Sikhism

Also called

Sikhi

Origin

Punjab, at the end of the fifteenth century, with Guru Nanak and nine Gurus after him.

Texts

The Guru Granth Sahib, the scripture, which Sikhs treat as their living Guru; the Dasam Granth is also respected by many.

Place of worship

A gurdwara, which has the Guru Granth Sahib and a langar hall; open to everyone.

Main beliefs

• One God (Ik Onkar), without form or fear or hatred, to be remembered in the name (naam simran).
• Equality of all people regardless of caste, creed or gender; honest work (kirat karni), sharing (vand chakna) and service (seva).
• Life is a path to union with God, not through rituals or asceticism but through a householder's life lived in truth.

Practice

Daily prayers (Nitnem), kirtan (hymn singing), langar (a free community meal) and seva; the five Ks worn by the Khalsa (kesh, kangha, kara, kachera, kirpan).

Holy days and festivals

Vaisakhi, the birthdays (Gurpurabs) of the Gurus, Bandi Chhor Divas, Hola Mohalla.

Visiting a place of worship

Cover your head, take off your shoes, wash your hands, do not bring tobacco, alcohol or meat, sit on the floor, and share langar.

A note

Sikhs are not Hindus or Muslims; Sikhism is an independent religion. Our Gurbani section covers the daily banis.

The other eleven faiths · Comparison table

Questions people ask

This is a short, neutral introduction written from widely agreed facts. Every faith has many traditions and its members may describe it differently; for a true account, ask a member of that faith. We state no figures and no dates of moveable festivals.