Some background
Founded by Guru Nanak about five centuries ago in India, Sikhism is now one of the world's largest religions. Nanak believed in the equality of the sexes, preached against the caste system and urged followers to pursue truth in the name of God.
Riverside is home to about 85 separate religious sites, including a Buddhist Temple, and a handful of them are located near the Sikh Society.
RIVERSIDE — Good things come to those who wait.
Members of the Sikh Society of Dayton understand this as well as anybody because after years of searching, they have finally found a new home in Riverside that far exceeded their expectations.
“My opinion is this was earmarked for us by God many years ago,” said Darshan Sehbi, a member of the congregation.
The Sikh Society of Dayton last year looked at purchasing a warehouse property in Huber Heights, but the deal never materialized because the city’s planning commission denied a rezoning request. City officials said a place of worship was not the right fit for the industrial property.
The Huber Heights building had a $470,000 price tag and would have required extensive remodeling and renovations, members said.
Sikh members continued their search and found a cheaper and more suitable building — an old church — at 2320 Harshman Road.
The church cost $350,000 to purchase, and so far the society has spent about $100,000 for improvements, including new flooring, paint and carpeting Sehbi said.
The society paid for the property in cash, which it collected through various fundraisers and donations.
The society was founded 26 years ago and Sunday worship services were hosted in an old office building the group purchased at 1038 Forest Drive in Beavercreek.
Through the years, the congregation has continued to grow, and the Beavercreek Gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship) could no longer accommodate the roughly 150 families who are now members.
In addition to being much larger, the Riverside building stands in a central location, convenient to many families who live in Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Miamisburg, Kettering, Troy and Vandalia, Sehbi said.
The first service in the society’s new home took place in mid-January, and featured an Akhand Path, which is a nonstop 48-hour prayer recital of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Scripture) that was performed by more than 30 members of congregation who took turns reading from the 1,430-page holy scripture.
Worship services are on Sundays; and the new facility features a prayer hall, classroom and Langar hall, which is a free community kitchen.
An important tenet of the Sikh faith is Sewa, which is selfless service and includes volunteering with the Gurdwara. A Gurdwara is not just a place of worship — it is also a venue for starting and operating charitable activities.
The Sikh Society plans to create behind its main building a sports facilities, a library and Sikh Education and Resource Center.
The Sikh Society will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m.March 26 and the public is welcome to attend.
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