Sikhism

Nanak (1469-1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talvaṇḍī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore (in what is present-day Pakistan). His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari (an accountant of land revenue in the government). Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one older sister, Nanaki. His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan. As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein. Three days later he reappeared and would give the same answer to any question posed to him: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "nā kōi hindū nā kōi musalmān"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres. The first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca.

Also Please refer to following link for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism

Baisakhi Celebrations

Festival of Baisakhi is celebrated with lot of joy and enthusiasm in the northern state of Punjab and Haryana. Farmers are jubilant over the festival as for them Baisakhi marks the time for harvest of rabi crops. Prosperous with the bountiful produce they look forward to celebrating Baisakhi with all eagerness.

For the predominant Sikh population of Punjab Baisakhi is one the biggest festival as it marks the foundation day of Khalsa Panth by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Sikh community located anywhere in the world celebrate Baisakhi by participating in the special prayer meets and Baisakhi processions.

Baisakhi Celebrations by Farmers

In the villages of Punjab and Haryana, the day of Baisakhi is full of colors and vibrancy. Cries of "Jatta aayi Baisakhi"reverberate in the skies as gaily-dressed men and women move towards the fields to celebrate the occasion. High point of Baisakhi celebrations in villages is the performance of traditional folk dance bhangra and gidda by men and women respectively. The dance is simple in movement but is extremely energetic and is performed in-groups on the beat of dhol.

Farmers also celebrate Baisakhi as a Thanksgiving Day. After taking an early bath in ponds or rivers people visit temples or gurdwaras to express gratitude to the Almighty for the bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity and good times in future.

At several places in Punjab colourful Baisakhi Fairs are also organized to celebrate the day. People participate in these fairs with lots of enthusiasm and charm. Major attractions of Baisakhi Fairs are the bhangra and gidda performances besides wrestling bouts, singing and acrobatics. Performance of folk instruments - vanjli and algoza is also quite popular. Food stalls and shops selling trinkets make Baiskhi Melas even more joyful.

Baisakhi Celebrations by Sikhs

Sikhs celebrate this very important day of their religion with joy and devotion. They take an early bath, wear new clothes and visit the neighborhood gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) to participate in the special prayer meet marked for the day. After a special ardas of kirtans (religious songs) and discourses kada prasad (sweetened semolina) is distributed amongst all present. Later, people sit in rows to relish the langar or community lunch prepared and served by kar sevaks or volunteers.

Major celebrations of Baisakhi are organized at Golden Temple, Amritsar where the Khalsa Panth was founded on a Baisakhi Day in 1699. Most Sikhs strive to visit Golden Temple on the occasion.

Another high point of Baisakhi celebrations by Sikhs is the Baisakhi procession or nagar kirtan carried though the city under the leadership of Panj Piaras or the Five Beloved Ones. Men, women and children alike participate in the Baiskhi processions with enthusiasm. Mock duels, bands playing religious tunes and performance of bhangra and gidda dance make Baisakhi processions quite colourful and enchanting.

Later in the evening, people exchange greetings with friends and relatives usually with a box of sweets or other traditional gifts.

The Five Ks are the five items of dress and physical appearance (a sort of uniform) given to Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh when he gathered together the first members of the Khalsa on Baisakhi day in 1699. Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh guru or spiritual teacher.

Kesh- uncut hair and beard, as given by God, to sustain him or her in higher consciousness; and a turban, the crown of spirituality.

Kangha- a wooden comb to properly groom the hair as a symbol of cleanliness.

Kachera- specially made cotton underwear as a reminder of the commitment to purity.

Kara- a steel circle, worn on the wrist, signifying bondage to Truth and freedom from every other entanglement.

Kirpan- the sword, with which the Khalsa is committed to righteously defend the fine line of the Truth.

Khalsa also vows to refrain from any sexual relationships outside of marriage, only eat Jhatka meat (animals humanely killed with a single sword/axe strike to sever the head), and refrain from tobacco, alcohol, and all other intoxicants.

I read somewhere Sikhs pray 5 times a day. I did not know this as I am a Sikh myself and I thought there were 2 main prayers, Morning and evening. Can someone shed some light on this, thank you.

Sikhs are to go to Gurudwara two times a day, in the morning and in the evening. For prayers, there is nitnem which is that, Sikh would read and contemplate on five banis in the morning, one in the evening and one before bedtime.

So there are three times when a Sikh would pray in a day. But as you said depending on how much one can put his/her effort one can do two times a day too.

Again, like most other things religion is optional. If religion is optional then so are prayers. There are different types of Sikhs: the everyday Sikhs that look like you and me (cut their hair, eat meat and maybe don't pray much) and then on the other hand there are Amritdhari Sikhs. In word an Amritdhari Sikhs would be referred to as "baptised" Sikhs.

These Sikhs are required to do there 5 banis (5 morning prayers) every morning, Rehras Sahib in the afternoon and then Soheila Sahib also know as Kirtan Soheila in the evening (bedtime prayer). These type of Sikhs are also required to do Ardaas after every prayer. Ardaas is simple way of thanking god for all that he has given you, for making a wish and remembering those who sacrificed their lives long ago.

Now going back to the other types of Sikhs, some may follow this commitment and others may not. Nothing is forcefully done in the Sikh faith as everything is optional; however, in the Sikh holy scriptures it is implied many times that a Sikh is to be an Amritdhari Sikh.

Sikhs have 10 gurus.

But some Sikhs believe they're 11. Because the last Guru said there will be no more Gurus. So he decided to make the last one the holy book for the Sikhs. Which is called the: "Guru Granth Sahib". Sikhs respect it a lot. Also Guru means: Teacher.

Thanks. Let me define the "Guru" a Sanskrit word means teacher. Agree, your teacher can be book which is a composition of teachings of teachers who ever lived or talks about past and is supported by years back, or can be a living person who under stands present, past and future, he is trying to tell you some thing based on present circumstances by using more present examples though your minds are blinded with past rulers of mind. No body told any body about 11th guru, but spirits proved and is in papers that Sikh guru has been killed. Check all the Papers in Austria. So that means there are 11 gurus so far, who knows how many are more there not recognized, all they are doing is telling the truth to those people the truth about God. It is how you would like to see God through black glasses, blue glasses, or else glasses. God want is to see him, the way you are willing to see him the help will be there. All God want from you is come to me, I miss you and you are all mine for ever and ever, please do not get lost.I love you. All i need is that you are trying to come on to me, you do not want you to get lost, I will provide the support in your way. Please do not kill the support, It is me who is giving to you in a way , when, were, how,why etc lost. All I need is come back to me. As I see in new Papers that Sikhs have 11 Gurus Already.

Sikhs have 11 Gurus, 10 of which were living and the last 1 which is our holy book.

Sikhism founded in the year 1469 (5 Centuries ago) with the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Guru Gobind Singh ji established Khalsa Panth on 13 April 1699 and instructed every Sikh to use the words Singh (for men) and Kaur (for Women) along with their name. Sikhs prior to that don't use the words "Singh and Kaur" with their name.