UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures

Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab traces the origins of the religion to the works of Guru Nanak and his nine successor Gurus. As the exhibit progresses through history, it follows the geopolitical environment of the Punjab region and how neighboring Hindus and Islamic Mughals impacted the Sikhs. Because of the religion’s geographic origins and Sikhism’s tolerance of other religions, Sikh philosophies include teachings attributable to Hindu and Islam.

In Texas, Sikhs worked on the railroad and many began building new lives in El Paso, integrating with the local population. In San Antonio, today’s Sikh community comprises some 300 families and will open its second temple in 2015. The Sikh community has often participated in the museum’s Asian Festival and Texas Folklife Festival, assisting friends from Indian and Pakistani organizations, until entering on their own in 2012. The community staffs informational tables and fields a dance team for festival performances.