Sikh practices

thumb|271x271px|Golden Temple in [[Amritsar, Punjab, India ]]

thumb|Mohini, the female form of [[Vishnu, holding the pot of amrita, which she distributes amongst all the devas, leaving the asuras without it. Darasuram, Tamil Nadu, India|alt=A stone carving of a standing woman with a pot in her left hand and lotus in right]]

right|thumb|200px|Naivedya offered to Radha Krishna in Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir in [[Mayapur, India]]

Sikh community kitchen where a free meal is served to all visitors by volunteers

five Articles of Faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times: kesh (unshorn hair), kangha (comb), kara (bracelet), kachera (undergarment), kirpan (sword)

' (also known as ', ) is the concept of performing selfless service without any expectation of reward. It exists in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism, taking also the form of Bhandara in Hinduism and Langar in Sikhism. In Jainism, service is regarded as an internal discipline that cultivates humility, detachment, and moral refinement rather than personal merit or reward. Sevā is a Sanskrit term meaning "selfless and meaningful service". Such acts are carried out to benefit other human beings or society; however, a modern interpretation of the term describes it as a service that reflects "dedicatio

thumb|Photograph of Sikh soldiers performing a jhatka slaughter, ca.1914–16

thumb|200px|Norang Singh, current head of Guru Nanak NSJ, Handsworth, doing Ardās

Sikh and Punjabi greeting

Sikh ceremony of initiation or baptism

Prasad in Gurudwara

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh of Sikhism gave the title 'Khalsa' and named it 'Singh'.

Vaisakh (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the first month in the Punjabi calendar and the second month of the Nanakshahi calendar. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on April 14, after Chet, and ends on May 5th, with Jeth I following. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Chet full moon and ends on the Vaisakh full moon.

Assū (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ), also spelt as Asu, is the seventh month of the Punjabi calendar, as well as the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the Sikh tradition. The Nanakshahi solar month of Asu I begins on September 5th, after Bhadon, and ends on October 5th, being followed by Katik I. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Bhadon full moon and ends on the Assu full moon.

eleventh month of the Punjabi calendar

thumb | right

Simran (Gurmukhi: ਸਿਮਰਨ, pronunciation: ; ; from Sanskrit: , smaraṇa, 'to remember, reminisce, recollect'), in spirituality, is a Hindi and Punjabi word referring to the continuous remembrance of the finest aspect of the self, and/or the continuous remembrance (or feeling) of God. This state is maintained continuously while carrying out the worldly works outside.

Jeṭh (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: ) is a third month of the Punjabi calendar and the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on May 5th, after Vaisakh, and ends on June 15th, with Harh following. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Vaisakh full moon and ends on the Jeth full moon.

Poh (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the tenth month of the Punjabi calendar as well as the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on December 14th, after Magghar, and ends on January 13th, being followed by Magh. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Magghar full moon and ends on the Poh full moon.

Bhādõ (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the sixth month of the Nanakshahi calendar and Punjabi calendar. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on August 16th, following Sawan, and ends on September 5th, being followed by Asu I. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Sawan full moon and ends on the Bhado full moon.

Magghar (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the ninth month of the Punjabi calendar as well as the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on November 14th, after Katik I, and ends on December 14th, being followed by Poh. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Kattak full moon and ends on the Magghar full moon.

Kattak (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ), also spelt as Katik, and also known as Katte is the eighth month of the Punjabi calendar and the Nanakshahi calendar. The Nanakshahi solar month of Katik I begins on October 5th, after Asu I, and ends on November 14th, being followed by Maghar. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Assu full moon and ends on the Kattak full moon.

first month of the Punjabi calendar

Hāṛh (Gurmukhi: ; Shahmukhi: , ) is the fourth month of the Punjabi calendar and the Nanakshahi calendar. The Nanakshahi solar month begins on June 15th, after Jeth I, and ends on July 16th, with Sawan following. The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Jeth full moon and ends on the Harh full moon.

Gurpurab (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ), alternatively spelt as Gurpurb or Gurpurub, in Sikh tradition is a celebration of an anniversary of a Guru's birth marked by the holding of a festival.

thumb|A typical Nitnem "Gutka", or Sikh Prayer book, extremely common in many Sikh households|209x209px

Rehat (Punjabi: ਰਹਿਤ, alternatively transliterated as Rehit, Rahit, or Rahat) refers to the rules and traditions which govern the unique Sikh lifestyle and determines correct Sikh orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The Sikh Rehit Maryada (Punjabi: ; also transcribed as Sikh Reht Maryada or Khalsa Rehat Maryada) is a code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism. The final version of the Rehat Maryada was controversially approved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar in 1945. The Rehat Maryada was created to provide guidance to Sikhs (and those desirous of embracing the Sikh faith) on p

thumb|A Granthi reading from the Guru Granth Sahib A Granthi (, ) is a person, female or male, of the Sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book in Sikhism, often read to worshipers at Sikh temples called a Gurdwara.

one of the three pillars of Sikhism

ceremony in Northern India

precepts of the Sikh religion

Dasvandh (, also translated as 'tithe', alternatively spelt as daswandh) is the one tenth part (or 10%) of one's income that one should donate, both financially (as a tithe) and directly in the form of seva, according to Sikh principles.

thumb|Portrait of an old teacher

Hukam () is a Punjabi word derived from the Arabic ḥukm, meaning 'command' or 'divine order'. In Sikhism, Hukam represents the goal of becoming in harmony with the will of God and thus attaining inner peace. It also designates the practice of opening up at random to a page in the Sikh scripture (Guru Granth Sahib) to receive God's guidance on how to handle a certain situation, as answer to a question, or as more general guidance for that day. This ceremony is also known as Vak.

Indian religious tradition

Sikh marriage ceremony

Sikh tradition

bride's adornment traditional in Punjab

last rites in Sikhism

one of the Three pillars of Sikhism

Sikh term for aspiring to maintain a mental state of eternal optimism

annual religious congregation

thumb|A Sikh family during the Batna ceremony