Sikh religious site in Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Golden Temple (also known as the Harmandir Sahib, or the Darbār Sahib, is a gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the pre-eminent spiritual site of Sikhism. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Kartarpur, and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Savings Bank Building</span> Historic commercial building in Manhattan, New York

The New York Savings Bank Building is a former bank building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Constructed for the defunct New York Savings Bank from 1896 to 1898, it occupies an L-shaped site on 81 Eighth Avenue, at the northwestern corner with 14th Street. The New York Savings Bank Building was designed by Robert Henderson Robertson, with later additions by George H. Provot and Halsey, McCormack & Helmer. The building's facade and interior are New York City designated landmarks, and the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guru Nanak Darbar, Dubai</span>

The Guru Nanak Darbar is a Sikh gurdwara at Jebel Ali Village in Dubai, founded in 2012 to serve over 50,000 Sikh residents in the emirate. The community-run gurdwara is the first official Sikh gurudwara in the GCC region and the Middle East, and it was established by Surender Singh Kandhari, a resident of Dubai since 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Factor Salon</span> Historic building in Hollywood, California, U.S.

The Max Factor Salon, formerly the Hollywood Fire Safe Building and also known as the Max Factor Building, is a historic four-story building located at 1666 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, California, just south of Hollywood Boulevard. It is best known for its more than five decade tenant Max Factor, and is currently home to the Hollywood Museum and Mel's Drive-In.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Hollywood Masonic Temple</span> Historic building in North Hollywood, California

North Hollywood Masonic Temple, also known as North Hollywood Masonic Lodge, is a historic former masonic temple located at 5122 Tujunga Avenue in the NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood, California. It was declared Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument #1078 in 2015.

References

  1. "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles . Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hollywood Gurdwara Designated As Historic-Cultural Monument". India West Journal. August 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "A Visit to the Hollywood Sikh Temple". Hinduism Today. February 3, 2024.
  4. Robert Fulton (April 7, 2023). "Sikh Temple nominated as landmark". The Eastsider.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hollywood Sikh Temple" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. June 21, 2023.
  6. "Los Angeles Names Public Square in Hollywood for Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah". University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry. February 3, 2019.