SIKH LIFESTYLE: CUSTOMS, FOOD, CLOTHES AND MORALITY

SIKH LIFESTYLE

Sikh women The essence of being a true Sikh revolves around personal behavior, not ritual. Sikhs generally do not value fasting, asceticism or withdrawal from life. Rather, they believe in the need to invlve themselves in world around them and deal with problems facing them. True living for Sikhs involves remembering the one reality as often and as intimately as possible. The daily spiritual routine (nit nem) consists of recitations of hymns from the various gurus, including Guru Nanak's Japu, which is read, recited, or heard on tape in the morning. [Source: Louis E. Fenech, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992]

In their daily lives, devout Sikhs try to follow guideline laid down by the Ten Gurus of Sikhism in the 15th to 19th centuries. These fall into several categories, the first of which concerns the worship of God. Sikhs are required to worship one God, to make worship of God a part of daily life (for example, by reciting prayers), and to avoid any kind of superstition, meaningless ritual, or idol worship. God is to be worshipped in an abstract form, not as a person or an image.[Source: “World Religions Reference Library”, Thomson Gale, 2007 |~|]

Secondly, Sikhs are expected to lead an honest, generous and industrious life. They should work hard, help the less fortunate, share their income with others through charitable contributions, avoid harm to others, and devote themselves to their family by having good relationships with their parents and children. Sikhs are strongly egalitarian and are supposed to detest the Hindu caste system. They believe all people are the children of God and thus equal. Sikhs try never to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or caste and be strong supporters of democratic institutions. |~|

Lastly, Sikhs are expected to live sober lives. They are forbidden from using tobacco, recreational drugs, or alcohol, and not allowed to gamble. Many Sikhs are vegetarians allow they are not required to be. Those who do consume meat try o eat it prepared according to rules similar to Jewish kosher standards.

Sikh Characteristics

Sikhs consider themselves a “people of the book.” They shun alcohol and follow a strict moral code and rules that are similar to those of Islam. They are basically two kinds of Sikhs: ones have been initiated in the Khalsa Panth and ascribe to the “Five Ks” (See Sikh Religion) and sahajdhari, lay people who do not completely follow the code of conduct but are accepted as Sikhs if they respect the gurus, express devotion and participate in worship.

Sikhs are encouraged to maintain an upbeat, positive attitude, knowing that God is always present to help. They are urged to lead a life of discipline, through practices such as singing hymns, meditating, waking up early, and leading a simple life. In addition Sikhs are urged to avoid the "five thieves": 1) lust (cham), 2) anger (krodh), 3) greed (lobh), 4) attachment to material things (moh), and 5) pride (ahankar). The primary way to combat them and to oversome human weakness is to emply the "five weapons": 1) contentment (santokh), 2) charity (dan), 3) kindness (daya), 4) positive energy (chardi kala), and 5) humility (nimarta). [Source: “World Religions Reference Library”, Thomson Gale, 2007]

Sikhs emphasize education and often successful in business endeavors and farming. Despite efforts by the gurus to reject caste, the caste system continues to endure. A large portion of all Sikhs are Jats. There is an inferior caste of urban Sikhs called Khatri and Arora. The Balnikis and Ravidasis are the Sikh equivalent of Untouchables.

Sikhs profess a faith in one God, human equality, universal love and honest work. They value respect for elders, kindness, generosity, compassion, modesty, community, family, strength, monogamy and a healthy lifestyle. Sikhs have a reputation for being hardworking, energetic, ambitious and fierce warriors. They take pride in being the "best farmers, fighters, entrepreneurs and sportsmen" and are ashamed of taking hand outs.

According to the “Encyclopedia of World Cultures”: “Sikhism validates normal activities: "While laughing, playing, dressing up, and eating we attain liberation" (Guru Granth 522). Its strong work ethic is summed up in a popular maxim: "Work hard [kirat karni ], remember the divine [nam japna ], and share your enjoyment with others [vand chhakna ]." Sikhs bring the divine into the daily rhythms of their lives, and they even exalt the divine in their everyday greetings: whenever they want to say hello or goodbye, they join their hands and say "sat sri akal" (truth is timeless). Their frequent exclamation — waheguru — surges with a sense of wonder and echoes Guru Nanak's awe (wah) when he first experienced the transcendent One. [Source: Louis E. Fenech, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

Sikh Morality and Ethics

Pashaura Singh wrote in the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”: For Sikhs, the key element of religious living is to render service (seva) to others in the form of mutual help and voluntary work. The real importance of seva lies in sharing one's resources of "body, mind, and wealth" (tan-man-dhan) with others. This is an expression toward fellow beings of what one feels toward Akal Purakh. The service must be rendered without the desire for self-glorification, and, in addition, self-giving service must be done without setting oneself up as a judge of other people. The Ardas (Petition, or Sikh Prayer) holds in high esteem the quality of "seeing but not judging" (anadith karana). Social bonds are often damaged beyond redemption when people, irrespective of their own limitations, unconscionably judge others. The Sikh Gurus emphasized the need to destroy this root of social strife and enmity through self-giving service. [Source: Pashaura Singh, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]

The central focus in the Sikh moral scheme involves the cultivation of virtues such as wisdom, contentment, justice, humility, truthfulness, temperance, love, forgiveness, charity, purity, and fear of Akal Purakh. Guru Nanak remarked, "Sweetness and humility are the essence of all virtues" (Adi Granth, p. 470). These virtues not only enrich the personal lives of individuals, but they also promote socially responsible living. The Gurus laid great stress on the need to earn one's living through honest means. In particular, living by alms or begging is strongly rejected. Emphasizing hard work and sharing, Sikh ethics forbids withdrawal from social participation. Fourth, the Gurus offered their own vision of the cultivation of egalitarian ideals in social relations. Such ideals are based on the principle of social equality, gender equality, and human brotherhood. Thus, it is not surprising that any kind of discrimination based on caste or gender is expressly rejected in Sikh ethics. |~|

Do Sikhs always live up to the high bar set for them? The Sikh playwright and critic, Kaur Bhatti wrote; “the fallibility of human nature means that simple Sikh principals of equality, compassion and modesty are sometimes discarded in favor of outward appearance, wealth and the quest for power.” Sikhs are sometimes the butts of Polack type jokes told by other Indians.

Militant “khadus” (freedom fighters, religious police) have reportedly threatened people who got drunk, even if it was at a wedding. Once, a Sikh owner of a wine shop was killed. According to Guru Granth Sahib, “By drinking wine one loses sanity and become mad, loses the power of discrimination and incurs the displeasure of God.”

Caste Among Sikhs

Sikhs are strongly egalitarian and are supposed to detest the Hindu caste system. They believe all people are the children of God and thus equal. Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak rejected the caste system. Features of the Sikh religion, such as the common surnames, the common kitchen, and the absence of priests, were intended to remove the distinctions of caste. [Source: D. O. Lodrick, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009]

Despite efforts by the Ten Gurus to reject caste, the caste system continues to endure. A large portion of all Sikhs are Jats. There is an inferior caste of urban Sikhs called Khatri and Arora. The Balnikis and Ravidasis are the Sikh equivalent of Untouchables. Historically, , Sikh converts have been drawn from Hindu castes such as the Jats. Sikhs will eat together and worship together, but marriages are still usually arranged among the same subgroup or caste, such as Jat, Arora, or Ramgarhia.

Sikh Customs

The proper form of address for Sikhs is Sardar (Mr.) or Sardarni (Mrs.). If one does not know a man's name, he is addressed as Sardarji, or Sardar Sahib. Among rural and the working class people, a man is usually referred to as Bhaiji, or Bhai Sahib (Brother) and a woman as Bibiji (Mistress), or Bhainji (Sister). The title Giani is used for an esteemed teacher or scholar. [Source: D. O. Lodrick, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009 *]

Sikhs generally use their given name preceded by Singh if they are male and Kaur if they are female. Married Sikh women use their given name (first name) plus their husband’s given name. Singh is like title. Calling someone Mr. Singh is like calling them “Mr. Mr.”

The most common, traditional greetings among the Sikhs is for a person to press the palms of his or her hands and say "Sat Sri Akal" ("God is Truth"). They often greet one another with Sat Sri Akal ji! which can be taken to mean “Are you hale and hearty, young man?”. A second form is greeting is practiced by men, especially when addressing large gatherings. The palms are joined and the man says "Wah Guru Ji Ka Khalsa" ("The Sikhs are the Chosen of God"). The response to this is "Wah Guru Ji Ki Fateh" ("God be Victorious"). *\

Most Sikhs in the Punjab live in comfortable homes, built around a central courtyard. Sikh settlements or communities almost always include a gurdwara, or "house of the Guru," a place of worship so called because it houses the sacred Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. Before entering a Sikh temple worshipers remove their shoes and cover their head. There is also a ritual washing of the hands, and, in some gurdwaras, of the feet.

Sikh Food, Drinking and Drugs

Sikhs are not supposed to consume alcohol or tobacco. Most Sikhs observe the tobacco prohibition but not the liquor one. A large majority of the Punjabi population, particularly those rural areas, are known for their taste for hard liquor — sometimes homemade. Opium and hashish (bhang) are also widely used in rural areas.

Many Sikhs are vegetarians. They typically eat a meal of curry, lentils, potatoes, pudding and rice. Staples of the Punjab are wheat, buffalo milk, dal (lentil curry) and milk products. Other commonly eaten foods rice with tandori chicken (for those that eat meat), “saag” (spinach), “baigan” (eggplant) and chapatis or roti (flat breads made from wheat or maize). Most Punjabi Sikhs have a diet of simple vegetables and milk products. Corn bread and mustard greens (makki di roti and sag) with buttermilk (lassi) is a favorite. In winter, vegetables made from mustard or other greens and served with butter may be added.

Sikhs in Punjabi villages frequently consume the meat of goats and chickens. Sikhs are particularly fond of goat meat and sometimes only eat on special occasions.While many Sikhs follow a vegetarian diet, those who do not may consume meat prepared according to Jewish kosher standards. These standards dictate how animals are to be killed, which animal products may be eaten, and even how such products are consumed. Sikhs are not supposed to consume meat prepared using the halal method (meat from an animal whose throat is ritually cut according to Muslim rules) but permits the eating of jhataka meat (meat killed with a single blow). Sikhs share the Hindu view on not eating beef, and many devout Sikhs will not eat meat, fish, or eggs. [Source: D. O. Lodrick, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009 *]

The Adi Granth — the Sikh holy book — does not prescribe dietary rules, although it places an emphasis on "consuming only those foods which do not cause pain in the body or breed evil thoughts in the mind" (Adi Granth, p. 16). In line with the egalitarian ethics of Sikhism, the serving of eggs and meat is not permitted in the community kitchens (langars) of gurdwaras. The food there is strictly vegetarian. [Source: Pashaura Singh, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]

Clothes of Sikh Men

Sikhs and Hasidic Jews are among the world's most recognizable people. Sikh men usually wear a turban and sport a beard. Their turbans cover up their long, uncut hair. Sikhs have traditionally not cut their beards either. These days you can find an increasing number of Sikhs who are clean shaven and don’t wear turbans.

The traditional Sikh outfit is a knee-length, button-down jacket known as a “shirwani” and tight, white trousers or breeches known as “churidar”. Men also wear shalawars (tunics) and “kurtas” (long-sleeved shirts) worn hanging down outside the trousers. . Devout Sikhs wear white tunics and breeches which symbolizes a purified soul.

Young Sikhs or Sikhs playing sports wear a “patka”, a scarf that looks like a little turban. It covers a top knot shaped like a little old lady bun. Initiates also wear the kasha, or white shorts, which symbolize purity. Some Sikh males wear steel arm bracelets on their right wrists. In Western societies, Sikhs wear Western clothes, except for the turban.

In villages, Sikh men typically wear tight-legged pajama-like trousers with long shirts that hang on the outside. In towns and cities, however, most men wear Western-style clothes. The Sikh granthis, gianis, and sants typically wear white clothing, including a turban, a long outer shirt called cholara, tight-fitting trousers known as reb pajama, a sash called kamar-kasa, and an undergarment called kachh. They also carry a sword called kirpan with a belt running diagonally over the right shoulder. These five garments make up the Khalsa dress (bana). [Source: Pashaura Singh, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]

Clothes of Sikh Women

Sikh women have traditionally worn saris or trousers and tunic (salwar-kamiz) that is often associated with Muslims in Pakistan but also the regional dress of the Punjab. Along with this, they often cover their heads with scarves called dupattas or chunnis that can also be worn over their shoulders. Sikh women can choose whether or not to cover their hair.

The trousers and tunics are comfortable and functional and make sense for rural Punjabi life. Saris are associated with more with urban Sikh women. They are worn with a full blouse that covers the midriff, so that the injunction warning against "wearing clothes which cause pain to the body or breed lustful thoughts" (Adi Granth, p. 16) is obeyed. [Source: Pashaura Singh, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]

Turbans Worn by Sikhs

Male Sikhs are generally recognizable by the long turbans carefully wrapped around their hair. The most visible symbol of Sikh pride and identity, the turban is made from an eight-meter (26-foot) -long piece of cloth , used by Sikh men to manage the long hair which their religion forbids them from cutting. It is so important that observant Sikhs in the Indian military wear them instead of helmets even in frontline combat situations. Most turbans are worn in the peaked "Patiala" style. They can be pink, yellow, red, saffron or green — any color. Saffron symbolizes persecution or martyrdom. White is often worn at a time of mourning, pink at weddings, and yellow at the spring Basant festival when the mustard crop is flowering. On a daily basis, Sikhs often pick a turban color to match their clothes.”

According to the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”: Most Sikhs normally wear turbans of three colors — deep blue, white, and saffron — all of which have religious significance. For Khalsa Sikhs the significance of deep blue lies in the "highest ideals of character" (nili siahi kada karani) and in the "deepest urges in the life of spirituality" (Adi Granth, p. 16), since the blue sky stands for the highest horizon and the blue ocean stands for the depth. The color white stands for purity, while saffron represents the spirit of sacrifice in Sikh mores. They commonly wear a peaked turban to cover their long hair, unshorn out of respect for its original, God-given form. [Source: Pashaura Singh,“Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]

Sikh Social and Political Organizations

In Punjabi rural areas the predominant social organization is the panchayat, made up of five village elders led by head elder known as a sarpanch. The panchayat and zat (caste) leaders govern the behavior of their members. Zats are often ranked hierarchically vís-a-vís other zats in the village. Within urban areas and towns nuclear families the predominate units of social control. [Source: Louis E. Fenech,“Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

Conflicts between groups in India often arise over land and may be resolved through the state's courts. Conflict involving Sikhs sometimes arise from insults directed towards them or their religion. These too. may be settled in court. Conflict among Sikhs usually arise over land and are tied up with Punjabi Sikh notions of self-respect. There are cases of family feuds resulting from land disputes that have taken generations to sort out or are still unresolved after that time. If the problem occurs within a village, the panchayat may exert control. |~|

According to the “Encyclopedia of World Cultures”: Although panchayats and the sarpanch play a political role within the village, Sikh politics within the Punjab is usually the prerogative of the many Akali Dal parties. Akali Dal literally means the "Army of the Immortal One" (i.e., God) and is known to protect Sikh interests within the Punjab and India. The first Akali Dal was founded in the early 1920s as a group to organize Sikh political dissent. Its membership is usually drawn from Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa Order who are predominately Jat. Its principal agendum is to forward mainly Jat concerns. There are a number of separate Akali Dal factions, each of which is generally named for its leader. Akali Dal (Mann) therefore is the Akali Dal faction led at the beginning of the twenty-first century by the politician Simranjit Singh Mann. |~|

Sikh Work, Soldiers and Economic Life

Sikhs have a tradition of self employment because their turbans and clothing requirements turned employers off. Even so, Sikhs enjoy relatively high social status and have enjoyed success in business. Sikh venture capitalists have been active in Silicon Valley. Famous Sikhs include Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. Other Sikhs who have achieved high office in politics and government service include Swaran Singh, who was appointed to Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru's cabinet after Independence and served in various ministerial position in several Indian governments. [Source: D. O. Lodrick, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009]

Many Sikhs are policeman, soldiers, body guards, tempo drivers, shop owners, truck drivers, political activists, taxi drivers and sportsmen. There are a fair number of Sikh doctors, teachers and lawyers. Some Sikhs make their living as sidewalk dentists. The can install false teeth, pull aching teeth and wire new bridges right next to the street.

Sikhs have traditionally formed martial class in the Indian military and occupy a disproportionate number of senior posts in the police and military. Sikhs have distinguished themselves in the Indian and British military. Of the 40 Victorian Crosses (the highest medals for battlefield valor given by the British) given to Indians, 21 were given to Sikhs. During festivals, Sikh soldiers like to put marigolds on the end of their swords. General J. J. Singh, the former Indian Chief of Army Staff, was a Sikh.

The British acknowledged the fighting qualities of the Sikhs after the Anglo-Sikh wars of the 19th century. They incorporated the Khalsa regiments into their fighting forces. During the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny Sikh regiments remained loyal to the British and distinguished themselves in World War I and World War II. Despite comprising only 2 percent of the Indian population, Sikhs made up 20 percent of the British Indian Army. The tradition of military service continues today. They make up a large share of India's armed forces that far exceeds their share of the population. [Source: D. O. Lodrick, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009 *]

Sikh Farmers and Agriculture

Most Sikhs are farmers. Many Sikhs believe that farming is the only non-military profession respectable for a man. Many also belong to the Jat caste, who have traditionally been farmers and they own much of the agricultural land. Sikhs were at the forefront of the farmer protests in India in the early 2020s.

According to the “Encyclopedia of World Cultures”: “Land among Jat Sikhs is handed down to the sons of the owner and only in exceptional cases to daughters (usually the daughter's share is given to her by way of dowry). The importance of land may be seen, for example, in the treatment of widows. The wife of a recently deceased brother is usually married off to another brother in order to ensure that land stays within the family. Land in Jat Sikh society translates into power, and is intimately associated with Jat Sikh notions of self respect and honor. [Source: Louis E. Fenech, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

The Punjab, where many Sikhs live, is very fertile, and has brought prosperity to many Sikhs. Sikh farmers helped push the Green Revolution, which had its base in the Punjab. Sikh farmers in the Punjab benefiting from the Green Revolution saw their incomes rise from $2,000 a year in 1970 to $20,000 in 1997. The Punjab has also been the site of disputes over the distribution of water. The Sikhs have traditionally been the backbone of the canal colonies in the Punjab.

Image Sources:

Text Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Compton’s Encyclopedia, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, The Economist, Foreign Policy, Wikipedia, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.

Last updated December 2023