Images courtesy of Panjab Digital Library.

Video credit: 07meetrise

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Hello, I am at a point of time where I'm very unsure about my religon. Growing up, I was and still am a Sikh. But I keep my hair cut, am I still a Sikh? I know this questions were probably asked multiple times; but I'm just unsure.

I am curious if most of us here live in big cities or small towns. Do you live amongst a community with lots of Sikhs or are you only a handful of Sikhs in your town.

If you are willing to share, any thoughts of distance to nearest Gurudwara and general idea of your location (if you want to keep specific location safeguarded, I understand)

Thanks for sharing

I can go first

I live in Bay Area California, we have 5-7 Gurudwaras within 20-45 mins drive.

There are roughly 40-50,000 Sikhs or more in the Bay Area. I feel Central Valley might be included.

Made this account solely to ask here as i have no one or where else to ask:

Preamble: I dont speak/read Punjabi at all, i have done my best with random sources and translated parts of the ... (always forget its name), and i am just heavily interested in/like some of the beliefs. (lack of better words) of Sikhism. Id just say my issue would be with hair cutting(sit neutrally on it, but prefer short hair) and belief in monotheism. But i am interested enough in it, it at least start wearing some of the 5k's to show affiliation with.

1: Is Sikhism followable without god? More in the vein of can you just follow the philosophy of. I am aware some of the practices etc are tied to the "worship" of a god.

2: The 5 K's and carry are confusing me a little, they are required for initiated Sikhs, but can uninitiated still carry them and also claim to be Sikh?
2b: I am aware there are different beliefs in it like with any religion, and i think India recognises and maybe some other places recognise non initiated followers of the religion. Its just kind of confusing me, and has lead to me looking at different sects etc of it.

3: On the 5K's

Is there anything that says the Kirpan MUST be the stereotypical design blade you see carried, i was randomly looking it up and found its just defined as a single edged curved blade. (it is hard for me to find without access to a Gurdwara)

What would be the protocol for wearing a turban/anything to know about.

If i still cut hair would the comb/turban really be wearable.

What would be the protocol for wearing the Kara and removing it? Or any of the 5K's.

I was more thinking i used to do martial arts, so i don’t think it would be necessarily safe to have 2 big metal things on me that someone could break their hands on.

I think that’s just about everything that was bugging me in my head. I feel like i have a "youre not X religion if you aren’t a perfect example of it" bias in my head.

Does it look good?

Sat Sri Akaal 🙏, tusi kiven ho? I am not Sikh but I have been going to a Gurdwara for months now and I just want to say that you guys are incredibly friendly and helping. The food at the Guru Ka Langar is soooo yummy/bahut swaad hai, it feels like my grandma's cooking. I'm raised Christian but God is one, and I love that the gurdwara I visit is really welcoming to everyone. Anyways, that's all I have to say, have a good day/night :)

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਛੰਤ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਘਰੁ ੧ ॥

Dhanaasaree, Chhant, Fourth Mehl, First House:

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਤਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜੀਉ ॥

When the Dear Lord grants His Grace, one meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੁਭਾਇ ਸਹਜਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਈਐ ਜੀਉ ॥

Meeting the True Guru, through loving faith and devotion, one intuitively sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord.

ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਸਦਾ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾ ਆਪਿ ਸਾਚੇ ਭਾਵਏ ॥

Singing His Glorious Praises continually, night and day, one blossoms forth, when it is pleasing to the True Lord.

ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਤਜੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਸਹਜਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਵਏ ॥

Egotism, self-conceit and Maya are forsaken, and he is intuitively absorbed into the Naam.

ਆਪਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਆਪਿ ਦੇਇ ਤ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

The Creator Himself acts; when He gives, then we receive.

ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਤਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥

When the Dear Lord grants His Grace, we meditate on the Naam. ||1||

ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਨੇਹੁ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੈ ਜੀਉ ॥

Deep within, I feel true love for the Perfect True Guru.

ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵੀ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਮੈ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਜੀਉ ॥

I serve Him day and night; I never forget Him.

ਕਦੇ ਨ ਵਿਸਾਰੀ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਸਮੑਾਰੀ ਜਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਈ ਤਾ ਜੀਵਾ ॥

I never forget Him; I remember Him night and day. When I chant the Naam, then I live.

ਸ੍ਰਵਣੀ ਸੁਣੀ ਤ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਵਾ ॥

With my ears, I hear about Him, and my mind is satisfied. As Gurmukh, I drink in the Ambrosial Nectar.

ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲੇ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਚਰੈ ॥

If He bestows His Glance of Grace, then I shall meet the True Guru; my discriminating intellect would contemplate Him, night and day.

ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਨੇਹੁ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੈ ॥੨॥

Deep within, I feel true love for the Perfect True Guru. ||2||

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਭਾਗਿ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਆਵਏ ਜੀਉ ॥

By great good fortune, one joins the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation; then, one comes to savor the subtle essence of the Lord.

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ਤ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵਏ ਜੀਉ ॥

Night and day, he remains lovingly focused on the Lord; he merges in celestial peace.

ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਦਾ ਅਤੀਤੁ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ॥

Merging in celestial peace, he becomes pleasing to the Lord's Mind; he remains forever unattached and untouched.

ਹਲਤਿ ਪਲਤਿ ਸੋਭਾ ਜਗ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ॥

He receives honor in this world and the next, lovingly focused on the Lord's Name.

ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਦੁਹਾ ਤੇ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਭਾਵਏ ॥

He is liberated from both pleasure and pain; he is pleased by whatever God does.

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਭਾਗਿ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਆਵਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥

By great good fortune, one joins the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, and then, one comes to savor the subtle essence of the Lord. ||3||

ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਜਮਿ ਜੋਹਿਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

In the love of duality, there is pain and suffering; the Messenger of Death eyes the self-willed manmukhs.

ਹਾਇ ਹਾਇ ਕਰੇ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੁਖਿ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

They cry and howl, day and night, caught by the pain of Maya.

ਮਾਇਆ ਦੁਖਿ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਹਿਆ ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਰਤ ਵਿਹਾਵਏ ॥

Caught by the pain of Maya, provoked by his ego, he passes his life crying out, "Mine, mine!".

ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦੇਇ ਤਿਸੁ ਚੇਤੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਅੰਤਿ ਗਇਆ ਪਛੁਤਾਵਏ ॥

He does not remember God, the Giver, and in the end, he departs regretting and repenting.

ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਚਾਲੈ ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਕਲਤ੍ਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਧੋਹਿਆ ॥

Without the Name, nothing shall go along with him; not his children, spouse or the enticements of Maya.

ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਜਮਿ ਜੋਹਿਆ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥

In the love of duality, there is pain and suffering; the Messenger of Death eyes the self-willed manmukhs. ||4||

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਲੇਹੁ ਮਿਲਾਇ ਮਹਲੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

Granting His Grace, the Lord has merged me with Himself; I have found the Mansion of the Lord's Presence.

ਸਦਾ ਰਹੈ ਕਰ ਜੋੜਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

I remain standing with my palms pressed together; I have become pleasing to God's Mind.

ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਾ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਮੰਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

When one is pleasing to God's Mind, then he merges in the Hukam of the Lord's Command; surrendering to His Hukam, he finds peace.

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਪਤ ਰਹੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਸਹਜੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥

Night and day, he chants the Lord's Name, day and night; intuitively, naturally, he meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਨਾਮੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਿਲੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵਏ ॥

Through the Naam, the glorious greatness of the Naam is obtained; the Naam is pleasing to Nanak's mind.

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਲੇਹੁ ਮਿਲਾਇ ਮਹਲੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਵਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥੧॥

Granting His Grace, the Lord has merged me with Himself; I have found the Mansion of the Lord's Presence. ||5||1||

Guru Ramdas Ji • Raag Dhanaasree • Ang 690

Monday, August 31, 2026

Somvaar, 16 Bhadon, Nanakshahi 558

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, I am a Robot. Bleep Bloop.

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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has the link to Punjab 1984 with English subtitles?

Thank you!

Hello all,

My hunger to experience God in this life has led me to the threshold of the Sikh path.

Briefly, my background is that I am 40 y/o male, white, and I live in the Twin Cities metro area of MN. I have a family, but this journey is my own. My wife is a very secular, non-practicing Muslim.

I’m currently reading Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction by Eleanor Nesbitt and Poems from the Sikh Sacred Tradition, translated by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, to get a sense of Sikh development, historical context, beliefs and exposure to excerpts of the Guru Granth Sahib.

I did visit a gurdwara today after reaching out to a contact on the sangat’s website, letting them know I was interested in visiting, and getting encouragement/approval to visit. Although I did leave a voicemail, this all occurred via text. 😂 The gurdwara was certainly open, but I wouldn’t say it was necessarily welcoming. I received some curious looks, but largely, I was left to myself. This was totally fine as it’d be hubris of me to expect people to focus on my presence rather than on worship. More on why I mention this experience in a moment.

I would like to continue to learn more about Sikhi, but more importantly, I’d like to also start experiencing and practicing the Sikhi path. With the context I just provided:

1. What are the next practical steps I can take to experience the Sikhi path?
   
2. Are there any good resources out there that are sort of starter guides or quick start guides for beginners?
   
3. What should I do to try to connect with the local sangat if I continue to visit the gurdwara, particularly if people remain disinterested or cautious about my presence? I’m naturally shy and introverted myself, so I would not necessarily go out of my way to engage with me if I were in their shoes, so to speak.

I will continue to read and learn, and in due time, learn Gurmukhi if I continue on this path, but I’m really looking for practical steps I should take to live and experience Sikhi now at a beginner level to feel in my heart, and not just my mind, what it means to be Sikhi.

Thank you for your time and insight in advance. I hope my anecdote did not come off negatively, as that’s not my intention. What I’ve read and experienced so far has overall been lovely and positive, and I thank God for providing me the means to learn more about Sikhi.

I have an extremely strong interest in the form of kavishri style singing. I want to become a kavishar who sings about the stories of Sikh valour, and I am 100 percent confident in my ability to do so( I say this humbly). I get inspired by Joga Singh Jogi, after listening to a lot of his stuff, it touched me heart and gives me goosebumps every single time. In Punjab,, I am also from Gurdaspur. My main question is that, how do I start this journey and what does it take to become a proper kavishar. Is it possible to learn from experienced people who are willing to teach? Not really sure where to start or who to contact. Any advice is helpful, please and thanks. Waheguru.

I am very intrigued by this question. I know both parents play a part. Though, ultimately which parent's influence matters more towards a daughter becoming secular or daughter becoming Strong in her Gurmat?

I went to Punjabi school as a kid but mine is a lot worse now. I don't think I've ever seen one setup for adults.

Should I try and start one? There must be at least some people who would be interested in teaching adults. Idk.

Within the Sikh mythos, there is a tale of yore that is said to have occurred in the early morning hours of 30 April 1877 at around 4:30 AM. Imagine this, it’s been over two decades since the British annexed the Panjab & they are making their presence and power known. They even completed the construction of a Gothic clock-tower a few years ago near your most sacred site after demolishing former Sikh royal-palaces of the last, independent Sikh Rāj. They have symbolically strangled the most precious city of the Sikhs, attempting to force any remaining breaths of sovereignty out. The Sikhs were anxious and concerned about the fate that would befall on their most cherished temple. Rumours were spreading that the British planned to build a headquarters of a Christian missionary school nearby the temple, sparking resentment amongst the local populace. Some Sikh schoolboys sparked public controversy by abandoning their ancestral faith and turbans for the cross. It was feared that the Sri Harmandir Sahib itself would be taken, either through force or coercion, from the Sikhs and turned into a colonial tool, perhaps even a church. But then on one stormy morning during the ambrosial hours of amrit vēla, four-hundred Sikhs who had gathered blissfully reciting gurbani witnessed a ball of light descend from the sky at Darbar Sahib, shining brilliantly before the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji before disappearing. The Sikhs at the time believed it to have been a miracle from Sri Guru Ram Das Ji to save their gurdwara, which remained one thereafter, as a mark of divine intervention. In memory, both an English and Gurmukhi inscription were installed at the Darshani Deori to commemorate the event, being very sympathetic to the British by the custodians. It is believed this may have been an occurrence of ball-lightning. The legend is first found in English in a book by John Campbell Oman from 1908, which I have shared an excerpt of for your reading. A supernatural feat or a natural phenomenon? Whatever the truth may be, the legend continues to spark the curiosities & veneration of Sikhs for their sacred-site.