Sikh

To see a map of Sikh sites in Wales please click here

Inter-faith Council Representative:  Mrs Surinder Channa, Chair, Sikh Cultural Association for South Wales, surinder.channa@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 

Sikh Faith and interfaith in Wales

There are more than 2,000 Sikhs in Wales with two Gurdwaras in Cardiff and one in Swansea.

The Sikh community undertakes inter-faith work by being part of new organisational structures that have emerged within these faith communities, playing an ever fuller part in national life and in inter-faith activity.

Relationships of personal friendships have been established between Leaders and members of the different communities and events involving the different faiths are increasingly common.

The Council and Forum have helped the Sikh community to complement and strengthen the inter-faith work of its members and through other faith members.

Sikh communities find working with the Council and Forum helps build a better society and to care for the people of goodwill who share the same values, whether or not they have formal religious commitments. This counters religious prejudice and encourages inter religious understanding based on better knowledge of our different traditions.

For more details see the Inter-faith Wales Report.

About Sikh Faith

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak who received a divine revelation from God in India in the late 15th early 16th centuries. Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and final guru, or teacher and he created the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood.

Sikhs believe in the unity of all people and the equality of men and women. Sikhs confess God as Creator, sustainer of the universe, and one intimately involved in the events of the world and the lives of human beings. They believe that divine help is available for those who seek deliverance from the power of evil and put great emphasis on a personal relationship between
the believer and God. The Sikh holy scripture, which is revered by all Sikhs, is called the Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikhs believe that God is One and that all religions that seek to know God have beauty and power. The Sikh religion has strict moral standards. Believers are held to a code of five virtues
and five vices. The virtues are:

  1. Truthfulness in living
  2. Contentment
  3. Patience
  4. Faith in the Great Teacher, Nanak
  5. Compassion
     

The vices, whose description is necessary because of the human tendency to defy the moral law of humanity, are:

  1. Lust
  2. Anger
  3. Greed
  4. Excessive attachment to any earthly object or person
  5. Pride
     

Sikhs put great emphasis upon humble service for the welfare of others, and are strongly opposed to any kind of discrimination, especially that which is based on social class or sex. Traditionally Sikh men wear the five Ks as signs of their faith:

  1. Kes - uncut hair, a sign of faith
  2. Kirpan - a short dagger symbolizing self-defence which may be worn in several sizes, even hung in miniature around the neck
  3. Karha - a steel wristband or bracelet, binding onesymbolically to the truth
  4. Kangha - a wooden comb worn in the hair knot to show cleanliness
  5. Kacchera - a special undergarment symbolizing purity
     

In addition men wear a turban, although it is not required by the religion. Sikh places of worship are called gurdwaras and are centres for community service as well, including a common meal called the langar where all are welcome.

For more details see the Inter-faith Wales Report.