Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Oct 22: In a historic tribute to Sikh heritage, a street in New York City has been officially renamed Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Marg, commemorating the life and legacy of the ninth Sikh Guru, revered for his unwavering defense of human rights and religious freedom.

The renamed stretch — 114th Street and 101st Avenue in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens — is home to the Gurdwara Makhan Shah Lubana, one of the oldest and most prominent Sikh temples on the U.S. East Coast.

The street naming ceremony took place over the weekend, coinciding with the eve of Deepavali, drawing members of the Sikh community, city officials, and interfaith leaders.

Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri called it a “proud moment for the Sikh Sangat,” describing Guru Tegh Bahadur as “the epitome of religious freedom and protector of human rights.”

Reflecting on his own time in New York as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Puri said the renaming is a meaningful recognition of Sikh contributions to the city’s multicultural fabric.

The initiative was led by New York City Councilwoman Lynn Schulman, who introduced the resolution to rename the street. In her remarks, Schulman said the decision honours the Guru’s “legacy of sacrifice, compassion, and unwavering stand for justice.”

“In a historic first, a NYC street is named after Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Marg,” she posted on X, celebrating the transformation of the Richmond Hill intersection into a permanent tribute.

Sukhjinder Singh Nijjar, a Sikh community leader and former official with the Sikh Cultural Society, welcomed the move as a powerful gesture of appreciation from the local government.

“By following the Guru’s example of service to humanity, Sikhs in New York have long been immersed in community service,” Nijjar told IANS. “This is a recognition of that enduring spirit.”

The Gurdwara Makhan Shah Lubana, central to this moment, was established in 1972 in a converted church building. After a devastating fire in 2002, the temple was rebuilt on a grand scale, emerging as the largest gurdwara in the eastern United States.