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The Five Ks

Taran and Joven, two young members of the Sikh Khalsa, show their commitment by wearing the 5 Ks, symbols of Sikh ideals.

Taran and Joven, two young members of the Sikh Khalsa, show their commitment by wearing the 5 Ks, symbols of Sikh ideals. Khalsa Sikhs wear five symbols 鈥 called the five Ks, or Panj Kakka - to show their devotion to Sikhism.
They say: 鈥淭he Five Ks are our, our uniform as Sikhs. People wear uniform to school, we wear the Sikh uniform all the time. Kara is a steel circle worn on the wrist, and is a reminder we鈥檙e connected to God. The circle doesn鈥檛 have a beginning and it doesn鈥檛 have an end. It just keeps like going round. That signifies God, who is without a beginning and he can never end. Kachera is long shorts worn under clothes, for modesty.鈥
鈥淭he Kirpan is a very small sword. It symbolises that we defend people and we protect people. We never use it in a bad way. The Kirpan is an emblem of courage and self-defence. Khalsa Sikhs are always ready to defend the weak, and fight against injustice. It would never be used as a weapon to attack people. The Kirpan is also used to bless food. You wouldn鈥檛 use it for a joke - if someone鈥檚 punching you at school or bullying you, you wouldn鈥檛 use it for that kind of thing.鈥
鈥淜esh is letting your hair grow, and never cutting it. We believe hair is a gift from God. So if someone gives you a gift you wouldn鈥檛 just throw it away or not appreciate it. Some Sikhs grow their hair so long it touches the floor!
Kanga is the small wooden comb used to keep the hair neat. We comb our hair twice a day, once in the morning and then once in the evening.鈥

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