Why do Sikhs maintain a Unique Identity.
“Before becoming a Sikh, a Muslim, a Hindu or
a Christian, lets become a human first.”
-Sri
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Sikhs think religion should be practiced by
living in the world and copying with life’s everyday problems.
Since the formative moments of
the tradition, Sikhs have maintained a physical identity that makes them stand
out in public, even in the context of South Asia. This identity includes five
articles of faith —
kesh (unshorn hair),
kanga (small comb),
kara (steel
bracelet),
kirpan (religious article resembling a knife),
kachera
(soldier-shorts) —
And distinguishes someone who has formally committed to the
values of the faith by accepting initiation.
Perhaps the best analogy (though admittedly an imperfect one) is
that of a wedding ring: one cannot reduce the significance of a wedding ring to
its instrumental value; rather, one cherishes the wedding ring because it is a
gift of love from one’s partner. Similarly, Sikhs cherish their articles of
faith primarily because they see them as a gift from their beloved Guru. Trying
to understand these articles on the basis of their function is missing the
point.
Perhaps the most visible aspect of the Sikh identity is the
turban, which can be worn by men and women alike. The turban was historically
worn by royalty in South Asia, and the Gurus adopted this practice as a way of
asserting the sovereignty and equality of all people. For a Sikh, wearing a
turban asserts a public commitment to maintaining the values and ethics of the
tradition, including service, compassion, and honesty.
-By Swetha
-By Swetha
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