Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (small wooden comb) are 2 out of 5 articles important for Sikhs.
It is said that Sikhisim was not introduced as a new religion, but it was a movement for rectification of existing practices.
Why Sikhism gave such importance to Kesh and Kangha as these things still have some relevance in the culture of Punjab (even for non-sikhs)? Even in adjacent areas beard and mustaches have cultural importance besides having religious importance ( like Muslims have).
‘Much nahin te kuch nahin’ and ‘chor ki daRhi main tinka’ like idioms say that these things were prevalent in the region without any connection to religion.
these are called 5 K's of Sikhism...Sikhs have five articles [pillars] of their faith...it's required of them...since Sikhism was founded on the best concepts from Hinduism and Islam...[oneness of God (Islam); reincarnation (Hinduism)], they have this 5 K's as we have 5 pillars in Islam.
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1. kesh
2. kanghaa
3. kirpaan
4. kachchhaa
5. Kangan**
symbolically, i think kesh is for visible identity, kirpaan for protection, kangan for adherence to the belief, kanghaa for cleanliness and kachchhaa for life with no luxury [modest life style].
normally identity is for distinguishing oneself from other groups, but in this case, its not distinguishing feature, as we saw post 911. Many Sikhs were arrested considering them as Muslims.
normally identity is for distinguishing oneself from other groups, but in this case, its not distinguishing feature, as we saw post 911. Many Sikhs were arrested considering them as Muslims.
it's ignorance on the part of gora log...most sikhs are identifiable from their looks. i'm sure people in the sub-continent [where Sikhism originated] can never misidentify a Sikh as a Muslim. don't you think so?
in Canadian Parliament, a sardarji MP always sits right behind the Prime Minister which gives the ruling party a label of multiculturalism.
I think its difficult for a common men to distinguish a beard Muslim and Sikh (If Sikh doesn’t carry other articles). Its also not necessary that everyone knows about 5 Ks of Sikhism.
This is the picture of Guru Teg Bahadur. I can recognise because his name is mentioned wherefrom I took the pic. Otherwise, I would have considered him to be any Muslim Jageerdar (official) from Mughal era.
the way they tie their turban is universal and it's quite different than the safa Muslims wear...besides, most Sicks [probably over 99%] tie their beard in a particular way.
those who can NOT recognize is ignorance on their part. i believe their looks is a strong identifier.
the ones with flowing beard are nihangkaaris who are a sect of Sikhism. in India i saw very few Sikhs with flowing beard. those that i saw were usually older folks or the ones whi have dedicated their lives for Gurdwaras.
the way they tie their turban is universal and it's quite different than the safa Muslims wear...besides, most Sicks [probably over 99%] tie their beard in a particular way.
those who can NOT recognize is ignorance on their part. i believe their looks is a strong identifier.
May be with the passage of time, they have developed some distinguishing features (like you mentioned the way they tie their turban or beard), but from the pic of Teg Bahadur, it seems that at inception the identity was not distinguishable.
these are called 5 K's of Sikhism...Sikhs have five articles [pillars] of their faith...it's required of them...since Sikhism was founded on the best concepts from Hinduism and Islam...[oneness of God (Islam); reincarnation (Hinduism)], they have this 5 K's as we have 5 pillars in Islam.
**
1. kesh
2. kanghaa
3. kirpaan
4. kachchhaa
5. Kangan**
symbolically, i think kesh is for visible identity, kirpaan for protection, kangan for adherence to the belief, kanghaa for cleanliness and kachchhaa for life with no luxury [modest life style].
5 is not Kangan, it is called a Karha and is usually made of stainless steel or iron in olden days.
