Casteless utopia: California religious group backs bill to ban caste discrimination
Associated Press
1 / 18
***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Kawen Bangar is shown talking to friends after the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Navjot Singh and Harman Kaur during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Amar Kaur and grandson Ibadat Singh listen during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Priest (Bhai) Ram Singh is shown performing rituals by the Holy Book during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Priest (Bhai) Ram Singh is shown performing rituals during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Gurbachan Singh shown during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Kawen Bangar is shown talking to friends after the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** From left to right, Surinder Kaur Bangar and Satish Kaur Bangar are shown making flat bread, an important part of the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Mixed vegetables boil, as food is an important part of the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Paramjit Kaur mixes a vegetable boil, as food is an important part of the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Shoes are removed by the faithful as Sukhmani Bhatia looks on during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Ram Asra sings to the faithful during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Priest (Bhai) Ram Singh hands out sweet treats to the faithful during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Priest (Bhai) Ram Singh is shown performing rituals during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Mohinder Singh listens to a sermon and is shown at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Manjinder Kaur prays to the Holy Book shown during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** From left to right, Baljinder Kaur, Renu Bhatti, Malkit Kaur and Amarjit Kaur listens to the priest during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)Renu Bhatti tends to her daughter Naina, who was feeling ill, after a meal during the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
***HOLD FOR RELIGION TEAM STORY*** Kawen Bangar is shown talking to friends after the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ceremony at a temple in Fresno, Calif. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Members of the Ravidassia community in California are followers of Guru Ravidass, a 14th century Indian guru of a caste formerly considered untouchable. The Ravidassia community statewide is advocating for new legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)
