Mini Punjab in USA

Mini Punjab in USA

Mini Punjab in USA

Compiled  by

P.R.Ramachander

   Many of   you would  be as surprised  as me to know   that  the earliest  Indians  to settle  down in USA  were  Sikhs . They were  brought as agricultural labourers  in USA,The place  they settled down  is Sutter  country of Yuba   city of California   which is  near  San Francisco. There   was  a time  when most of them were  sent back but as of now  10% of the population  of that place   are Sikhs . In Yuba-Sutter County, Punjabi farmers grow about 95% of the peach crop, 60% of prunes and 20% almonds & walnuts.

“Yuba City is literally a mini Punjab in the USA with three Gurdwaras and a temple. “Sat Sri Akal” is the preferred form of greeting; speaking in Punjabi is not considered “foreign” and Punjabi is officially taught in public schools. A radio program in Punjabi is regularly on the air. The Punjabi American Festival (Baisakhi) is organized every year in May by the Punjabi American Heritage Society which was founded by Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang in 1993 to help the younger generation get connected to their roots. The annual event features some internationally acclaimed artists and hundreds of local artists, including students from California schools, colleges and universities, who perform traditional Punjabi dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, and other ethnic dances. The ticketed event attracts over 12,000 people and is aimed at promoting a better understanding of the Punjabi community, its culture, and the many contributions they make to the region. Many business owners rent display booths to put themselves in front of the prospective customers.” ( from  http://www.indiaempire.com/article/331/yuba_citythe_mini_punjab_in_usa  )