Faith played a central role in sustaining early Punjabi pioneers through decades of hardship and discrimination. The establishment of religious institutions provided not just spiritual solace but also served as vital community centers for social, cultural, and political activities.

The first gurdwara (Sikh temple) in America was established in Stockton, California, in 1912, followed by others in El Centro, Yuba City, and other agricultural centers. These gurdwaras became more than places of worship—they were community halls where pioneers gathered to celebrate festivals, discuss community issues, and maintain connections to their homeland.

For the predominantly Sikh community, the gurdwara provided a space to practice their faith freely, maintaining traditions of communal dining (langar), scripture reading, and celebration of important festivals like Vaisakhi and Guru Nanak's birthday. The gurdwaras also served practical functions, offering temporary housing for new arrivals and workers traveling between farms.

The small Muslim minority among Punjabi pioneers established their own prayer spaces and maintained Islamic practices despite the absence of formal mosques. Hindu pioneers, though fewer in number, also created informal worship spaces and maintained their religious traditions.

These religious institutions played crucial roles in preserving Punjabi language, music, and cultural practices for the second generation. They also served as platforms for political activism, hosting meetings about Indian independence and civil rights in America. Today, these early religious institutions stand as monuments to the faith and resilience of the pioneer generation.