| The Sikh
religion, Riki explained, started from when the Moguls were trying to
convert everyone to Hinduism (another explanation is that it was a protest
against the caste system). This religous subgroup became warriors, protecting
the nobility. A story goes that one of these was beheaded in battle, but
kept on fighting for half a day holding his head in one hand and sword
in the other. A remnant of this violent history evolved into the practice
of carrying a dagger, one of the five main Sikh traditions. The other
four are: letting hair grow from birth, wearing a comb underneath the
turban, a wristband and a kind of long underwear. Riki goes to temple
every morning. Their holy book is treated as a living person, having an
honored place in the household, complete with a bed. Despite violent incidents
in Indian history, Sikhs are peaceful now, according to Riki. Wearing
a dagger is optional. |
