One World:
Many Religions

Buddhism
Christianity
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Rastafarianism
Sikhism
Taoism
Zoroastrianism

Comparing Religions
Beliefs and Teachings
Holy Book
Place of Worship
Main God or Goddess
Holy Places
Holidays

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Sikhism

Beliefs and Teachings:

• Sikhs believe in Gurus and that all the Gurus are one God. They imagine that all the Gurus are one God.
• God is without form or gender. This means that God can be male or female.
• Every Sikh should treat all human beings equally.
• Everyone can have direct access to God. This means God can be everywhere and every person has a chance to pray to God.
• Live a Good life by being honest, doing work, and helping others. You should be polite and kind too.

Holy Book:

The Sikh's holy book is called the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib has 1,430 pages. Guru Granth Sahib talks about religious beliefs. The Guru Granth Sahib is handled with care, and it is kept in a separate room.

Place of Worship:

The place of worship is called Gurdwara. A Gurdwara is wide and tall. There are pictures of the Gurus around the walls. In the Gurdwara, a man or a woman reads the Guru Granth Sahib.

Main God or Goddess:

Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh are the main Gurus. Guru Nanak is important because he is the first Guru and Guru Gobind Singh is important because he is the last Guru. The first and last Gurus are important because they're like beginning and ending.

Holy Places:

The Golden Temple is a religious place in India. The walls are red, and the walls are surrounded with religious pictures such as the Gurus.

Holidays:

• The Birthday of Guru Nanak is celebrated to mark the birth of the first Guru. It is celebrated in the Gurdwara. In towns and cities, where there are a large number of Sikhs, there are parades through the streets, which end at the Gurdwara. Sikhs visit the Gurdwara and listen to the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Diwali takes place in late November or in early December. Diwali is celebrated because the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, was released from jail. People light lamps in every house to welcome the sixth Guru. Sikhs first celebrate Diwali at home and then celebrate the rest at the Gurdwara with their family members.
• Baisakhi is the name of the first month of the year in the Sikh religion. Baisakhi is the New Year for the Sikhs. Baisakhi falls on April 13th on the western calendar. It was the occasion when the last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh began the Khalsa. At Baisakhi in the Gurdwara there are celebrations all day. Families go to the Gurdwara and listen to the Guru Granth Sahib.

Interesting Facts about Sikhism:

• Sikhs are people who follow the teachings of the ten Gurus.
• All the Gurus lived between 1469 and 1708.