Five Ks
The Five Ks, or panj kakaar/kakke, are five items of faith that all baptized Sikhs (Khalsa) are required to wear at all times (but does not apply to non-baptized Sikhs), at the command of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh who so ordered at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanskar in 1699. They are:
- Kesh (uncut hair)
- Kanga (wooden comb)
- Kacchera (specially-designed underwear)
- Kara (Iron bracelet)
- Kirpan (strapped sword).
They are for identification and representation of the ideals of Sikhism, such as honesty, equality, fidelity, meditating on God, and never bowing to tyranny.
Sahajdhari Sikhs do not necessarily keep the Five Ks because they have not been baptized – the five Ks only applies to baptized Sikhs. However, if a Sahajdhari wants to keep some or all of the five Ks they can. Indeed, most Sahajdhari keep at least one of the five Ks e.g. kara. Most Sahajdhari Sikhs keep the kara as one of their five Ks. Unlike most Sikhs, Sahajdhari Sikhs usually don`t arm themselves with swords, and prefer to be empty-handed, since that most of them reject the use of violence. They can however use it only if necessary. They also chose not to smoke or drink, although many of them choose to do so.
Read more about this topic: Sahajdhari