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Home , Chaupai (Sikhism), Five Banis, Gurpurb, Kara (jewellery), Kara (Sikhism), Kesh (Sikhism)

Engaging With Communities Introduction to Sikhism Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago and today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of at all times, truthful living, equality of humankind and social justice. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its ten enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living , Sri . The word 'Sikh' in the means 'disciple’. are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the ten . The wisdom of these teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are practical and universal in their appeal to all humankind. Sikhs worldwide Sikhism is the world's fifth largest religion, with more than 26 million followers worldwide. By far the majority of these live in the Panjab region of India. Most Sikhs, wherever they live, can speak Panjabi. The Panjab is also the site of Harmandir Sahib (the 'House of God') - the at . This is the most important site in the Sikh world, with a long spiritual, political and military history, stretching as far back as the time of the Buddha. There are large Sikh populations in Canada, the US, UK, Malaysia and Singapore.

Sikhs in Britain The first recorded Sikh settler in Britain was Dalip , a young prince who came to England in exile in 1849 and settled in Thetford, Norfolk. The first was established in 1911, in Putney. There are now more than 200 around the country. Sikh migration to Britain began in earnest in the 1950s when men from the Panjab filled British industry's need for unskilled labour. Sikhs who had fought for the British army in the World War II came from the Panjab after India became independent in 1948, followed later by thousands of Sikhs from East Africa. At the time of the 2001 Census, there were 336,179 Sikhs in Britain - just over 0.5% of the population. Sikhs in Leicester At the time of the 2011 census, the Sikh community in Leicester numbered 14,457 – 2661 more than in 2001.This represents 4.4% of the city’s population. Sikhism is the fourth largest faith community in Leicester and the percentage of Sikhs amongst the population has been constant since 1983. In 2002, the Queen's first official visit to a gurdwara in the UK was to the Gurdwara, Holy Bones. The celebration of is a major event in Leicester, when 20,000 Sikhs from across the UK take part in a colourful procession and the Guru Granth Sahib is carried in a procession between two of the city's gurdwaras.

Key beliefs and practices Central to Sikhism is a belief in one God. God is described by Sikhs as Truth, Eternal and Creator. These beliefs are reflected in the Mool Mantar, an important part of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is regularly used in worship. All Sikhs are ordered to obey the Guru Granth Sahib as their Guru. Sikhs believe that most people misunderstand the Universe. There is a perception that it exists on its own, whereas Sikhs believe that it really exists because God wills it to exist, and is a portrait of God's own nature.

 Sikhs believe that God is inside every person, no matter how wicked they appear, and so everyone is capable of change.  Sikhs believe in equality, which is essential for ethical decision-making. Sikhs show their belief in equality in many ways, for example, anyone can eat in the , the free kitchen provided after every service in the gurdwara. , the tenth Guru, said that there is no difference between a temple and a mosque or between the prayers of a Hindu and those of a Muslim.  The concept of service, sewa, is essential to Sikhs. They believe it causes God displeasure if people pay no attention to others and simply devote themselves to religion. Sikhism does not ask people to turn away from ordinary life in order to become closer to God. In fact it demands that ordinary life is used as a way to get closer to God. By devoting their lives to service Sikhs get rid of their own ego and pride. There are many different types of service: manual service, such as preparing and serving food in the langar, cleaning the shoes of the worshippers; charitable service, such as giving money or goods to charity; intellectual service, such as teaching children about Sikhism or showing adults around the gurdwara.  Sikhs should take part in honest work. This is work that is needed for the good of both the family and the wider community. Work should not exploit others. This links with the idea of equality and the idea of generosity of possessions and time.

The Gurdwara  Gurdwara means ‘gateway to the Guru’ and is the place where the Guru Granth Sahib is housed and where Sikhs come together for congregational worship. It is the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib that gives the gurdwara its religious status, so any building containing the book is considered to be a gurdwara.  The first gurdwara in the world was built by Guru Nanak in 1521-2 at Kartarpur.  Although a gurdwara may be called the residence of the Guru (meaning the residence of God), Sikhs believe that God is present everywhere.  The gurdwara is open to everyone, regardless of age, sex, caste, or creed. Men, women and children are treated as equal. The purpose of a gurdwara  It is where spiritual wisdom is learnt and is a centre for promoting culture and health.  It is where religious ceremonies and festivals take place. As well as sermons and the singing of the scriptures, the congregation is expected to participate in the ceremonies of birth, baptism, marriage and death.  It is where children learn the Sikh faith, ethics, customs, traditions and texts.  It is a community centre, and offers food, shelter, and companionship to those who need it.

Inside the Gurdwara  There are no idols, statues, candles, bells or religious pictures in a gurdwara, because Sikhs worship only God, who they regard as having no physical form.  The focus of attention, and the only object of reverence in the main hall (or Darbar Sahib) is the book of Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which is treated with the respect that would be given to a human Guru. It is kept in a room of its own during the night and carried in procession to the main hall at the start of the day's worship.  The book is placed on a raised platform, the takht or Sahib, meaning ‘throne’, under a canopy called the palki, and covered with an expensive cloth when not being read.  During a service a person waves a whisk or fan called a chauri over the Guru Granth Sahib.  Although Sikhs show reverence to the Guru Granth Sahib, their reverence is to its spiritual content (shabad) not the book itself. The book is just the visible manifestation of the shabad.  There are four doors into a gurdwara, known as the Door of Peace, the Door of Livelihood, the Door of Learning and the Door of Grace. These doors are a symbol that people from all four points of the compass are welcome, and that members of all four castes are equally welcome.  There is always a light on in a gurdwara, to show that the Guru's Light is always visible and is accessible to everyone at any time. The free food kitchen, or Langar  Every gurdwara has a langar attached to it where food is served to anyone without charge. The term langar is also used for the communal meal served in gurdwaras.  The food served in the langar must be simple, so as to prevent wealthy congregations turning it into a feast that shows off their superiority.  Although Sikhs are not required to be vegetarian, only vegetarian food is served in gurdwaras. This ensures that any visitor to the gurdwara, whatever the dietary restrictions of their faith, can eat there. The meal may include chapati, daal, vegetables and rice pudding. Fish and eggs are counted as meat and excluded. The Sikh flag  Gurdwaras everywhere fly the Sikh flag, the outside. The flag is orange/yellow and has the Sikh emblem in the middle. This flag shows the (the 'coat of arms' of the ) in the middle of an orange background. It is a visual reminder of the unity of the Sikh community all over the world.

Sikh names  Sikhs usually use the names Singh and Kaur, either as their whole name or as part of their surname. Kaur means princess and is used by women. Singh means lion and is used by men. The first names which Sikhs use can all be used by either sex and often have religious meanings, for example,Jasbir, which means ‘glorious and brave’.  The traditional naming ceremony involves the father and mother, together with the young baby, going to the gurdwara. They stand in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and a page is opened at random. The first letter of the first verse on the left-hand page is taken as the first letter of the baby's name. If, for example, it is the Panjabi equivalent to 'H', then the name Harmander might be chosen; if it is the Panjabi equivalent to 'P', then the name Parminder, and so on. The founder of the Khalsa (brotherhood of Sikhs), Guru Gobind Singh, instructed its members to wear five special signs to show that they were Sikhs. Known as the five Ks, these signs are: (uncut hair), (comb), (steel wristband), Kaccha (short trousers or underpants) and (sword). The meaning of the 5 Ks The 5 Ks taken together symbolise that the Sikh who wears them has dedicated themselves to a life of devotion and submission to the Guru. 1. Kesh - uncut hair Various reasons and symbolisms have been put forward for the Sikh practice of keeping hair uncut. Throughout history hair (kesh) has been regarded as a symbol both of holiness and strength. Hair is regarded as part of God's creation. Keeping hair uncut indicates that one is willing to accept God's gift as God intended it. Uncut hair symbolises the adoption of a simple life, and denial of pride in one's appearance. It is a symbol of one's wish to move beyond concerns of the body and attain spiritual maturity. It also follows the appearance of Guru Gobind Singh, founder of the Khalsa. Sikh women are also forbidden to cut any body hair or even trim their eyebrows, as Sikh men are forbidden to trim their . Most Sikh men wear a to cover their hair. 2. Kara - a steel bracelet This is a symbol of restraint and gentility and reminds Sikhs that they are linked to the Guru. It acts as a reminder that a Sikh should not do anything of which the Guru would not approve. It symbolises the concept that God has no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of permanent bonding to the community- being a link in the chain of Khalsa Sikhs (the word for link is 'kari'). The Kara is made of steel, rather than gold or silver, because it is not an ornament. 3. Kanga - a wooden comb This symbolises a clean mind and body as it keeps the uncut hair neat and tidy. It also symbolises the importance of looking after the body which God has created. This does not conflict with the Sikh's aim to move beyond bodily concerns; since the body is the vehicle for enlightenment it should be should be cared appropriately. 4. Kachha - special underwear This is a pair of shorts which must not come below the knee. It was a particularly useful garment for Sikh warriors of the 18th and 19th centuries, being very suitable for warfare when riding a horse. 5. Kirpan - a ceremonial sword There is no fixed style of Kirpan and it can be anything from a few inches to three feet long. It is kept in a sheath and can be worn over or under clothing. The Kirpan can symbolise spirituality, defence of good and of the weak, the struggle against injustice as well as being a metaphor for God.

Festivals There are two different types of festivals: and Melas. Gurpurbs are Sikh festivals which celebrate the lives of the Gurus. Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak's Birthday in November. Gurpurbs are celebrated with an . This is when the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, is read continuously from beginning to end. This is done by a team of Sikh men and women, each reading for 2-3 hours over 48 hours, beginning two days before and ending early on the morning of the . In the Panjab, children are given new clothes and have the day off school to join in the celebrations. Candles are lit in the gurdwara and in homes, shops and offices. On the day before the Gurpurb, processions are held in India and in some cities around the world. Melas are days that coincide with a Hindu festival but are also significant because of something that happened during the life of one of the Gurus. Along with these, Sikhs also celebrate Vaisakhi in April as the creation of the Khalsa.

Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is the festival which celebrates the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa. This day is celebrated around April 14th. Sikhs visit gurdwaras and hold fairs and parades. Many Sikhs choose to be baptised into the Khalsa brotherhood on this day. The wrappings of the Nishan Sahib flag post at most Gurdwaras are changed on Vaisakhi.

Should the school diary take account of Sikh festivals? Yes, as some parents might like to withdraw their daughters/sons from school on these days. Schools should consider a whole school celebration, for example an assembly, to which parents are invited. If possible, parents' evenings should be scheduled outside of the main religious festivals of Vaisakhi and Guru Nanak's birthday. Can Sikhs join in non-Sikh festivals? Sikhs regard all religions as equal and consider they can all provide paths to God. Guru Nanak taught that if people were Hindu then they should be good ; if Muslims, they should be good Muslims. There is no tradition of Sikhs seeking to convert others to Sikhism. It follows that there would be no problem in Sikh children and young people joining in with particular festivities. However, if food is being served as a part of a festival, staff should be aware that Sikhs cannot eat Halal meat, as this is forbidden. Neither would Sikh parents mind their children, whether or not they are Amritdhari Sikhs, visiting different places of worship.

FAQs

Appearance and Identity Is the school dress code suitable for Sikh pupils?  Sikhs can wear any colour of school uniform and could be requested to be in school uniform colours. Sikhs say that it is not appropriate for turbans to be replaced by caps.  Schools should allow pupils (both boys and girls) to wear the turban (a pagri) or a 'patka' (a square piece of material used to contain the hair) or 'dupatta' / 'chunni' (head covering).  Schools should allow pupils/students to wear the standard sized kara; it should not be viewed as an item of jewellery.  Some parents may wish their daughters to wear skirts or dresses over trousers. Schools should consider the wishes of parents in these circumstances.

Can the kirpan be worn in school/college? Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa by receiving Amrit (holy nectar) are expected to wear the five Ks at all times. Wearing the 5 Ks demands a high level of commitment and self sacrifice. Self-discipline is considered to be extremely important and a member of the Khalsa is expected to observe a strict code of conduct. It is not generally considered appropriate to wear one of the five K's without wearing the other four, except in the case of the wearing of the kara. Sikh pupils who have taken Amrit should inform the school/college as soon as possible and produce documentation from their religious leader to certify this. The kirpan should be fitted with a retaining strap to prevent it being withdrawn. Many are actually glued into the sheath to stop them being withdrawn. It should be no more than 6 inches long and the blade should not exceed 3 inches in length. The sheathed and secured kirpan will be worn under clothes and never displayed openly to ensure safety at all times. Schools are encouraged to look at each case individually but generally, in such cases, the family of the pupil should be invited into the school/college to discuss the matter further in conjunction with a representative from Health and Safety.

What about specific dress for girls? A Sikh woman may choose to wear a turban every day. She will always cover her head with a scarf - a chunni or dupatta - when in the gurdwara, in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Both sexes should be modest in their dress and appearance. For this reason, some Sikh families would prefer their daughters to wear trousers rather than a skirt. Is it important for Sikhs to be allowed to leave their hair uncut? Amritdhari Sikhs will not cut any hair on their body. This is because they believe that humans should not alter something that has been given to them by God. Pupils with long hair should be allowed to wear a Pagri (turban) and/or Patka (a square piece of material used to contain the hair) to match the school uniform. Why do many young Sikh boys wear a piece of material over their top knot? Young children who cannot tie a turban sometimes wear a piece of material over their topknot, called a rumal. Sometimes a larger piece of material - a patka - covers the whole head. This is sometimes used in active sports as a temporary replacement for the turban. The tying of a boy's first turban is a special event in a Sikh family.

Can a Sikh pupil be asked to remove their turban at any time? Pupils may remove the turban during games or PE if they wish but should not be made to do so. The turban is an article of faith that represents honour, self- respect, courage, spirituality and piety. The turban is mostly identified with Sikh males, although some Sikh women also wear a turban. Amritdhari Sikhs regard the turban as an important part of the unique Sikh identity. It is extremely important that the turban should not be touched or handled in any way other than by the wearer, as this could cause great offence. Can the kirpan be worn during PE and games? and swimming? Wearing the kirpan during PE, Games and swimming, particularly when contact sports are involved such as rugby, tag rugby, football etc., may present a health and safety risk both to the pupil wearing the kirpan and to other students in the case of a collision. It is therefore advised that the kirpan be removed. Staff should make clear to Amritdhari students that there is a facility for storing the kirpan in a safe and secure place. It is the pupil who should place the kirpan in the locker, not a member of staff or another student. Some Amritdhari Sikhs may wish to do sahib before taking off the kirpan and do the mool mantra or chaupai sahib again when they put it on after games/PE. The chaupai sahib is a bani (prayer) composed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikhism. It is one of the that Sikhs are required to recite every morning, although it can be recited at any time during the day for protection and energy. Reciting this prayer is seen as a way of asking permission to take it off. What are the rules about food, hygiene and eating? Some Sikhs choose to be vegetarian but some will eat meat. Amritdhari Sikhs are not allowed to eat meat that is either halal or kosher since the Sikh code of conduct states that it is wrong to eat the flesh of an animal killed in a ritualistic manner. Within the gurdwara, the langar (community kitchen) serves purely vegetarian food because the langar is open to all. Amritdhari Sikhs are not allowed to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco or take drugs. Sikhs encourage eating as a family unit or in community so that eating in groups in school is positively encouraged.

Curriculum What is suitable dress for PE? A degree of sensitivity should be shown regarding school sportswear. Some Sikh pupils may feel uncomfortable wearing shorts or a skirt for PE and may prefer to wear a loose fitting tracksuit. The wearing of shorts or skirt for P.E. and games should not be compulsory and this should be clarified in the school prospectus. It would be helpful if parents were to ensure that their child wears a patka underneath the turban and is able to retie the turban independently. Should the Kara be worn during PE? As the kara is one of the Five Ks, wearing it is important to a Sikh and it is strongly associated with their identity. Many pupils will be happy to take off their kara during physical activity if it is kept in a secure place. However, schools should not insist on its removal of. Pupils should be allowed to wear the standard sized kara; it should not be viewed as an item of jewellery. Pupils could cover the kara with a sweat band if there are health and safety concerns for PE. The thick kara, with or without beads, should not be allowed because of the danger of accidental harm to the wearer or others. What changing facilities should be provided? Modesty and cleanliness are extremely important to Sikhs. Girls and boys should have separate changing facilities. While this is provided as standard in secondary schools, the absence of changing facilities may be an issue in primary schools. If there are not separate changing facilities, temporary screens should be available for girls to change behind. Can a Sikh pupil shower after a PE lesson? Yes, if individual shower cubicles are provided. If pupils usually shower together, particularly if there is nakedness, then Sikh pupils should be allowed to delay showering until they go home. An Amritdhari Sikh should be allowed to keep on their shorts (kaccha) whilst showering and change into a dry pair afterwards. Pupils should not be compelled to wash their hair. Should the turban or patka be removed during swimming lessons? The turban can be removed during swimming. Indeed, it is considered offensive to get it wet. The hair can be tied back with a patka (a square piece of material used to contain the hair) The headdress should be respected, and if removed, it should be placed in a clean, secure place. It would be disrespectful to place the turban in the same locker as shoes are placed. Expressive Arts Drama Drama is seen as a part of the school curriculum but some Sikhs would be offended if their daughter/son was asked to directly act out the part of a Guru in drama. Instead, they would prefer it if a reporting style was used – for example, giving an account of an incident, or reading out the words spoken by a Guru. Sikh historical events can be dramatised but no pupil should act as Guru on stage. Art There is no problem with someone being asked to draw or paint a picture of one of the Gurus. Indeed, some gurdwaras have competitions for children to see who can, for example, draw the best picture of Guru Nanak or Guru Gobind Singh.

Can Sikh pupils participate in RE lessons? The Education Act 1944 gives parents the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and this remained unchanged in the subsequent Acts of 1988 and 1996. The right of parents to withdraw their daughter/son from RE applies also to faith schools. It is important that parents who wish to withdraw their daughter/son understand exactly what is being taught in RE lessons and are offered the opportunity to observe a lesson. The Leicester Agreed Syllabus includes exemplar units of work on the teaching of Sikhism. What is the Sikh view on the Five Ks or other artefacts being used in the classroom as a teaching aid and how should they be kept? The five Ks or other Sikh artefacts should always be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Ideally, Sikhs would like an Amritdhari Sikh to show pupils one or several of the Five Ks (or, strictly speaking, the Four Ks, as the kesh 'uncut hair' cannot be shown in the same way as the other Ks), because this recognises the respect and honour due to them. In the likely event that no such person is available, Sikhs would ask that:  examples are handled with care  it is explained that the Five Ks are special for Sikhs  examples are stored carefully  the kirpan should never be unsheathed when being shown Is it permitted to visit other places of worship? The Leicester Agreed Syllabus for RE recommends that, as a part of RE lessons, pupils engage in visits and with visitors. Having a Sikh visitor into the classroom strengthens the understanding of the religious and cultural backgrounds of Sikh children. Sikhs are generally very happy to visit different places of worship, because they believe that it is important to show respect for other religions. It should be stressed that trips are for educational purposes and not for worship and that pupils’ personal beliefs will not be compromised in any way. Most parents and pupils will then be reassured. It is good practice to invite interested parents, or parents who have concerns, to accompany the trip. It is important that the member of staff planning the trip makes a preliminary visit to discuss the purpose and nature of the trip with the faith leader who will be hosting the visit. Ensure that there is nothing in the place of worship that could cause offence and that there is clarity in terms of educational validity. Collective Worship and Assembly What involvement can a Sikh student/pupil have in collective worship? Most Sikhs would not object to their children taking part in acts of worship or assemblies, provided that these occasions were inclusive of all . Parents have the right to ask for their daughter/son to be totally or partially withdrawn from collective worship in accordance with the Education Act. No reasons have to be given but discussions with parents over the issues concerning withdrawal are recommended. Staff also have the right to withdraw, but neither can withdraw from assembly, which is distinct from collective worship. This is a time when members of the school gather together, for example, for notices and to recognise achievement. Schools should have a policy for collective worship, which may include a Determination, which enables the requirement for wholly or mainly Christian collective worship to be lifted. Parents should be informed that collective worship offers pupils opportunities for spiritual and moral development. The choice of content for should have regard for a pupil's family background, age and aptitude and should provide a variety of experiences to enable them to reflect upon, and respond to values which the school community believes are important.

Sikhism Dos and Don'ts

Do:  Be careful when showing pupils the kaccha. Without preparing pupils, they may appear to some merely like voluminous underpants and can give rise to a poor response.  Warn pupils about receiving karah prashad while visiting a gurdwara. It may not be to everyone's taste and it is impolite to be seen to be throwing it away after accepting it.  Prepare pupils about how they should sit when visiting a gurdwara. Feet pointing towards the Guru Granth Sahib should be avoided and boys and girls usually sit apart. Boys and girls should cover their heads and girls should wear calf length skirts, or better still, trousers.

Don't:  Use three dimensional images of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. Sikhs have expressed the fear that people will equate the place of the guru in Sikhism with the place of the deities in Hinduism.  Refer to the Amrit ceremony as being the 'Sikh Baptism'. The two rituals are not good parallels.  Use the term 'Granth' by itself. It should be accompanied by honorific titles such as 'Guru Granth Sahib' or 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji'.  Call the kirpan a 'dagger' as it suggests a sneaky, ignoble weapon. However small, it is a 'sword'. This suggests a more upright, noble weapon, which is more in keeping with the Sikh notion of the 'saintly knight'.  Refer to the chauri as a 'fly whisk'. It is a fan and is used to symbolise the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib.  Call a kara a bracelet or bangle as it suggests that it is merely decorative. 'Bangle' is not acceptable either. It should be referred to as a 'steel band'.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the advice and support of the following people in the writing of this section:

Mr Kartar Sandhu Mr Kartar Singh Sandhu Jasbir Mann George Ballentyne