Panj Kakaar - 5 Ks

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs gave his Sikhs a unique physical identity. An important part of this physical identity was that all Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs were to maintain the Panj Kakaar or the ‘5 Ks’ on their body at all times.

All Amritdhari Sikhs are mandated to wear the five articles of faith which are:

  1. Kes (unshorn hair on whole body with the long hair on the head usually covered by a turban or headscarf)

  2. Kangha (wooden comb)

  3. Kara (iron/steel band worn around predominant wrist)

  4. Kachhehra (prescribed undershorts)

  5. Kirpan (small sheathed curved blade shaped object with handle)

For Sikhs these religious articles have deep spiritual and practical significance. The 5 Ks are not symbols. They are mandatory articles of faith to be worn at all times.

5 K’s graphic depiction above taken from publication ‘Sikhi - Faith and Followers’ by the Sikh Research Institute