The Five K's

According to McLeod (2008), the five K’s are described as five faith symbols or articles worn by all Khalsa Sikh who have been baptized at all times. This is in accordance to the command of the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh who ordered at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699. The five k’s jointly structure the external identity and dedication of a Khalsa devotee to the Sikh way of life. The five k’s are as follows; the Kesh, Kanga, Kara, Kachera and Kirpan.

The Kesh or disheveled long hair is characteristic to all Sikhs. They believe that hair being a gift from god should always remain uncut. In the case of men, the hair and beard should remain uncut. The Kesh is protected by wearing a turban. The turban is a sacred crown which reminds the Sikh that they are sitting on a throne of awareness and commits themselves to living in accordance with the principles of the Sikh.

A kanga is a small wooden comb that Sikhs use it to keep their hair tidy twice a day. Combing the hair is not only a sign of cleanliness to the Sikh but also serves as a reminder that they should lead organized and tidy lives. Sikhs bathe their hair very untimely in all mornings, comb it and then twist it to form a topknot. The kanga is then positioned in the topknot and sheltered with a turban (McLeod, 2008).

The Kara is a steel bracelet that Sikhs always wear on their right wrist Steel is viewed as a representation of strength and the spherical shape is a sign of eternity and unity. The Kara echoes the Sikh’s outlook of god as infinite and eternal.

A kachera on the other hand is a special undergarment made of cotton and worn by all Sikhs, usually in the form of short trousers. Among the majority of Sikhs the Kachera is sign of modesty. The Kachera is preferred because it is easy to fabricate, maintain, wash and carry compared to other traditional garments.

Lastly, McLeod (2008) observes that a Kirpan is a small sword worn by all initiated Sikhs at all times on their bodies. It is worn to remind them of the initial five Sikhs who were ready to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of their faith; it is consequently a symbol of bravery and faith in god. The Sikhs use the Kirpan to protect themselves and other innocent people from harm