The Sikhs of North America

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The Sikhs of North America
Sikhs (pronounced sickhs) are people who follow
the Sikh religion. Sikhism began many years ago
in the Punjab region, located north of India .
The Sikhs that live there speak the Punjabi
language. Today, many people who follow the Sikh
religion also live in the United States and
Canada. The religion began with a man named Guru
Nanak. The word guru means someone who can take
you from darkness to light and guides you on the
right path.
This is a picture of India. The Punjab region is
located North of India
There are five things that identify a person as a
Sikh. These include uncut hair that is often
held up in a turban, a steel bracelet, a small
ornamental sword that is carried at all times, a
small comb and breeches or shorts that are worn
underneath a persons clothing. Guru Gobind
Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, gave these five gifts
to the Sikhs. All Sikhs that choose to go through
an initiation ceremony called Amrit wear these
articles of faith. Sikh men have the last name
Singh, meaning lion, and women have the last name
Kaur, meaning princess.
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Today, many Sikhs belong to youth groups that are
designed for Sikh children and young adults.
These groups meet to teach Sikhs about their
unique religious and cultural history and
traditions. Sikh kids also meet just to have fun
and hang out with other people who follow the
same religion as themselves. Many of these youth
groups are connected to a communitys Gurdwara.
For Sikh families, the Gurdwara -- like a church
or temple for Sikhs -- is a place for people to
meet and share their religious and other
traditions. It is a center for Sikh life and is a
place where people can gather for special
ceremonies like those marking a marriage, the
birth of a baby or a death in a family.
Gurdwaras have kitchens so that meals can be made
and shared with the entire community. People of
every religion are welcome at Gurdwaras and in
the community kitchen. Also, when people pray
and worship in the Gurdwara, everyone sits on the
floor all grouped together -- there is no one in
front of or, higher than anyone else. This a way
for Sikhs to show that everyone is an equal.
The Sikh religion recognizes equality among all
people. That means that everyone -- men or women
-- are treated in the same way. All members of
the Sikh religion believe in only one God -- they
are monotheists like Jews, Christians and
Muslims. All Sikhs are expected to work hard, to
be good and giving people, worship God and
provide service for all Humanity.