Khalsa Khalsa Ouyang Xiu Khalsa which means 'Pure' is the name given by Guru Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking Amrit in ceremony called Amrit Sanchar. The first time that this ceremony took place was on Baisakhi, which fell on 30 March 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in India. The Sikhs celebrated the 300th anniversary of the day in 1999 with thousands of religious gatherings all over the world.

Historically, one of the male children (usually the first) of many Khatri Hindu families in the Punjab was intiated as a Khalsa Sikh. However, the majority of Sikhs are descended from those who voluntarily chose to follow the teachings of the Gurus later in life.

The Khalsa must carry the Five Ks – Five Kakkars – Kara steel bangle, Kesh –uncut hair, Kirpan – (Kirpa (act of kindness, Sanskrit) + Aan (self respect, Persian) sword (the length cannot be limited)), Kanga – small comb and Kacha – Shorts/Pants .

All Sikhs were taught to treat all in the community as equals; no distinction was made of the different tiers of 'craftsmen' and professions.

External links

[image]  Topics in Sikhism   [image]

Gurus:Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjan Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | Guru Granth Sahib | Sikh Bhagats
Philosophy:Beliefs and principles | Underlying values | Prohibitions | Technique and methods | Other observations
Practices:Aardas | Amrit | Chardi Kala | Dasvand | Five Ks | Kirat Karni | Kirtan | Langar | Naam | Simran | Three Pillars | Wand kay Shako
Scripture:Guru Granth Sahib | Bani | Chaupai | Dasam Granth | Jaap Sahib | Japji Sahib | Mool Mantar | Rehras | Sukhmani | Tav-Prasad Savaiye
More:Ek Onkar | Gurdwara | History | Khalsa | Khanda | Literature | Music | Names | Places | Politics | Satguru | Sikhs | Waheguru