What is Sikhism and what do Sikhs believe?

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Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak around 500 years ago in a place called the Punjab. This is an area which spans part of India and Pakistan in South Asia today.

What do Sikhs believe?

Sikhs believe in one God who guides and protects them. They believe everyone is equal before God. Sikhs believe that your actions are important and you should lead a good life. They believe the way to do this is:

Keep God in your heart and mind at all times
Live honestly and work hard
Treat everyone equally
Be generous to those less fortunate than you
Serve others

Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak is the founder of Sikhism. Guru means ‘Teacher’.

Sikhism is still based on his teachings and those of the nine Sikh Gurus who followed him.

The Five Ks

The Sikh community of men and women is known as the Khalsa which means the 'Community of the Pure'.

In order to become a Sikh and join the Khalsa, people need to follow the Five Ks.

Click on the picture to learn about the Five Ks

What is the Sikh holy book?

The Sikh holy book is called the Guru Granth Sahib. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, said that after him there would be no other living gurus. Instead, Sikhs could look at their holy book for guidance. This is why Sikhs call their holy book a Guru.

The Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of lessons from the ten gurus as well as Sikh, Hindu and Muslim saints. It is written in Punjabi and is greatly respected by all Sikhs as the living word of God. It is kept on a raised platform under a canopy in the Sikh place of worship. All Sikhs take off their shoes when they are near it.

Where do Sikhs worship?

The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara which means 'Gateway to the Guru'. A Gurdwara is any building where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept.

In the UK, Sikhs usually go to the Gurdwara on Sundays. During the services they listen to teachings based on the Guru Granth Sahib. They also chant and say prayers from the gurus. These are called Keertan.

The Langar

The service ends in a langar (a shared meal). Everyone is welcome to share the meal.

Sikhism in pictures

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Image caption,
Martial arts
A young Indian Sikh taking part in a procession called the 'Nagar Kirtan'. He is demonstrating traditional martial arts called 'Gatka'.
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Golden Temple
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, is Sikhism's holiest temple. It was built by Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru.
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Langar
Two young Sikhs are being fed by their mother during the shared vegetarian meal at the 'langar' in the Golden Temple in India.
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Guru Granth Sahib
A man working on a handwritten version of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
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Gurdwara
A Sikh priest sits behind the Guru Granth Sahib holy book in the Gurdwara which has been decorated for a festival.
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Turban
These Sikhs are practicing tying their turbans. They are preparing for their Dastar Bandi. The turban is the most visible symbol of Sikh pride and identity. The turban is an eight metre long piece of cloth. It is used by Sikh men to hold their hair, which they are not allowed to cut.
Image caption,
Panj Pyare
These Indian Sikhs are dressed as Panj Pyare. They are marching in a procession celebrating one of the Sikh Guru's birthday.

The Sikh symbol is called the Khanda. Click on the picture to learn about the three parts.

Resources for teachers

To help your class understand Sikhism, 11-year old practicing Sikh Simran shows Sikhism through her eyes in this series of short films.

91�ȱ� Teach has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons - all arranged by subject and age group.

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What is Sikhism?