Kangha ਕੰਘਾ

What is the Kangha?

The Kangha is a small traditional comb usually made of wood.

What does the Kangha represent?

The Kangha represents a Sikh’s commitment to be practical in life. It ensures a Sikh is reminded to be clean and tidy (not just with their hair), organised and ever ready to take on life’s challenges. The Kangha is physically used daily to comb a Practising Sikh’s hair.

Where is the Kangha kept on the body?

The Kangha is usually kept within the hair on the head (e.g. behind the hair bun / top knot or plaited within the hair). These are then covered by a Dastaar (Turban) or under a head scarf (for women who choose not to wear a Dastaar).

Who keeps a Kangha?

Kanghas are usually not worn by Sikhs until they partake in Amrit Sanchaar to become Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs. Some Practising Sikhs may choose to wear a Kangha.

Sikhs and their practices

Sikhs can be broadly broken up in to the following groups:

All Sikhs generally wear a Kara.

Practising Sikhs may carry/wear some of the 5 Ks (e.g. Kara and Kes but not the Kirpan)

Only Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs carry/wear all of the 5 Ks including the Kirpan

While not all Sikhs are initiated, the 5 Ks are deeply respected by all Sikhs whether Amritdhari (initiated) or practicing.

Note:

  • The categories of Sikhs outlined in the diagram do not bear any resemblance of a Sikh’s spiritual journey.

  • These categories are only being used for the purposes of providing an explanation of Sikh practices to a non-Sikh audience. Sikhs tend not to utilise these categories on the basis that they infer discrimination, which Sikhs oppose strongly in any shape or form.

Images of some Kanghas worn in Australia

There are no standard Kangha. Kanghas come in a variety of different sizes and materials. Most Kanghas are made of wood. However some Sikhs may have a Kangha made out of an alternative material such as plastic. Kanghas are usually plain with no markings however some Kanghas may have a small piece of metal embedded within the wood that depicts a small Kirpan. The image below is provided to assist you in gaining a better understanding of what Kanghas may look like.

The 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