Indianapolis Sikh community opens new gurdwara amid Khalistan referendum drive
Indianapolis's Sikh community has been in the spotlight twice in 2026: first when the oldest and largest Sikh congregation in Indiana unveiled a new gurdwara in April, and again in August when community members organized a car rally and an unofficial Khalistan referendum calling for an independent Sikh homeland. Together, these events illustrate both the institutional growth of Indianapolis's South Asian diaspora and its deep engagement with political questions that span continents. The city's Punjabi and Sikh residents are increasingly visible — in civic space, in places of worship, and in transnational political campaigns.
🪔 Gurdwara 74 Sikh Satsang opens as Indiana's Sikh community expands
The oldest and largest Sikh congregation in Indiana, Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis, opened its newest place of worship — Gurdwara 74 Sikh Satsang — on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Indianapolis. The opening ceremony marked a milestone for a congregation that has long served as the anchor of Sikhism in the state. Congregants arrived in traditional Sikh attire to participate in the dedication; among those photographed at the event was Jaswinder Singh, seen in ceremonial dress. A Sikh elder performed the Chaur Sahib ceremony at the opening, waving the traditional chauri fan over the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture that serves as the centerpiece of every gurdwara. The establishment of a new gurdwara — a Sikh house of prayer, community service, and education — signals the continued growth of Indianapolis's Punjabi and broader South Asian diaspora. Gurdwara 74 expands the congregation's footprint and its capacity to host kirtan, prayer services, and the communal langar meal central to Sikh tradition and outreach. The opening drew broader attention as evidence that Sikh community institutions in the Midwest are maturing well beyond the coastal cities where South Asian immigrants first settled in large numbers. [4]
🗳️ Khalistan referendum comes to Indianapolis with car rally and citywide billboards
Sikhs living in the Indianapolis area organized an unofficial referendum in August 2026, inviting community members to vote in support of Khalistan — a proposed independent Sikh homeland to be carved from the Punjab region of India, where supporters say Sikhs could live free from persecution. The vote is part of a broader diaspora-driven campaign by pro-Khalistan organizations active across North America and Europe. Indianapolis residents first became aware of the campaign on August 1, when a convoy of cars waving yellow flags — the signature color of the Khalistan movement — drove along the city's highways, drawing wide public attention. Alongside the car rally, billboards advertising the referendum appeared across Indianapolis in the period surrounding the vote. The Khalistan movement draws on the Sikh community's historical experiences of violence in India and remains a deeply divisive and internationally contested political issue that has strained diplomatic relations between India and Western governments. The Indianapolis vote was non-binding and unofficial, carrying no legal weight but representing a visible expression of political sentiment among diaspora Sikhs. The city's participation placed Indianapolis among North American cities where the global Khalistan referendum movement has taken hold. [1]