First in Virginia: 1978
The Sikh Foundation of Virginia was founded in the early to mid-1970s. At that time, there was no Gurdwara in Virginia, and families used to go to either the Gurdwara on Military Road in Washington, DC, or the Guru Nanak Foundation of America, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Once the number of families in Northern Virginia reached a critical mass, about a dozen like-minded Punjabi families came together to explore the idea of building a gurdwara in Northern Virginia to meet the religious, cultural and social needs of their community. The first meeting was held in Fairfax County Library in Fairfax City in 1978. An Ad hoc Committee was formed and tasked with writing the Constitution and Bylaws of a religious non-profit organization, and looking for a property to build the gurdwara.
Inauguration: Baisakhi 1989
Over the next three years, the Committee launched a membership drive, selected and registered the name of the organization as Sikh Foundation of Virginia, and approved its Constitution and Bylaws.
The organization purchased a five acre piece of land in 1981, but design, permits, and fundraising took another 5-6 years. In the meantime, the community started holding kirtan diwan and langar on Sundays at various members’ houses. The groundbreaking for the building was held in 1987, and the present Gurdwara Sahib was inaugurated on Baisakhi day in 1989.
Upgrades accommodate growth
Since then, the Sikh Foundation of Virginia Gurdwara Sahib has been serving the community by holding regular diwans, and catering to various religious, spiritual, and cultural needs of the community. Over time, to keep up with the growth of the congregation and its concomitant demands, the original building has been renovated and upgraded by enlarging stairs, expanding kitchen, adding lobby/ patio/Porch, and building an additional room upstairs for Akhand Paths.
The Sikh Foundation of Virginia Gurdwara Sahib has the distinction of being the oldest Gurdwara established in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Bhai Satpal Singh Ji: Head Granthi
Bhai Satpal Singh Ji has been with SFV since April, 2013. Well qualified in Gurbani and Sikh religious traditions and practices. He is a graduate of Khalsa College Higher Secondary School (Amritsar), as well as of Shaheed Sikh Missionary College Amritsar. He performed Kirtan Seva at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Malwia Nagar) New Delhi, for seven years after, In addition, he has performed Kirtan Sevas at various Gurdwaras in Australia and Canada before joining the Sikh Foundation of Virginia.
Bhai Kulwant Singh Ji: Tabla Player
Bhai Kulwant Singh Ji has been with SFV since April 2023. Well qualified in Gurbani and Sikh religious traditions and practices, he completed his training in Sikh Scriptures and as a Tabla player at “Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendar Mehroli, New Delhi India in April 1994. Prior to SFV, he served as a Tabla Player for Dehli Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Delhi India since June 8, 2013, serving at various local DGPC managed Gurdwaras. He has served at several Gurdwara in Delhi, including, Shahdara Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Gurudwara Singh Sabha Geeta Colony, Gurudwara Hargobind Sahib, Hargobind Enclave, and Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Malviya Nagar.
Bhai Dr. Prabhdeep Singh Ji (SFV Scholar): Chorus Singer
Bhai Prabhdeep Singh Ji has been with SFV since May 2023 and is well qualified in Gurbani, Shabad Kirtan, Katha Vichhar, and Sikh religious traditions and practices. He is well accomplished and holds a B.A. (Music) Vocal and Instrumental from Panjab University Chandigarh, M.A. in Music Instrumental from Panjab University Chandigarh, M.Phil in Music Instrumental from Punjabi University Patiala, and PhD from Punjabi University Patiala.
He has over twelve years of experience performing Kirtan Seva at Gurdwaras in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada. In addition, his experience includes, being a Music teacher for two years at GHG Public Senior Sec School (Ludhiana), an assistant professor in Department of Music at Government College Ropar, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Sultanpur Lodhi, and at Sri Guru Angad Dev College Khadur Sahib, TarnTaran. And, most recently he also served as Publication Incharge at Sunny Oberoi Vivek Sadan.
He is also a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including, an appreciation letter from a Member of Parliament in Brampton (Canada), recognition in an International Sitar Festival conducted by Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary (Aug 2020), received Kala Ratan National Award in 2020 by the Agnipath Society, New Delhi, participated in the Brahm Naad at Noida (cited in the Guinness Book of Worlds Record), and many more.
Sikh Foundation of Virginia's current version of the Constitution and Bylaws are dated March 16, 2025. A signed copy is available below for downloaded.
Click HERE for a PDF copy of the SFV Constitution & Bylaws.