Facts about Sikhism

Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world.
It is a distinct religion with its own unique, divine scriptures and beliefs.
The Sikh religion originated in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak Dev.
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.
Sikhism advocates equality for men and women of every race and religion.
Many Sikhs throughout history are respected for having sacrificed their own lives, so that people of other religions may have freedom to worship in the manner of their choice.

Sikhs Worldwide

There are over 30 million Sikhs worldwide.
Sikhs live in just about every major country around the world.
The vast majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab, a part of northern India.
There are over one million Sikhs in the United States and Canada. Sikhs have lived in North America for over 100 years.
About a half million Sikhs are estimated to live in the United Kingdom.
The first Sikh migration to the United Kingdom was in the 1950s.

Sikh men and women cover their heads at all times as an expression of respect to their Gurus.
The Sikh turban symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility, and spirituality. The turban is a mandatory part of Sikh faith, not a social custom, or a hat that can be easily taken on or off.
The universal symbol of Sikhism is the khanda, the double-edged sword flanked by two daggers (representing worldly and spiritual powers, bound by the oneness of God).
The traditional greeting used by Sikhs is "Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh" which means "The Khalsa belongs to God, Victory belongs to God". Another traditional greeting is "Sat Sri Akal" which means "Immortal God is Truth".