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Sikh Practices - Coggle Diagram
Sikh Practices
Worship in the Gurdwara
Before entering the hall, worshippers remove shoes, cover their heads and wash their hands as a mark of respect.
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The Granthi (reader of the holy book) sits and reads the Guru Granth Sahib to the congregation and waves a chauri over it as a mark of respect.
The singing of verses (kirtan) may accompany the worship and is led by ragis also. Random reading (hukam) is performed.
The Guru Granth Sahib is covered in rumallas (colourful cloths) and men and women sit on opposite sides.
The special prayer at the end is called the Ardas. Karah parshad is then shared. It is sweet and is a symbol that nobody leaves God's presence empty handed.
They then move to the langar to share a meal which is vegetarian. Volunteers prepare and donate food and visitors are encouraged to join the free meal. Providing food is a form of sewa.
At the end of the day, the the Guru Granth Sahib is wrapped in clean cloth and carried on the head of a Khalsa Sikh to its place of rest.
Divali
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In 1699, Guru Hargobind and 52 Hindu princes were imprisoned. As Hargobind was so influential, they eventually had to release him. He insisted that he brought the princes with him, even though they were of a different religion. He got them to hold on to tassels on his cape and he managed to get them all through a small door.
Sikhs also remember Bhai Mani Singh. He was the granthi at the Golden Temple who transcribed the final version of the Guru Granth Sahib. His killing was ordered by an emperor after he prevented a meeting where the emperor planned to kill all of the Sikhs.
During Divali, an akhand path is performed and there is often street processions. Homes are decorated and many Sikhs travel to the Golden Temple.
Divali is a celebration of freedom as Hargobind was innocent and he obtained the innocence of the Hindu princes. Sikhism always promoted the freedom of following any religion and expressing their beliefs.
They celebrate as a way of recognising the way in which leaders have supported freedom and equality of all people. They show respect to those who have faced oppression and injustice.
Features of the Gurdwara
Gurdwara is the Sikh place of worship. It means "Guru's door". They go there to learn lessons from the Guru Granth Sahib.
Nishan Sahib- A flag outside the gurdwara which is yellow with a blue khanda in blue. The flagpole is wrapped in yellow cloth to signify that its a gurdwara.
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Worship at home
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They will repeat the Japiji of Guru Nanakr the Jap and Swayyas from Guru Gobind Singh. This helps them focus on God,
Some people use mala to help with prayers. It's a rope with knots and the person passes them through their fingers while repeating "Waheguru".
In the evening, hymns known as Rahiras are repeated then the Sohlia is said before bed. Part of it says "if there be a home for praise and thought of the creator, let that home sing in celebration and remember our designer".
Apart from set prayers, Khalsa Sikhs meditate on the name of God. It is known as Nam Japna and is a responsibility.
Gurpurbs and Melas
Gurpurbs are celebrations which take place at anniversaries of the birth or death of one of the Gurus.
Some gurpurbs are only celebrated at the site of the original event but, throughout the world four gurpurbs are widely celebrated. This includes the birthday of Guru Nanak and the martyrdom of Guru Arjan.
Some examples include Vaisakhi, Divali, and Guru Nanak's birthday.
Guru Nanak's birthday is widely celebrated. There are processions, an akhand path is performed in the gurdwara, there are fireworks etc. The celebrations are bigger in India and it is a national holiday whereas the celebrations in the UK are smaller and more communal.
Pilgrimage
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Pilgrimage is not required in Sikhism, as they believe being Gurmukh and focusing on Waheguru is more important than travelling. The Guru Granth Sahib also says "The spiritual wisdom given by the Guru is the true sacred shine of pilgrimage".
Many Sikhs visit the Punjab which is where Sikhism began. They may also visit the Harimandir Sahib (The Golden Temple).
The Haramindir has many decorations which symbolise core values within Sikhism. For example, it has four entrances, one on each side, which symbolises that people from all of the corners are welcome. They also have a large golden dome which is believed to be a inverted lotus flower with each of its petals pointing down to the earth, reminding Sikhs that they should be concerned with the world's problems.
Sikh ceremonies
Sikhs believe that one individual has many reincarnations and the birth of someone is a great gift from God, as it provides them the opportunity to achieve Mukti. This means that the birth of a baby should be celebrated, therefore a naming ceremony takes pllace.
In the Naming Ceremony, the family goes to the Gurdwara. The family offer something to the Gurdwara and they all say the mool mantra. The baby is given a spoonful of amrit and then a sword is dipped in it and touches the baby's tongue and head. The mother is then given a spoonful. The Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random and the first letter is the first letter of the baby. Some people call their baby Kaur or Singh.
Another ceremony is Amrit Sanksar. This is the initiation into the Khalsa. The Khalsa members adhere to the five K's (e.g Kesh is where you never cut your hair and Kara is when you wear a steel bracelet at all times). They must always follow only one God and never do drugs/drink alcohol/consume tobacco. There also many other rules they must follow. Those who go against the rules are known as sahajdhari.
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