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Sikhism
Discrimination
experienced after the 9/11 terrorist attacks forced Sikhs to defend
and define their faith. Since then, this growing community has raised
its profile in U.S. cities, workplaces and on campuses and stepped
up its fight for civil rights. Sikhs, whose men wear turbans and
beards, are often mistaken for Muslims. Sikhism, however, is a distinct
monotheistic religion that originated in India in the 15th century
and draws on elements of Hinduism and Islamic Sufism. Family and
moral purity are prime values; the union of each human spirit with
God’s is believed to end a karmic cycle of rebirths. There
is a relatively small number of Sikhs in the United States, but
worldwide, there are 20 million, making it the world’s ninth-largest
religion.
SCRIPTURE
The Sikh scripture is called the Guru Granth Sahib. The 10th Sikh
Guru decreed that after his death the book’s teachings would
be Sikhs’ spiritual guide. Sikhs show it the respect they would
give to a human Guru.
MAJOR
HOLIDAYS
Vaisakhi marks the Sikh new year, in April, and commemorates the
religion’s birth. Like Hindus, Sikhs also observe Diwali, a
festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
MAJOR
ORGANIZATIONS
• The Sikh
Coalition is an umbrella group established by several Sikh groups
after the 9/11 attacks to protect Sikh civil rights.
• Sikh
Mediawatch and Resource Task Force is a news and information
site for Sikhs run by an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.
• The Sikh
Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, Calif.,
that promotes Sikh culture, art and heritage, especially in the
West and to young people.
TIPS
FOR COVERAGE
• The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara, a punjabi
word meaning gateway to the Guru.
• Sikh men all take the name Singh, meaning lion. Women take
the name Kaur, which means princess. Sikh men have uncut hair, carry
a wooden comb and a steel sword, and wear a steel bracelet and cotton
underwear.
RESOURCES
• See ReligionLink’s
guide to Sikhism.
• The Sikhism
Homepage is an online resource of all things Sikh.
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