5 Things You Didn’t Know About Sikhs

Have you ever wondered about some lesser-known aspects of Sikhi?

Here are 5 intriguing facts about Sikhi that might surprise you. From the significance of the Five Ks to the concept of Langar, there’s so much to explore about this vibrant and inclusive faith. Dive into the world of Sikhs with us and expand your understanding of the fifth largest religion in the world.

ONE. Sikhism was a catalyst for gender inclusivity in a society that at the time, was dominated by an archaic patriarchal system. The Sikh Gurus emphasized the equality between men and women in the eyes of God. This led to an increase of women’s participation in religious, political and social aspects of society. Many Sikh women were warriors and active participants in civic society. 

TWO. The central holy scripture for Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, contains sacred hymns and verses referred to as Gurbani. The recitation of Gurbani is a way in which Sikhs are able to connect with God. Some Sikhs partake in reading the entire Guru Granth Sahib uninterrupted for several days in a very powerful spiritual practice called Sehaj Path. 

THREE.  The beacon symbol of the Sikh faith is called the Khanda. Khanda means “double edged sword” and there is one shown in the center of the symbol. Surrounding the Khanda is a Chakkar, a round throwing blade, with two Kirpans, single-edged swords and one of the 5 articles of faith, crossed at the bottom.

FOUR. The amrit ceremony is how Sikhs join the Khalsa. It was established by Guru Gobind Singh as a response to the persecution faced by Sikhs in that tumultuous period. During the amrit ceremony today, Sikhs who join the Khalsa must pledge to uphold all the tenets of the Sikh faith and “take amrit” by drinking water sweetened with crystalized sugar and stirred with a Khanda.

FIVE. Sikhs have a deep rooted history in the United States. The first Sikh Americans landed on the West Coast of the United States during the 1890s. In 1957, Dalip Singh Saund became the first Asian American and Sikh American elected into the United States House of Representatives where he served three terms representing California’s 29th congressional district under the Democratic Party. 

To learn more about Sikh Americans and the Sikh faith, please visit www.saldef.org/about-sikh-americans/

The annual Sikh Community of Southern California Vaisakhi Celebration will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday, April 7th from 7am – 6pm

The program consists of a Kirtan Darbar (a day of sacred and spirited musical held in the royal court of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Guru of Sikhs) and a Nagar Kirtan (a traveling Kirtan parade with Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) encompassing a two-mile route in downtown L.A. The Kirtan Darbar begins at 7 am and continues until 6 pm.

Sikhs in Storytelling

Join SALDEF for Sikhs in Storytelling – a night full of engaging discussions, thoughtful panels, and captivating performances all challenging the one-dimensional Sikh American narratives in the mainstream media.

To Purchase Tickets, Please Click Here

For Immediate Release
November 22, 2023

SALDEF Urges DOJ to Unseal Indictment on the Recent Attempted Attack on a Sikh American

Washington, D.C. – There have been recent reports of U.S. authorities disclosing an alleged attempted attack by the Indian Government on a Sikh American on American soil. If true, the alleged involvement of the Indian Government in threatening the safety of the Sikh diaspora would fall into a recurring pattern of transnational repression, including allegations of threats against Sikhs in the United States documented by the FBI earlier this year. 

As a leading Sikh American advocacy organization, we strongly believe in upholding American values including freedom of speech and the civil rights and liberties of all Sikh Americans.  In America, peaceful freedom of speech and the right to live a life of dignity are pillars of our democracy. The plan to attack a Sikh American on American soil would be yet another example of the Indian Government’s encroachment on the rights of the Sikh Diaspora. SALDEF continues to follow up with the FBI, White House, DHS, Congress, and DOJ as we closely monitor the situation and ensure the safety of all Sikh Americans is prioritized. 

“We are encouraged that the United States government is escalating this diplomatically. Sikh Americans demand full transparency regarding the safety of our community,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, SALDEF Executive Director. “We urge the Department of Justice to unseal the indictment of the alleged perpetrators related to this most recent incident.”

SALDEF calls on the Department of Justice and the United States government to:

  • Unseal the indictment of the alleged perpetrators. The Sikh American community deserves full transparency regarding the safety of our lives. 
  • Urge the Indian government to cease its alleged persecution of Sikhs and minorities in America. 
  • Work with the Canadian government to hold the perpetrators of Nijjar’s murder accountable. 
  • Reassure the Sikh American and other Indian minority communities that their civil rights of peaceful free speech and safety will be protected. 

SALDEF is available for comment at kiran@saldef.org

“SB403 is a crucial piece of legislation that will protect vulnerable communities from discrimination and foster a more equitable California. We are proud to stand alongside our coalition partners in advocating for the passage of this historic bill. Caste-based discrimination is especially prevalent in South Asian communities in America, but this bill sets a national example for expanding civil rights and the American values of liberty and justice for all.”

Kiran Kaur Gill, SALDEF Executive Director

Uniting Against Caste Discrimination

SALDEF joins the Californians for Caste Equity Coalition of civil rights organizations, state legislators, and community advocates to celebrate the rapid passage of California State Bill SB403. The anti-caste discrimination bill just passed its final procedural step, with the California Senate casting a successful final concurrence vote. Now, the coalition calls on Governor Newsom to swiftly sign the bill.

 

SB403 seeks to combat caste discrimination and strengthen protections for marginalized communities across the state. State Senator Wahab, the lead author of the bill, joined caste equity civil rights activists and organizations from across the country—including the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and Equality Labs—in their united effort to promote equality and justice for California’s caste-oppressed community.

 

Stay Up to Date on How We Are Making Civil Rights History:

Countering Mis- and Dis- Information

SALDEF ran digital ads (below) to counteract mis- and dis- information being spread about SB403 in the Yuba City region of California. Over the course of 2 weeks, the ad was viewed about 15,000 times with a 60% completion rate. Versions of the ad included both English and Punjabi to be more accessible to sangat members who were most vulnerable to disinformation.

(Washington, DC) – The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund celebrates President Biden’s Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government. While major steps have been taken since the President issued Executive Order 13985 to advance racial equity, members of underserved communities like Asian Americans, native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) still face structural barriers in accessing the same economic opportunity as other historically privileged groups.

“We have been working in partnership with the White House and other federal agencies since Executive Order 13985 was signed. While we are proud of the real, meaningful steps that have been taken, we are also grateful that the President acknowledges much more work remains to create an equitable America,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF. “We are appreciative of the requirements around building equity that are being integrated into every agency’s operations, like Agency Equity Teams producing Equity Action Plans. SALDEF is well positioned to collaborate with federal agencies to decrease barriers in accessing civil services, develop greater sensitivity and equity in data-based and algorithmic service delivery, and help strengthen civil rights protections for AANHPIs.”

Sikh Americans, in particular, continue to face among the highest per capita rates of harassment and discrimination in the country. The President’s recommitment to advancing equity addresses many areas in which our communities have been left behind: 

  • Linguistically and culturally sensitive proactive outreach would clarify the resources and rights the federal government can provide through its agencies in matters of employment-related or religious discrimination.
  • A careful eye on how algorithmic and/or artificial intelligence systems can discriminate by overlooking and/or falsely categorizing minorities, especially since AANHPIs are an extraordinarily diverse group that is too often aggregated in the data used to determine service delivery.
  • Greater awareness of how minority communities are left out of government processes intended to help them, particularly grants and resources for security or to build economic power.

We are grateful to the Biden Administration for their focus on these issues. As SALDEF continues to support the administration in achieving an equitable America for all Americans, our most fervent hope is that the President’s comments on this work being generational hold true. Sikh Americans and other AANHPI groups are very aware of the gaps that can exist between the top levels of the federal government and the boots on the ground in our communities. While we are delighted with the progress being made at the uppermost reaches of our system, we are committed to making sure these transformational attitudes ultimately pervade and define all levels of government and all levels of agencies, be they federal, state, or municipal. President Biden’s leadership has already created tangible progress, and SALDEF looks forward to continuing the work.