Punjab and the interesting Sikhs
As you all know, many different religions coexist in India and within each of them there are curious things such as, for example, menstruating women cannot enter Jaimist temples since it is considered "impure" and neither can anyone wearing a leather article, in Buddhist temples you always have to walk clockwise chanting the mantras, in Sikh temples we are obliged to wash ourselves before entering and cover our hair, with what they call "gurudwana".
This week I visited the Golden Temple in the holy city of Amritsar. The Sikhs are the youngest region in all of India and are widely spread in the Punjab region. This religion was created by Guru Nanak in the 16th century and mixes elements of both Hinduism and Islam, although they defend a single God called Sat. Like the Hindus, the Sikhs believe in a cyclical process of death and reincarnation but they differ from them because they believe that anyone can achieve liberation, regardless of the caste they belong to and the religion they practice.
Gobind Singh was its last leader. In 1699 he founded the Khalsa community. Among other objectives, they highlight: helping others (especially the poor), fighting against oppression, having faith in one God and protecting their faith with steel (for this last reason they have had several fights, especially against the Mughals). In addition, this community asks its members to renounce tobacco, sexual relations with Muslims and to adopt the five Ks:
- Kangha: Comb
- Kirpan: Sword
- Kara: Steel Bracelet
- kachcha: shorts
- Kesh: Hair always covered
The Sikhs look like very strong and somewhat handsome people, they walk calmly with their swords at their sides, their long beards (as they are never cut) and with a striking turban covering their hair.
The golden temple was built in the late 16th century and is the spiritual center of the Sikh faith. At least once in their life they have to make a pilgrimage here. It is a place that surprises and excites. As soon as you enter, you can hear the music (shabad kitan) and you can see the contrast between the immaculate white marble of the floor with the gold of the main building (it has a shiny roof that contains more than 100kg of gold in the shape of an inverted lotus leaf, symbolizing concern). of the Sikhs for temporal and spiritual matters).
People bathe in its sacred lake to purify themselves, sit for hours to pray, or just relax with friends. It also has a free canteen that serves food to anyone who wants it. Sharing food reinforces one of the main pillars of the Sikhs, which is the principle of equality, thus breaking down the barriers of castes. I came here because I was passing through to visit another project and I really wanted to take a few days to do some sightseeing after more than two weeks of hard work in Dharamsala. I recommend that if you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to visit this wonder…
