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The Parish Church of St James St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003)
YOUNG St. JAMES'S - World Religions
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SIKHISM

The Origins of Sikhism

Sikhism began in Punjab in north-west India. The religion was started in 1499 by Guru Nanak and he was followed by nine more Sikh Gurus.These ten Sikh Gurus taught Sikhism between 1499 and 1708.

Beliefs

Sikhs believe in one God and that all humans are equal. They believe their faith is part of normal life. They also believe in giving service to the community by working in the Gurdwara ('door of the Guru' - the Sikh place of worship) or running clubs for the whole community.

Places of Worship

Gurdwara means 'door of the Guru'. Worship consists of singing songs from the holy book, reading from it and listening to a sermon based on one of its stories. When entering the Gurdwara, Sikhs remove their shoes and cover their heads to show respect. They go up to the holy book, bow down and make an offering of money, food or milk. Then they sit on the floor, males and females separately.

Holy Writings

The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy book. It is kept under a special canopy in the Gurdwara. The Granthi (reader) waves a fan over it to show its importance. The holy book contains the teachings of the Gurus and it is considered an honour to read from it.

Festivals

Hola Mohalla, in February or March, is a time for contests when Sikhs show their skills at athletics, horsemanship and martial arts.
Baisakhi, in March or April, is New Year's Day in the Punjab.
Diwali, in October, is a festival when the story of Hargobind, the sixth Guru, is told.
Guru Nanak's Birthday, in October or November, is an important day. The Guru Granth Sahib is carried through the streets by five men.

Signs and Symbols

The Khanda is the symbol of Sikhism. It features a double-edged sword signifying belief in one God, a circle signifying eternity and two kirpans (swords) signifying spiritual and political power.

The Chauri is a type of fly whisk made of animal hair with a carved handle. It is waved over the Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of respect.

The Five Ks are worn by many adult Sikhs.

A Kangha is a metal or wooden hair comb to signify a neat and orderly way of life.

Kachs are shorts worn as underwear as a symbol of following new ideas.

A Kara is a steel bracelet worn on the right wrist as a sign of eternity.

A Kirpan is a short sword to remind Sikhs to fight against evil.

Kesh is uncut hair as a symbol of purity. A turban of between two and five metres long is worn by adult males with uncut hair.

Websites to Visit

Sikhism for Children	Photographs Line Drawings	Sikhism

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