Source: The Post-Standard
http://www.syracuse.com/news/syrnewspapers/index.ssf?/newsstories/20020120_rnsikh.html
On January 20, 2002, The Post-Standard featured the story "Second Fire a Funeral Pyre: Controlled burn of Sikh temple to make way for rebuilding." It quoted Ralph Singh: "'This is a touching day for us,' said the spokesman for Gobind Sadan USA, a religious center for Central New York Sikhs. 'In our culture we cremate, so for us this is a funeral service. ... And out of the ashes, like a phoenix, we will be reborn.'" The article continued, "[Singh] and several other members of the Sikh community thanked the firefighters and handed out refreshments. 'First, we have the funeral, now we have the wake, with coffee and doughnuts,' Singh said."