Some people confuse Sikhs with Muslims and believe they follow the same religious holidays.
Contrary to this belief, Sikhs do not celebrate Eid, and although Sikhism shares similarities with Islam, they are different faiths.
Sikhs celebrate a festival called Baisakhi on April 13th or 14th each year.
In fact, there are many other festivals like Maghi, Sikh New Year, Holla Mohalla, and Baisakhi, which have gained different meanings as it is celebrated by all Sikhs of different cultures around the world.
A common misconception is that Sikhs and Muslims are one and the same simply because they both wear turbans and grow beards.
The Sikh religion is an independent religion – it was born in India, during the time of Guru Nanak, and formed a separate religious identity after about 200 year
Who Are Sikhs and What Do They Believe?
Sikhs are a religious minority in India, but they do makeup over 20% of the total population in India.
Sikhs are known for their long beards and turbans, which they wear out of respect for their faith.
They believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of gender or race.
The Sikh religion is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who lived from 1469 until 1539.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born into a Hindu family, but he believed that all religions were equal and that God could be found in all religions.
He also taught his followers how to live their life according to what he called “the five Ks”: Kesh (hair), Kangha (comb), Kara (steel bracelet), Kirpan (sword), Kachha (long underwear).
These items have become symbols of Sikhism because they help remind Sikhs about their faith every day when they see them worn by other people around them
The basic principles of Sikhism are:
- To believe in only one God; to respect all religions; to love all human beings; to live a simple life free from greed and lust, and to share what one has with others less fortunate than oneself
- To give up bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and gambling
- To forsake worldly pleasures such as listening to music, watching movies, and dancing.
What Do 10 Gurus Mean in Sikhism?
The term “Guru” in the Sikh religion refers to a spiritual teacher or guide. The word comes from the Sanskrit word gu, meaning “darkness,” and ru, which means “to remove.” Thus, a Guru is someone who helps you get rid of your darkness.
The only way to progress in life is to take the path of the Guru. Gurus, with their vast life wisdom and insight, aim to bring those who believe in them to their ultimate spiritual goal.
In the Sikh religion, there are 10 gurus. The first guru was Guru Nanak, who lived from 1469-1539. He was born in India and founded the Sikh religion. Guru Nanak wrote many poems that are still read today by Sikhs. He also believed in equality between men and women and helped to create a new religion that would be open to anyone who wanted to join it.
After the death of Guru Nanak, 9 more Gurus undertook this task in order to continue the Sikh philosophy. Here are the other Gurus after Guru Nanak
- Guru Nanak – 1469-1539
- Guru Angad Dev Ji – 1504 to 1552
- Guru Amar Das Ji – 1479 to 1574
- Guru Ram Das Ji – 1534 to 1581
- Guru Arjan Dev Ji -1563 to1606)
- Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji – 1606 to 1644
- Guru Har Rai Ji -1630 to 1661
- Guru Har Krishan Ji – 1656 to 1664
- Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji – 1621 to1675
- Guru Gobind Singh ji, also known as Gobind Rai or Gobind Singh, who was born in 1666 and died in 1708 at the age of 42 years old.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, both Sikh and Muslim religions promote peace and harmony.
Sikhs are easy to recognize by their turbans, but this may cause them to be confused with Muslims.
Although some Islamic reflections can be seen in Sikhism, both religions are quite different from each other, and Sikhs do not celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
The most well-known of the Sikh’s Holy Days, which is unique to Sikhism, is Baisakhi. Sikhs follow the teachings of ten gurus who were responsible for developing a set of beliefs and practices.
It is very important for Sikhs to respect God, themselves, their community, society, and the planet.
The basic tenets of Sikhism include honest living, equality of mankind, social justice, righteousness, sharing with others, and meditating on the nature of God.