Sikhs believe in one God who created the Universe. The Sikh holy city is Amritsar in Punjab, India, which is home to the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). The teachings of the gurus, the founders of Sikhism, are written down in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The gurus taught that Sikhs should develop Five Virtues: Sat (truth), Daya (compassion), Santokh (contentment), Nimrata (humility) and Pyar (love). Those who fully develop these qualities, leading a disciplined life and helping others, can break the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. In so doing, they will reach Mukti, or oneness with God. Today there are around 27 million Sikhs, most living in the Punjab region of northwestern India.

Gurus

Sikhs follow the teachings of ten leaders called gurus (guru is the Punjabi word for “holy man”) who lived between 1469 and 1708. The first guru and founder of Sikhism was Guru Nanak (1469–1539), who was born a Hindu near Lahore, in present-day Pakistan. Guru Nanak believed that ceremonies and rituals divided people of different religions, but it was how people behaved and what they believed in that mattered most. The gurus who came after him were all chosen to carry on his work.

Khalsa

The tenth and final guru, Gobind Singh, decided to found a community of Sikhs who were prepared to resist oppression and defend their faith—by the sword if necessary. They were called the Khalsa (“the pure”). Many Sikhs today choose to be initiated into the Khalsa. In a ceremony, holy nectar called amrit (a mixture of sugar and water) is sprinkled on a person’s head. On joining the Khalsa, Sikhs take a new name: men are named Singh, meaning “lion”, and women are named Kaur, meaning “princess”. Initiated male and female Sikhs must cover their hair with a turban.

The Sikh calendar (2026)

6th January Birth anniversary of the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh

13th January Lohri: a festival to mark the passing of the winter solstice and the end of winter

13th January Maghi: Sikhs attend gurdwaras to commemorate the Battle of Muktsar, at which followers of Guru Gobind Singh fought bravely against an overwhelming Mughal army

4th–6th March Holla Mohalla: martial traditions (Gatka) are carried out, with mock battles, sword fighting and horse riding. These are followed by kirtan—the singing of scriptures accompanied by musical instruments

14th April Vaisakhi: Sikh New Year. Sikhs bathe in rivers and attend gurdwaras with flower offerings

16th June Martyrdom of Guru Arjan: commemorating the fifth guru, who was martyred after being tortured to death by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606. Chilled sweetened milk and water is served in gurdwaras

1st September Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib: Commemorating the 1604 installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s sacred scripture, at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar

8th November Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali): Sikhs celebrate the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in Gwalior Fort in 1619. They light their homes with diyas (oil lamps) and attend gurdwaras

24th November Guru Nanak Gurpurab: birth anniversary of the Guru Nanak, who founded the Sikh faith. People gather at shrines and gurdwaras, light candles, set off fireworks and join processions

24th November Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur: marking the day in 1675 when the ninth guru was martyred by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after he refused to perform a miracle or convert to Islam