Symbols, the five "K's" namely, kes-long hair, kangha-comb,
kachha-a pair of shorts, kara-iron bangles, and karpan-sword gives
Sikhism a distinct individuality. A baptized Sikh is easily recognized by
his beard, long hair and turban. He recites compositions of the Gurus as
his daily prayer at fixed times of the day-The Japji of Guru Nanak and
Jap and Savvayas of Guru Gobind Singh in the morning, Rehras in the
evening and Sohilas at night. He also participates in the congregational
prayer.
A Sikh attaches great importance to the reading of the Granth. Ordinarily,
the book is opened at any page and the reading starts with any passage.
Sometimes the reading of the whole book is undertaken by the congreation
or a family as Saptah Path ( a cover-to-cover reading in seven days) or as
Akhand Path (uninterrupted reading of the book in 48 hours).
Amrit-pan ceremony or Sikh Baptism is the rite by which a Sikh becomes
a member of the Panth or the Khalsa Brotherhood. A candidate, after bathing
and putting on clean clothes and wearing the five "K's", stands reverently with
folded palms before the congregation of five (representing the Panj Piyare). One
of whom explains to him the principles of Sikhism and the discipline which
he will have to obesrve. On his acceptance of the code of conduct, the Panj Piyare
adds patase to the water in an iron basin and stir it with a double-edged dagger,
while chanting verses from the two Granths. The amrit is sprinkled on the candidate's
head and face, a part of it is given to him to drink. He repeates certain vows
which constitute rehat, Sikh rules of conduct. Karah Parsad (communion food)
is distributed at the end of the ceremony, and all those who are baptized in the
batch eat out of the same dish.
Of the Sikh festivals, Baisakhi marks the birth of the Khalsa, two Guru Purbs
commemorate the bithdays of Guru Nank and Guru Gobind Singh, and the two
others the martydom of Guru Arjan and Guru Teg Bahadur. In common with the
Hindus, the Sikhs celebrate Divali and also Holi in the form of Hola Mohalla.
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