Student Affairs
Every Friday evening, as the sun set below the horizon, my family would come together to embrace the Sabbath. This wasn’t just a change in time; it was a shift in perspective—a pause from the hustle and bustle of daily life to immerse ourselves in worship. The harmonious sound of hymns filled our home with …
Walking with pride means something unique for every single individual. I walk with pride while wearing a Sikh turban commonly referred to as a Pagri, a piece of cloth dating back centuries, representing sacrifice and honor. My decision to wear my turban every day reflects my identity but is also a tribute to my ancestors …
I first remember learning the story of Jonah and the Whale in Sunday school. Jonah’s actions were taught as a lesson in why we ought to follow God’s command. Past that point, I put it out of my mind, until I recently discovered The Mountain Goats’s song “Mobile.” “Mobile” has generated, for me, a new …
In the Sikh faith, it is customary to keep one’s head covered out of respect for the spirituality of our unshorn hair, one of the five articles of faith that Sikhs must maintain. Young boys tend to tie a patka while adolescents and older men wear a pagh or dastaar, which is often referred to …
A year ago today, if you wanted to find a room to pray, reflect, or meditate on campus, you may have consulted the campus map of prayer and reflection spaces. Unfortunately, due to the constant evolution of campus buildings, the map included rooms that no longer existed, listed incorrect open hours for some spaces, and …
Join us on Tuesday, October 22nd from 6pm-7:15pm at the Disability Cultural Center, located at 702 W. Johnson St., for a Story Share on Disability and Faith. Read testimonials from Disabled Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu activists, and talk through ways to increase accessibility and inclusion in religious spaces and at UW! Email …
The idea of thresholds as pivotal moments in life has long piqued my interest in regards to the study of theology and its associated components. Thresholds hold the opportunity to see what awaits in the future, what is experienced in the present, and what has occurred in the past. Religion, in itself, is a complex …
My childhood was to my life as water is to a plant; every aspect of the bolstering that I received was associated with my upbringing. Peaceful was the smell of cardamom and red chili powder that would ubiquitously waft through the air of our immigrant household. Calming was the pensive silence that would comfort my …
Sunday mornings were always the same in China: people filled silently into a room, locked doors behind them, and some were patrolling the hallway. Occasionally, there would be a police raid, and people would be taken away. I watched people fight for a belief that could ruin their reputation, their family, and their future. Why …
Each year, millions of pilgrims flock to the world’s largest public gathering in Karbala, Iraq – the Arbaeen walk. Traveling entirely by foot, the 80 kilometer trek takes almost three days and commemorates 40 days (Arbaeen) after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.), a 7th century social justice leader who sacrificed his life in the …