Sikh women have shown enterprise in several fields and are among the most progressive in education and in the professions such as teaching and medicine. Within the Sikh system, they are the equals of men.
Women in Sikhism
The holy scriptures of Sikhism state that women are entitled to the same rights and privileges as men, and women are allowed to lead congregations, as well as serve as spiritual leaders in the Sikh faith.
Some Sikh women also wear turbans (photo c); however, many wear a cloth called a chunni to cover their head (photo d). Produced by the Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2005.
Joura, this rule means that Sikh believers, women included, should refrain from “chopping, trimming, shaving, waxing or even tweezing their hair.” While there are no penalties as such, doing otherwise is “considered disrespectful to the religion,” says Mr.
Setting this protocol as per the Rehat maryada (official Sikh code of conduct), the gurdwara also says that a Sikh and a non-Sikh can only tie the nuptial knot only if the non-Sikh partner agrees to embrace Sikhism after marriage.
Sikhs are obligated to treat women as equals, and gender discrimination in Sikh society has no religious basis. However, gender equality has been difficult to achieve in practice due to heavy social, cultural, and caste-related pressure.
In Sikhism, there is no place for polygamy and polyandry. Sikh Gurus advocated the institution of monogamous marriage. Marriage in Sikhism is not a social contract. It is blissful and sacred union of two human beings.
The Sikh religion forbids cutting or shaving any bodily hair. Orthodox Sikhs always carry a dagger with them, lest someone try to force them to do something against their religion.
Intoxication – A Sikh must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco, cocaine, narcotics, etc. In short, any intoxicant is not allowed.
This includes regular maintenance of hair which includes but is not limited to combing at least twice daily, washing regularly and not allowing for public touching.
You can show your hair as a Sikh
"In the Sikh tradition there is no prohibition of showing your hair. It's not that hair cannot be seen. It's an identity, as opposed to having to cover your hair." His flowing locks are so long he can wrap them up without a hair band or elastic.
Followers of Sikhism do not have a preference for meat or vegetarian consumption. There are two views on initiated or "Amritdhari Sikhs" and meat consumption. "Amritdhari" Sikhs (i.e. those that follow the Sikh Rehat Maryada - the Official Sikh Code of Conduct) can eat meat (provided it is not Kutha meat).
According to Sikh religious practices, Sikhs may not cover their hair by any form of headwear other than a turban, and a turban may not be covered by any additional head coverings placed on top of it [5].
Just as all men use the Sikh name Singh, all Sikh women are named Kaur. Simply put, it means Prince (not Princess), but there are other translations as well. Some understand it to mean “Lioness,” stressing equality with male Lions/Singhs.
Sikhs are thus not allowed to eat any food prepared through a ritualistic process. Sikhs are not meant to eat Kosher (Jewish food prepared by a special ritual/process), or Halaal (Muslim meat prepared with a special ritual). Sikhs are also not supposed to drink alcohol or consume any other intoxicants.
In Sikhism, a person has two genders - one the physical gender i.e. sex (male or female), and the other the spiritual gender (which is always female - regardless of a person's physical sex). Waheguru is alluded culturally as the spiritual husband, reunion with Which is the desire of every spiritual bride - all of us.
Sikhs who are not vegetarian may choose to abstain from eating pork or beef. However, all Sikhs are prohibited from eating any meat that has been ritually slaughtered including halal or kosher meats4.
“Religious symbols and Gurbani verses ought to be respected, not flaunted in such disrespectful manner. We appeal to the masses to refrain from engraving the Sikh religious symbols on their body,” said SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami.
The Sikhs living in India are never seen or known to consume beef. And therefore, to reaffirm again, yes, the cow is as sacred for Sikhs as it is for their Hindu brothers, beyond any doubt.
In our opinion, the original ruling of shaving leg hair for both men and women is permissible. The reason for this is that there is no commandment to shave it nor is there a prohibition to keep it.
The Sunnah is to remove pubic hair with a razor and to pluck armpit hair with a tweezer (ouch), but most scholars agree that what matters is removing it, so other depilatory substances are permissible.
Their Sikh faith forbids them from cutting their hair, as their hair is considered sacred. Sikh men wear turbans to protect their hair; the turbans also carry a symbolic value of their own.
Extra-marital sexual relations are considered a severe violation of the Sikh code of conduct. For Sikhs, lust is a major vice that is an obstacle to realizing God, and therefore, adultery is not only a betrayal of trust but a major spiritual lapse that has very serious consequences for one's spiritual life.
Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. For example, fraternal polyandry is practiced among Tibetans in Nepal, parts of China and part of northern India, in which two or more brothers are married to the same wife, with the wife having equal “sexual access” to them.
Both religions hold strong cultural differences and similarities but marriages between the two faiths are rare.