Sikhism has long and profound origins because it developed from Hinduism. However, Sikhs uphold their unique traditions, which are fascinating to learn about.
In Sikhism, There Are Ten Human Gurus
The 10 human gurus are considered the spiritual forefathers of Sikhism. In the year 1469, Guru Nanak, the first guru, was born. Guru Gobind Singh, the final human guru, passed away in 1708. Depending on the difficulties the Sikh community was facing at the time, every Guru made a valuable contribution to the religious tradition. Sikhs enjoy telling tales about their Gurus’ amazing and miraculous lives. There is an entire area of audio stories for Sikh children on the SikhNet website. The 10 human Gurus are a common area of concentration.
Sikhs Visit Gurdwaras to Worship
Gurdwaras, pronounced “gur-DWAH-ruhs,” are the name given to Sikh temples and imply “gate or entrance to the Guru.” The Supreme Being, Waheguru, serves as the Guru in this instance. Gurdwaras come in all different sizes and shapes, but they invariably have at least one Sikh flag flying on their structure or grounds. The khanda, a Sikh symbol, is displayed on the orange or yellow flags. Every Sikh covers their head and takes off their shoes before entering a gurdwara. The Golden Temple in India is the most famous and popular gurdwara.
In Sikhism, The Holy Book is a Guru, too
The holy book of Sikhism is the Guru Granth Sahib, pronounced SAH-heeb. It is regarded as the Sikh tradition’s 11th and last Guru. Sikhs usually treat the text with the utmost reverence and preserve it on a raised platform that is covered by a canopy. Most of the time, it is upholstered in lovely fabrics and seated on cushions. Sikh leaders pass a fan over it while praying. The fan is known as a chaur and is typically made of yak hair. When it is time to read from the text, Sikhs uncover it.
Sikhs Enjoy Chanting a Lot
Prayers are always sung or recited during worship occasions. Since the chanting is a call-and-response style, or kirtan (pronounced “keer-tan”), anyone can join in. The harmonium (hand pump organ) and the tabla are two classic instruments that are frequently used by musicians to lead the prayers (drums). Men may sit on one side and ladies on the other in some gurdwaras. Other gurdwaras have communal seating for families.
They Enjoy Serving Meals!
Another typical Sikh custom is langar, pronounced “LANG-gar.” Sikhism is renowned for valuing equality and harmony. Serving free vegetarian meals is one way to embody that belief. No one is offered a better seat or finer food than anyone else; everyone sits on the floor. Langar always follows worship sessions, although Sikhs also offer them to the general public on other occasions, especially to people in need.
Sikhism Has Enjoyable Holy Days
Vaisakhi, a mid-April New Year’s celebration also observed by Hindus, is one of the most respected holy days in Sikhism. There are fairs, bhangra dance, and group kirtans as part of the Sikh celebrations. The ninth human Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded, and this holiday honors his memory. There are many hilarious bhangra dance videos online. One of them is this.
They Are Expert Riders on Horseback
Hola Mohalla is a significant Sikh holiday as well. It often occurs in March and corresponds with the Holi Hindu spring festival. Kirtans and langars are present as usual. However, Hola Mohalla also pays tribute to the heritage of Sikhism’s warriors and artists. Sikhs perform fictitious battles and exchange poems throughout the day. Competitions for horseback riding are another noteworthy event. In this video, expert Sikh motorcyclists demonstrate some of their tricks.
Devout Sikhs Lead Dedicated Lives
Some Sikhs get initiations into the tradition, such as baptism. These Sikhs legally commit to upholding the Sikh values of equality, unity, and peace. Additionally, they abstain from using tobacco, alcohol, and other narcotics, as well as cutting their hair. Men, women, and kids who have received their Sikh baptism all don some type of turban. These Sikhs are also awarded the titles of Singh (for men) or Kaur in recognition of their loyalty (for women).
Devoted Sikhs Wear the “Five K’s” As Well
One of the five Ks is uncut hair or kesh. A wooden comb (kangha), an iron bracelet (kara), an iron dagger (kirpan), and unique underwear make up the other four items devoted Sikhs always wear (kachera). The five K’s are so named because each word in Punjabi starts with the letter “k.” These tenets serve as a symbol of a person’s devotion to the Sikh way of life.
Services Not Available in English
Sikhs chant in Punjabi, the sacred language of Sikhism, during religious ceremonies. The written version, known as Gurmukhi, was created by Guru Angad, the second human guru of the Sikhs. There are 35 core letters in the Gurmuhkhi script, plus several extra consonants and diacritical markings. All of their sacred text’s hymns, poetry, and couplets are written in Gurmukhi. Kids may learn how to write the 35 letters of the alphabet with this video.
![Today, China is known for having one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. New buildings appear to appear every day. However, China is also home to some of the oldest written records in history. Chinese history and culture are amazingly diverse and fascinating. Here are some 20 interesting facts about china- 1. Strange table habits What you should avoid in most countries in the world is completely acceptable in China. As in Vietnam, spitting, yawning, chewing, and barking are common behaviors when eating in China. For us, it was very disgusting and we could not get used to it. Perhaps if we could stay in this world longer, it would be easier for us to put up with it. 2. Behavior of private children This is weird! Diapers are not popular in China. Many children wear special trousers with large holes in the bottom. When they feel the need to poo or urinate, they simply squirm and do whatever they want. And this is what you call eco-life! 3. The world's most populous country China is the most populous country in the world (with over a billion people in 2016). China's population is 4 times larger than the US population One in five people is Chinese Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world (based on the number of native speakers) 14% of the world's population speak Chinese 4. One of the largest countries in the world Contrary to many people's beliefs, China is not the largest country in the world. It is fourth behind Russia, Canada, and the United States. Russia is almost 2 times bigger than China! 5. The largest army in the world Chinese troops have the largest number of troops in the world (over 2 million people. 6. Panda Owners China owns all pandas. Everyone! All pandas in this land are Chinese. If you see a panda in other countries, it means it has been borrowed from the PRC (People's Republic of China). Interestingly, when a baby panda is born, it is shipped to China (often by FedEx) to help develop the gene pool. 7. Redeemers of virginity Restoration of virginity is also possible and very popular in China. This plastic surgery even has a medical name - hymenorrhaphy. Chinese women pay a lot of money by recreating their hymns before the wedding night. They just don't want their future husbands to find out they are no longer virgins ... 8. Traffic business China is the most populous country in the world. Not surprisingly, they have major traffic problems. What should you do if you arrive late for a meeting and you get stuck in traffic? He calls for the bottle rescuers! Two boys will come to you on a motorcycle. One will drive you whenever you want and the other will take your place in the car. 9. Remnants of the past Incredible but 35 million Chinese people still live in caves! They do not have enough money to build a house, so they use caves as their houses. 10. The sun has set China is a great country with only a one-time zone! That is why in some places the sun rises even at 10:00 AM. In the past, China has 5 different time zones. But in 1949 the leaders of the Communist Party decided to set a one-time strike across the country. Since then, everyone has been using official Beijing time. 11. New Year's fiesta New Year is a big holiday in China. It is celebrated in January or February and is a real holiday for everyone. Almost no one is working, everyone is returning home to celebrate this happy time with their families. Chinese New Year celebration lasts 15 days! Nothing can be compared to this. It is quite unusual for a whole country to have a holiday for such a long time. Interestingly, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in many other countries around the world. Given the large Chinese population, the Chinese New Year may be more popular than Christmas! 12. Birth limits China is the only country in the world where production is limited. Until 2015, Chinese couples could have only one child. For over a year now, they can have 2 children. 13. Pig kingdom Half of the world's pigs are Chinese! On a typical day, the Chinese people eat 1.7 million pigs. 14. A world of many religions Due to the large Chinese population, almost all of the world's religions are practiced there. The most popular are Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. The interesting fact is that there are more Christians in China than in Italy! 15. The creators of ice cream Who doesn't love ice cream? We can eat this delicious dessert because of China. It is believed that they began their experiment more than 4000 years ago by mixing milk and rice with ice. 16. Medical experts Today, we all know that blood circulates in our arteries. But it was less visible in the past. European scientist William Harvey was proud to announce this in 1628. Little did he know that the Chinese people got it… over 2000 years before him! 17. Mathematical geniuses It is no secret that the Chinese are one of the world's leading mathematicians. The mathematical history of China goes back to the 11th century BC! Thanks to China, today we know the number 0, decimal and binary systems, geometry, trigonometry, and algebra. 18. Architects It is a well-known fact that the largest man-made building in the world is in China. The Great Wall is not visible from the sky but is still remarkably tall - 8,850 kilometers (5,500 miles). China's most famous castle, called the Forbidden City, has over 9,000 rooms! 19. Frozen Fairyland Harbin, in northern China, has mild winters and cold winters, making it an ideal winter destination. Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival in northeastern China is one of the most popular winter destinations. But visitors will have to contend with extreme cold, snow, and ice! Assemble, put warm packs on your fur boots, and see how long you can survive in magical glaciers, statues, slides, and Harbin castles. 20. The climate in China is very different Generally, the north is colder and drier than the south, and the west is drier than the east. Winter temperatures in northeastern China can reach 40 degrees centigrade, and summer in the south can reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit [40 ° C]. Rainfall varies from a few millimeters a year in the Taklamakan desert to more than 3 feet [3 m] a year southeast.](https://www.sikhheros.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/photo-1551771279-b47900068e00-150x150.jpg "20 Interesting Facts About The Chinese People")
