Sikh Awareness
Copyrighted by The Sikh Coalition
1
Sikhs Came to America Over
100 Years Ago
Punjab
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
2
Misidentification
Are Sikhs Muslims?
NO
Are Sikhs Hindus?
NO
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
3
Sikhism in Brief: The Outer Shell
 Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion
1. Christianity -2 billion
2. Islam – 1.3 billion
3. Hinduism – 900 million
4. Buddhism – 360 million
5. Sikhism – 24 million
6. Judaism – 16 million
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
4
Core Sikh Beliefs
 One God
 All Are Equal
 Men and Women have the same rights/responsibilities
 Meditation
 Remember God
 Live Honestly
 Sikhs are supposed to work hard and live honestly
 Share with Others
 Give to the needy
 Sikhs do not believe in the following:
 Fasting, superstitions, ritualism, caste system
 Alcohol
 Smoking
 Drugs
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
5
Guru Granth Sahib:
Sikh Scripture





It is the living Guru of the Sikhs
Was compiled by the Sikh prophets during their
lifetime
It is a compilation of divine wisdom, thanks and
prayer
It is poetry
Sikh services consist of singing and an explanation
of the Sikh Scriptures
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
6
Articles of Faith: The 5 “Ks”
Sikhs Have a Unique Identity
Signifying Discipline and Spirituality
Uncut Hair covered with a
Turban (Kesh)
SPIRITUALITY
Iron Bracelet (Kara)
GOOD DEEDS
Comb (Kanga)
Scimitar (Kirpan)
PROTECTION
CLEANLINESS
Long Underpants
(Kachera)
SELF DISCIPLINE
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
7
Dastaar – the Sikh Turban




99% of the people wearing a turban in
the U.S. are Sikhs
Sikhs MUST wear the turban
Always be recognized and duty bound to
offer help
Sikhs have been wearing it for the last
500 years
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
8
Turbans Illustrated
Sikh Turban
Sikh Turban
Sikh Turban
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
Non-Sikh Turban
Sikh Turban
Afghan Turban
Sikh Turban
Indian Turban
Palestinian Turban
Iranian Turban
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
9
Pastimes and Music

Sports such as wrestling,
hockey, cricket and
soccer are extremely
popular



www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
Bhangra is a lively form
of folk music and dance
Punjabi music and/or
Bhangra has gained
worldwide popularity
Most major universities
have Bhangra teams that
compete nationwide
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
10
Most Sikhs Speak Punjabi

Over 80 million people speak Punjabi

Punjabi is written in the Gurmukhi script

The Punjabi alphabet contains 35 letters

Punjabi is written from left to right
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
11
Sikhs can be found in many
different professions today
Amrit and Rabindra Kaur
Nuvraj Bassi
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
Waris Ahluwalia
Dr. Narinder Kapani
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
12
Sikhs can be found in many
different professions today
Fauja Singh
Navdeep Singh Bains
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
Harpreet Kaur
Manmohan Singh
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
13
For more information, visit
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.Sikhnextdoor.org
www.sikh.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary
14