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SIKHISM
The Sikhs in India number 18 million and predominate in the Punjab, althoughihey are found all over India. They are the most visible of the Indian religious groups because of the five symbols introduced by Guru Gobind Singh to help Sikh men easily recognize each other. They are known as the five kakkars and are: kesh - uncut hair (symbol of saintliness); kangha - the wooden or ivory comb (symbol of cleanliness): kuccha - shorts (symbol of alertness); kara - the steel bracelet (symbol of determination) and kirpan- the sword (for the defence of the weak). Because of their kesh, Sikh men wear their hair tied up in a bun and hidden by a turban. Wearing kuccha and carrying a kirpan came about because of the Sikhs' military tradition - they didn't want to be tripping over a long dhoti or be caught without a weapon. Normally the sword is simply represented by a tiny image set in the comb. The steel bracelet has a useful secondary function as a bottle opener. With his beard, turban and upright, military bearing, the 'noble' Sikh is hard to miss!
The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469. It was originally intended to bring together the best of the Hindu and Islamic religions. Its basic tenets are similar to those of Hinduism, with the important modification that the Sikhs are opposed to caste distinctions and pilgrimages to rivers. They are not, however, opposed to pilgrimages to holy sites.
They worship at temples known as gurdwaras, baptise their children (when they are old enough to understand the religion) in a ceremony known as pahul and cremate their dead. The holy book of the Sikhs is the Granlh Sahib, which contains the works of the 10 Sikh gurus together with Hindu and Muslim writings. The last guru died in 1708.
In the 16th century, Guru Gobind Singh introduced military overtones into the religion in an attempt to halt the persecution the Sikhs were then suffering. A brotherhood, known as the Khalsa, was formed, and entry into it was conditional on a person undergoing baptism (amrit). From that time the majority of Sikhs have borne the surname Singh which means Lion (although just because a person has the surname Singh doesn't mean they are necessarily a Sikh; many Rajputs also have this surname). Sikhs believe in one god and are opposed to idol worship. They practice tolerance and love of others, and their belief in hospitality extends to offering shelter to anyone who comes to their gurdwaras. Because of their get-on-with-it attitude to life they are one of the more affluent groups in Indian society. They have a well-known reputation for mechanical aptitude and specialize in handling machinery of every type, from jumbo jets to rickshaws. Off-limits to foreign visitors for many years, owing to the terrorist activities of extremist groups, the Punjab region of India is now peaceful once more. Sikh Festivals Balsakhi This festival commemorates the day on which Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. The Granlh Sahib is read in its entirety at gurdwaras, and is then carried in a procession. Feasting and dancing follow in the evening. The festival is held in April/May.
Nanak Jayanti The birthday of Guru Nanak is celebrated with prayer readings and processions, particularly in Amritsar and Patna (April/May).
