Bradford is to remember 50 years since the establishment of its first Sikh temple with a lecture later this month.
The temple, which no longer exists, was established in 1965 by a small group of Sikhs in a former carpet warehouse on Garnett Street.
There are now seven Sikh temples (gurdwaras) in the Bradford district.
To mark the golden jubilee, Dr Ramindar Singh MBE will chart the history of the Sikh community in Bradford over the past 50 years.
Dr Singh, who was the first elected secretary for Bradford’s first Sikh temple, said: “Sikhs in Bradford used to go Leeds to do their prayers.
“But because most of them were working night-shifts or weekends doing overtime, they felt it was extremely inconvenient for them. So some of those who were involved in setting up the Leeds gurdwara decided to set one up in Bradford.
“It brought the Sikh community together and it was the first community institution for the Sikh community of Bradford.”
Dr Singh will also take a close look at the growth and development of Sikh temples and other organisations, the processes of integration as well as the contributions made by Sikhs in general and civic life.
He holds an MA from the Punjab University and an MSc in economics from Bradford University.
He was also Head of Contemporary Studies at Bradford College for many years, was awarded an MBE for his services to community relations and has authored several books.
The lecture will be held at the Bradford Local Studies Library on 21 January and will start at 2.15pm. It is a free event and light refreshments will be served after the lecture.
The photograph used above was taken by our photographer/reporter last year. It is available to view and buy here.