DOCSLIB.ORG

Sikh Identity and Appearance

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sikh Identity and Appearance SIKH IDENTITY AND APPEARANCE Sikh Identity and Appearance General Advice and Good Practice Any school with Sikh children will be immediately aware of the importance of dress and appearance to their religious and cultural identity. This may have implications in relation to the school’s policies on uniform and jewellery as well as health and safety matters. The School should demonstrate a sympathetic understanding on these matters as all schools have as one of their principles respect for the family backgrounds from which their children come. Undoubtedly the Sikh community will appreciate and value such an approach. Therefore this document offers information about the fundamentals of Sikh identity and appearance known as the Five K’s. It is important for all staff to know about this and to recognise that a baptised Sikh promises never to remove these distinguishing features from their body following initiation. ♦ The most distinctive feature of a member of the Sikh faith is wearing the Turban. Its function is to cover the uncut hair (Kesh) gathered on top of the head. The Turban is not itself one of the Five Ks. Yet it is considered so sacred that to abuse it is to challenge a Sikh's right to life. The right to wear the turban (pag or pagri ) has often been fiercely fought for by Sikhs. It is unacceptable to replace it with a school cap for example. If an incident happened in school where a Sikh child's turban was interfered with the school should immediately inform the parents. Other pupils must therefore be encouraged to give the fullest respect to Sikh pupils on this matter of critical importance to them. Even younger Sikh children may wear a piece of material over their topknot which commands the same respect as would a full turban. The Five K’s comprise: Kesh (uncut hair ) represents devotion to God in that it demonstrates an unwillingness to alter what God has given ; Kangha (wooden comb ) worn in the hair represents a disciplined way of life; Kirpan (sword ) represents the obligation to fight for truth and justice; Kachhera (undershorts) represent desire to live a chaste, modest life; Kara (steel wrist bracelet) represent strength of Sikh community. ♦ Kara (steel wrist bracelet). If a school is concerned about the health and safety implications of a kara being worn - during sporting activities, for example - it might consider the following: • requesting that a smaller kara be worn; • requesting that the kara is moved up the arm and protected in some way (by covering it with a tennis sweat-band or a bandage, for instance). Even though some Sikhs will be seen to take off their own kara on occasions, schools should not themselves insist on the outright removal of a kara. 11 ♦ Kirpan (sword). Sikhs are aware of the concern that non-Sikhs might have about pupils wearing a 'weapon' and would wish to point out that it is only older students who have been fully initiated who would be entitled to wear the kirpan and that the wearing of a kirpan is within the law because it is worn for religious reasons. Furthermore safeguards are always taken by the use of a retaining strap preventing the kirpan being easily withdrawn from its scabbard. It is the view of Avon & Somerset Constabulary that schools need not be over-anxious about this issue as they have never known of any incident arising within our area. Sikh clothing and modesty Both sexes must be modest in their dress and appearance. For this reason, some Sikh families would prefer their daughters to wear trousers rather than a skirt and keep their heads covered by means of a scarf. The Turban is optional for a Sikh woman. For Sikh men, however, apart from the requirement of wearing the Five K’s and a turban, there are no further clothing restrictions for example colour. There would be no problem if a school asked that a boy's turban be in the same colour as the uniform. Religious Education Sikhs treat all religions as equal believing that they can all provide paths to God : each religion is a boat on the ocean of life. Guru Nanak (see Backgound Information next page) taught that, if people were Hindu, then they should be good Hindus; if Muslims, they should be good Muslims. There is no tradition of Sikhs wishing to convert others to Sikhism. Therefore, there would be no problem for Sikh children joining in with festivals of other faiths, neither would Sikh parents mind their children visiting other places of worship. There would be no problem with someone being asked to draw or paint a picture about their religion. Indeed, some gurdwaras have competitions for children to see who can, for example, draw the best picture of Guru Nanak or Guru Gobind Singh. However, Sikhs would be offended if children were asked to act out directly the part of a Guru in drama. Instead, they would prefer a reporting of an event or reading words spoken by a Guru. In teaching about Sikhism through use of artefacts, Sikhs would ask that they are handled with care; that it is explained why the 5 K’s are special for Sikhs; and that they be stored carefully in a place where no-one has smoked. Ideally Sikhs would prefer that a Sikh pupil or adult visitor should show them to other pupils as he or she would accord the honour due to them. This applies to four of the Ks, as the kesh - uncut hair – cannot be shown. Collective Worship. Sikhs would have no objection to their children taking part as long as of course there is no threat to Sikhism or the Sikh way of life. Sex Education There is no reason why Sikh parents would object to this, providing that it is placed in a moral framework. There would also be no objection to including information about contraception. C:\WINDOWS\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES\OLK97\FAITH MATTERS FINAL VERSION (2).DOC12 Background Information on History and Core Beliefs. History • The history of Sikhism can be said to have started with the life and teachings of Nanak (1469-1539) who was born in that part of the Panjab region of north-west India which now lies within Pakistan. Nanak's parents were Hindu. At about the age of 30, he had a spiritual experience which convinced him that he had been given a divine commission to preach about the presence and nature of God. In time, a group of disciples gathered around him: the word 'Sikh' means 'disciple'. • Nanak's disciples regarded him as their 'guru' (a word meaning 'spiritual teacher') and so referred to him as Guru Nanak. The number of Guru Nanak's disciples grew and so began the Sikh community. Guru Nanak taught that whether people of his time were Hindu or Muslim, they should live honest lives and be true to the one God. Before Nanak died, he appointed one of his closest disciples to be the next Guru. • There were ten human Sikh Gurus, each one appointed by his predecessor. Each of the Gurus is associated with particular periods or events in the evolution of the Sikh community. For example, the fifth Guru, Arjan, who compiled an early collection of sacred writings, is associated with the building of The GoldenTemple at Amritsar. • The tenth and last Guru, Gobind Singh, 1666-1708 was notable for a number of reasons. Firstly, he created the Khalsa or initiated brotherhood; this started when he asked for five Sikhs willing to give their lives for their Guru. The five men who volunteered were baptised by him and from then on wore the five distinguishing marks of the baptised Sikh - the Five Ks, so called because they each begin with the sound 'K' in the Panjabi language.Guru Gobind Singh also said that, in order to show their equality and unity, all Sikh men should have the name Singh (lion') and women Kaur ('princess'). He also said that, after his death, the Sikh community would no longer obtain their teachings from a human guru. Instead, authority would reside in the Sikh community (the Panth) and in the sacred book which included the words which had been revealed to the Gurus. Thus, Sikhs refer to their sacred book as a Guru – the Guru Granth Sahib. • There are about 20 million Sikhs in the world today, 16 million of them living in or near the Panjab. Many Sikhs came to Britain during the 1950s and early 1960s. The British Sikh community, estimated at nearly 500,000, is the largest outside India. C:\WINDOWS\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES\OLK97\FAITH MATTERS FINAL VERSION (2).DOC13 Core Beliefs ♦ Sikhs believe in one God. ♦ Many of the central Sikh beliefs about God are seen in the Mool Mantar, an important prayer, which many Sikhs recite daily. The first two Panjabi words, lk Onkar ("There is one God") are used to decorate the Sikh gurdwara (place of worship). This reminds Sikhs of their belief in the oneness of God. “There is one God, Whose Name is Eternal truth, The Creator, Without fear, Without hate, Immortal Beyond birth and death Self-existent Realised by the Grace of the Guru” ♦ Basic to Sikh beliefs is the idea that it is important to show service to others. The holding of langar- communal eating - is an important part of gurdwara life. All those visiting a gurdwara, be they Sikh or not, will be given the opportunity to eat with others; all sitting together on the floor as a sign of their equality. Because food is offered at no charge, langar is sometimes translated as 'free kitchen'.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sikhism: Do and Don't
    Sikhism: Do and Don’t Items/Activities Do Don't Use Correct Language Please do use these words rather than analogies or terms from other religions: Please do not call the Gurudwara a temple (even though it is o Sikh (learner) called a Sikh Temple in literature/maps etc). o Guru (teacher) o Gurdwara (Door to the teacher), sometimes known Please do not call the Guru Granth Sahib Ji the holy book. It as the gurudwara. is the words within that are important and it is treated as a o Holy Scriptures (this focuses on the words in the person. Guru Granth Sahib Ji) o Kirpan – its origins is in the word Kirpa, which means Please do not call the Kirpan a sword or dagger. It is not a blessing an-honour. To carry our acts of honour e.g. weapon but an item of honour. protecting the vulnerable o Kara- a steel band worn by members of the khalsa Please do not refer to the kara as a bracelet or bangle. This and many Sikh children as a mark of commitment suggests it is just decorative. o Sangat ( worshippers) o Amrit- initiation ceremony into the khalsa Please do not refer to the sangat as the congregation. The (brotherhood of Sikhs, women are allowed to join) sangat is active in all decisions made. Please do not refer to the amrit ceremony as ‘Sikh baptism’. Using Artefacts Please display artefacts in a clean place (place on a clean Please do not place artefacts on the floor. piece of fabric). Please do not put the scriptures in any form on a book shelf, Please label and explain what the artefacts represent e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Kara Kaur Khalsa Baisakhi Gurdwara Singh Amrit Guru Nanak Kirpan Granthi Panj Pyare Gutkas Turban Guru Gobind Singh Akhand Path
    Kara Kaur Khalsa Baisakhi Gurdwara Singh Amrit Guru Nanak Kirpan Granthi Panj pyare Gutkas Turban Guru Gobind Singh Akhand Path Teacher Chauri Romalas Kanga Amritsar Singh Kirpan Gurdwara Kara Granthi Chauri Gutkas Teacher Guru Gobind Singh Kanga Baisakhi Amritsar Khalsa Guru Nanak Kaur Akhand Path Teacher Amritsar Gutkas Baisakhi Gurdwara Akhand Path Guru Nanak Chauri Romalas Kara Kaur Gutkas Baisakhi Gurdwara Akhand Path Amrit Guru Nanak Romalas Granthi Panj pyare Singh Turban Guru Gobind Singh Kara Teacher Chauri Kanga Kanga Amritsar Gutkas Kirpan Gurdwara Khalsa Granthi Chauri Akhand Path Teacher Guru Gobind Singh Gutkas Baisakhi Amritsar Akhand Path Guru Nanak Kaur Romalas Teacher Amritsar Panj pyare Baisakhi Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh Guru Nanak Chauri Kirpan Kara Granthi Guru Nanak Baisakhi Kaur Panj pyare Amrit Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh Granthi Kara Kanga Turban Baisakhi Kirpan Teacher Amrit Granthi Kanga Chauri Teacher Kirpan Amritsar Baisakhi Granthi Gurdwara Guru Nanak Teacher Khalsa Gutkas Baisakhi Singh Akhand Path Guru Nanak Kirpan Romalas Teacher Kaur Singh Baisakhi Amritsar Kara Guru Nanak Gurdwara Gutkas Kara Chauri Kanga Baisakhi Gurdwara Khalsa Amrit Guru Nanak Akhand Path Amritsar Panj pyare Gutkas Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh Akhand Path Chauri Gurdwara Romalas Kanga Amritsar Kara Kirpan Gurdwara Baisakhi Granthi Chauri Amrit Teacher Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Baisakhi Amritsar Singh Guru Nanak Kaur Kirpan Teacher Amritsar Kanga Baisakhi Gurdwara Kirpan Guru Nanak Chauri Granthi Kara Kaur Granthi Baisakhi Gurdwara Turban
    [Show full text]
  • Sikh Outreach Program
    SIMPLE FACTS ABOUT THE SIKH FAITH 1. Sikhism is one of the youngest religions of the world—originating only 540 years ago. 2. World wide Sikh has over 25 million followers making it the 5th largest religion of the world. Sikh have made North America their home since 1880 and presently 1 million to 2 million Sikhs happen to reside in North America. 3. It was founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century in Northwest India. 4. The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in one Universal God—‘WaheGuru’—and oneness of mankind and so for all practical purposes prostylization is not practiced in Sikhism. 5. Guru Nanak also emphasized the following as a means to attain salvation—the spiritual union OUTREACH with God through the following principles: PROGRAM • NaamJapna—Meditation on God’s name About through the heart, soul and spirit. SIKH • Kirat Karna—To balance one’s work (and f amily life) thr u r ighte ous liv ing . AWARENESS • Vand Chakna—Concept of sharing thru charity. Langar—distribution of free food is integral part of Sikhism. 6. The Turban in the Sikh religion is not a sign of orthodoxy, fanaticism or priesthood but is an NISHKAM SEVA GURDWARA SAHIB & DR. JASBIR SINGH SAINI integral part of the religion. 99% of the guys SIKH COMMUNITY CENTER with a turban that you see walking down the 4950 W Tonopah Drive, Glendale, AZ 85308 street in your town are just ordinary Sikhs. (NE corner of 51st Ave and 101) Outreach Program Liaison: Mrs. Rangi, 623-412-4942 THE SIKH GURUS GURU GRANTH SAHIB MOOL MANTRA—THE SIKH PREAMBLE Guru Nanak was followed by nine Gurus.
    [Show full text]
  • Hindu Students Organization Sanātana Dharma Saṅgha
    Hindu Students Organization Sanātana Dharma Saṅgha Table of Contents About HSO 1 Food for Thought 2 Pronunciation Guide 3 Opening Prayers 4 Gaṇesh Bhajans 6 Guru and Bhagavān Bhajans 9 Nārāyaṇa Bhajans 11 Krishṇa Bhajans 13 Rāma Bhajans 23 Devī Bhajans 27 Shiva Bhajans 32 Subramaṇyam Bhajans 37 Sarva Dharma Bhajans 38 Traditional Songs 40 Aartīs 53 Closing Prayers 58 Index 59 About HSO Columbia University’s Hindu Students Organization welcomes you. The Hindu Students Organization (HSO) is a faith-based group founded in 1992 with the intent of raising awareness of Hindu philosophies, customs, and traditions at Columbia University. HSO's major goals are to encourage dialogue about Hinduism and to provide a forum for students to practice the faith. HSO works with closely with other organizations to host joint events in an effort to educate the general public and the Columbia community. To pursue these goals, HSO engages in educational discussions, takes part in community service, and coordinates religious and cultural events including the following: Be the Change Day Navaratri Diwali Saraswati/Ganesh Puja Study Breaks Lecture Events Shruti: A Classical Night Holi Weekly Bhajans and Discussion Circle/Bhajans Workshop Interfaith Events Interviews to become a part of HSO’s planning board take place at the start of the fall semester. If you are interested in joining our mailing list or if you would like to get in touch with us, email us at [email protected] or visit us at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/hso/! 1 Food For Thought Om - “OM - This Imperishable Word is the whole of this visible universe.
    [Show full text]
  • The Khalsa and the Non-Khalsa Within the Sikh Community in Malaysia
    International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, No. 8 ISSN: 2222-6990 The Khalsa and the Non-Khalsa within the Sikh Community in Malaysia Aman Daima Md. Zain1, Jaffary, Awang2, Rahimah Embong 1, Syed Mohd Hafiz Syed Omar1, Safri Ali1 1 Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Malaysia 2 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i8/3222 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i8/3222 Abstract In the pluralistic society of Malaysia, the Sikh community are categorised as an ethnic minority. They are considered as a community that share the same religion, culture and language. Despite of these similarities, they have differences in terms of their obedience to the Sikh practices. The differences could be recognized based on their division into two distintive groups namely Khalsa and non-Khalsa. The Khalsa is distinguished by baptism ceremony called as amrit sanskar, a ceremony that makes the Khalsa members bound to the strict codes of five karkas (5K), adherence to four religious prohibitions and other Sikh practices. On the other hand, the non-Khalsa individuals have flexibility to comply with these regulations, although the Sikhism requires them to undergo the amrit sanskar ceremony and become a member of Khalsa. However the existence of these two groups does not prevent them from working and living together in their religious and social spheres. This article aims to reveal the conditions of the Sikh community as a minority living in the pluralistic society in Malaysia. The method used is document analysis and interviews for collecting data needed.
    [Show full text]
  • Gurdwara Key Words Guru Granth Sahib 5 Ks in Sikhism Khalsa The
    Gurdwara Key words A Gurdwara is a Sikhs place of worship. It houses the Memorise these key words. Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs sit down in the prayer hall so they not above the Guru. They pray together as a Gurdwara – Sikh place of worship community. At the end of their service they will have a meal together. This is called the Langar. It is Guru – Religious teachers for Sikhs vegetarian food. Khalsa – Name given to Sikhs who are full members of the Sikh religion. Yr. 8 Learn Why do they serve vegetarian food? Sheet Guru Granth Sahib – Sikh holy book Assessment Baisakhi – Spring festival, which includes the Sikh point 2 New Year Sikhism In what other ways is the Gurdwara used? 1. Sewa – Service – helping others 2. 3. 4. 5 Ks in Sikhism The 5 Ks are: 1. Kesh (uncut hair) – a gift from God symbolises adoption of a simple life Guru Granth Sahib 2. Kara (a steel bracelet) – belief in a never ending God, every time Guru Gobind Singh decided that he would leave they look at it, it will remind them to avoid sin. the Sikh community to be guided by the writings 3. Kanga (a wooden comb) – it keeps the tangles out of their hair, gives and teachings of all the Gurus in written form. them hope that God will take the tangles out of their lives. The book is now treated in exactly the same way 4. Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear) – a symbol as a human leader would be. of chastity 5. Kirpan (steel sword) – a reminder to protect the faith and the vulnerable.
    [Show full text]
  • British Sikh Identity and the Struggle for Distinctiveness and Continuity
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Nottingham Trent Institutional Repository (IRep) Running head: British Sikh identity, distinctiveness and continuity British Sikh identity and the struggle for distinctiveness and continuity Rusi Jaspal, Ph.D. University of Nottingham Sikhs constitute a high proportion of the ethnic minority population in Britain. Yet, social psychologists have largely neglected this demographically important religious group, leaving much of the theorising to anthropologists and sociologists. The present study explores how a group of British-born Sikhs understood and defined their Sikh identities, focussing upon strategies for safeguarding the continuity and distinctiveness of this identity. Ten individuals were interviewed. Informed by identity process theory, the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Three superordinate themes are reported, namely (i) “Freedom and gender equality”: the ‘essence’ of Sikh identity; (ii) “We are the followers of Guru Nanak”: continuing the legacy of the Gurus; and (iii) Maintaining group continuity and distinctiveness in a threatening social context. Theoretical and practical implications of the research are discussed, particularly in relation to intergroup relations. Keywords: identity; religion; Sikhs; identity process theory; social representations theory Correspondence Dr Rusi Jaspal, Institute for Science and Society, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected] Acknowledgements Sections of this paper were presented at the Punjab Research Group Meeting at Wolfson College, Oxford University on 29th October 2011. The author would like to thank Professor Eleanor Nesbitt, Dr Arjan Bos and three anonymous reviewers for providing detailed comments on earlier versions of this paper.
    [Show full text]
  • POLICE TORTURE in PUNJAB, INDIA: an Extended Survey
    POLICETORTURE IN PUNJAB, INDIA: An Extended Survey Ami Laws and Vincent Iacopino Sikhs make up just 2% of India'spopulation, but 60% of the population of Punjab. In the last two decades, a Sikh separatist movement has developed in India, spawned by perceived political and economic abuses by the government of India.1-6 Since religious figures led the Sikh separatist movement, some understanding of this faith is relevant to the current discussion. Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, in what is now Pakistani Punjab. In renunciation of the Hindu caste system, Guru Nanak promoted egalitarian- ism. Thus, Sikh temples, called gurudwaras, have four doors facing in the four directions to signify that anyone who chooses may enter. Each gurudwara also contains a kitchen that serves a charitable function: All persons seek- ing food and shelter can find them here.7 In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh Guru, established the military brotherhood of the Sikhs, called the Khalsa, at Anandpur. He gave the name Singh (meaning "lion") to all male members of the Khalsa, and to the women, he gave the name Kaur (meaning "princess"). Each member of the Khalsa was to wear five symbols of the Sikh faith: kesh, uncut hair; kanga, a special comb in the hair; kachera, special breeches; kara, a steel bracelet; and kirpan, a sword. Khalsa Sikhs today refer to themselves as "baptized," or amritdhari, Sikhs.8 Because militant, Khalistani Sikhs (those advocating an independent home- Ami Laws is Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Sikhism and Form of Sewa (Service to Others)
    Amrit - Nectar. Sanctified (holy) liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation ceremonies. Amrit Sanskar ceremony - The rite of initiation into the Khalsa (Sikhs who commit themselves to a daily discipline). Amritdhari Sikh - A Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa. Anandpur - A city in the state of Punjab, India. Atma - Sanskrit word that means soul. Caste - The anglicised term for varna; originally a Hindu social order of higher and lower class. Also followed by some Sikhs. daswandh / dasvandh - The Sikh practice in the giving of money (a tenth of one's income) in the name of the Guru to help those who are poorer / less well off. dhan (dan) - Giving to those in need, a key teaching in Sikhism and form of sewa (service to others). Pronounced 'daan'. divine spark - The soul, the part of Waheguru (the Sikh word for God) in each person. five vices - Five emotions that can take over a person's life and lead them to actions they later regret: anger, pride, lust, greed and undue attachment. Golden Temple in Amritsar - City in North-Western part of Indian. Spiritual centre for Sikhs. Gurdwara - Sikh place of worship. Literally, the 'doorway to the Guru'. Gurmukh - God-centred, living by the Gurus' teachings. Gurmukhi - The script in which the Guru Granth Sahib is written. It is the script used for Punjabi in India’s Punjab state. Guru Amar Das - The third of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Angad - The second of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Arjan - Guru Arjan was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr.
    [Show full text]
  • We Are Not Symbols
    We Are Not Symbols This is the correspondence between a son (Jaskirat – who was in a dilemma and wanted to know why he should still be wearing the 5K’s in the 21st century) and his father. My dear Dad, Sat Sri Akal. It is with extreme pain, conflict and misery that I am writing to you. I feel utterly empty, almost naked, my heart weary, dull and isolated. This could have been another one of those nice and happy letters, which we both have been writing to each other, all these years. But all those nice things seem to be happening no more. Happiness which completely ravished my heart once, has gone and now I have only the empty memory of it. I seem to have lost the intimate contact with life. I must apologize, for suddenly bursting forth like this and for not having written about my problems, all these months. But till about a week back I was confident of finding a solution to my questions. It was only when the books which I so patiently read, all those self proclaimed gurus I went to see, and hear, and my own experience and reasoning failed me, that I resolved to write to you Dad, my inability to accept the 5 K's, which all my life till now, seemed to be so crucial for me in my effort to be a God-fearing man, a religious man, a dutiful son and above all Guru ka Sikh. I have no doubt and question about the efficacy of these symbols three centuries ago when they were essential in times of war to maintain the identity of Sikhs and give them a common denominator of unity and togetherness.
    [Show full text]
  • To Interpret the Meaning of the Five Ks for Sikhs Around the World Activity
    Lesson Three LI: To interpret the meaning of the five Ks for Sikhs around the world Activity Read through the following slides and look the weblinks. Draw and describe the importance of each of the five Ks for Sikhs. • https://www.bbc.com/teach/class-clips- video/the-five-ks-in-sikhism/znbhf4j • https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/clips/zbfgkqt • https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/clips/zcn34wx • https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/clips/z3sb9j6 A Sense of Belonging Sikhism and the five Ks Guru Gobind Singh The Story of Guru Gobind Singh and the Five Ks There are ten human Gurus and Guru Gobind Singh is the last one. A long time ago terrible things were happening to Sikhs in India and so Guru Gobind Singh decided to do something about it. One day in a place called Anandpur the Guru gathered the Sikhs to celebrate their harvest festival. At the festival he called for a man who was willing to die for his faith. Soon one man stepped forward and went into a tent with the Guru. Then the Guru reappeared with blood on his sword. He then asked for another volunteer and another man went into the tent with the Guru. Once again the Guru came out of the tent with his sword covered in blood. So two men went in and did not come out again. The Guru then asked for a third volunteer and the same thing happened. He asked for a fourth volunteer and again reappeared with blood on his sword. He then asked for a fifth volunteer and again the Guru reappeared with blood on his sword.
    [Show full text]
  • RE Unit Spring Festivals: What Is Vaisakhi and How Is It Celebrated?
    RE Unit Spring Festivals: What is Vaisakhi and how is it celebrated? Photo courtesy of (Birmingham Culture@flickr com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution How to use this workbook When you are working through the questions in this workbook, remember: 1. To write your answers in your best handwriting in your home learning / exercise / notebook. Don’t try to answer the questions in boxes in the workbook. 2. “Blue box is book” = The blue boxes are there to show you what to write / say and how to set out your work / ideas. Anything in the blue boxes is what you write in your book. Don’t write the black, write the blue – but without drawing the box round it! 3. When you are answering reading comprehension questions, you should always answer in complete thoughts (full sentences) and use the exact words from the text to prove your answer. The blue boxes will show you how… 1 RE: What is Vaisakhi and how is it celebrated? (Workbook) RE Unit Spring Festivals: What is Vaisakhi and how is it celebrated? Learning Overview Lesson Lesson Question You will learn: 1. What is Vaisakhi? Who celebrates Vaisakhi. When Vaisakhi is celebrated. Where Vaisakhi is celebrated. When Vaisakhi started. Why Vaisakhi is such an important festival for Sikhs. 2. Who was Guru Gobind Singh? Who the Sikh Gurus were. Who Guru Gobund Singh was. How Guru Gobind Singh made Vaisakhi a special festival for Sikhs. 3. What is the Khalsa and why is it important to What the Khalsa is. Sikhs? Why the Khalsa was formed.
    [Show full text]