Sikhism and the Sikh Kirpan Fact Sheet
What is Sikhism?
Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion, with over 25
million followers. Sikhism was founded in Punjab, India
in 1469 by Guru Nanak, who rejected the caste system
and declared all human beings equal. The Sikh religion
is monotheistic, believing in one God that is all eternal,
all pervading, and all equal. Sikhs maintain five articles
of faith to bind them to the beliefs of the religion, which
include advocating for equality and justice, engaging
in selfless seva (community service), and remembering
God at all times.
What are the Sikh Articles of Faith?
Initiated Sikhs are required to carry/maintain at all times: kesh (unshorn hair
covered by a turban), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (small wooden comb), kacchera
(undershorts), and a kirpan (resembles a knife/sword). Taken together, the five
articles of faith signify an individual’s commitment to the Sikh faith and to the highest Kara
ideals of love and service to humanity. They are an external uniform that unifies and
binds Sikhs to the beliefs of the religion, and are a daily reminder that Sikhs must live
an honest, moral, kind, brave, and loving life.
Kanga
What is a Kirpan?
• A kirpan is a mandatory Sikh article of faith. It is carried by
Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs at all times. The word “kirpan” comes
from two Punjabi words: ‘Kirpa’ means an act of kindness, a favor;
and ‘Aan’ means honor and self- respect.
• A kirpan resembles a knife or sword. There is no prescribed length
or sharpness for a kirpan in Sikhism; they are determined by the
individual religious convictions of the wearer. Kirpans are typically
sheathed and worn with a gatra (a strap) underneath clothing. Kirpan (above and below)
• The kirpan obligates a Sikh to the ideals of generosity, compassion
and service to humanity. It acts as a reminder to its bearer of a Sikh’s
solemn duty to protect the weak and promote justice for all.
• The kirpan also plays an important role in Sikh practices. Kirpans
are used prominently in ceremonies marking major life events,
including religious initiation (amrit sanchar), marriage (anand
karaj), and death (antim sanskar). In congregational settings, a
kirpan is touched to parshad (blessed sweet pudding) to indicate the
grace of the Guru and then distributed for consumption.
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What are some examples of Kirpan accommodations made in the U.S.?
Government Accommodations
• In 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service (FPS) instituted a
kirpan accommodation policy that facilitates the entry of kirpan-wearing Sikhs into the 9,000+ federal
buildings that FPS secures.
• The White House, the Hart Senate Building, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department
of Justice, and the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento have all provided accommodations
to kirpan-carrying Sikhs.
Workplace Accommodations
• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has litigated and favorably settled at least two
separate cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protecting the right of Sikhs to wear
kirpans in the workplace. See EEOC v. Heartland Employment Services, LLC d/b/a ManorCare Health
Services-Citrus Heights, Case No. 2:08-cv-00460-FCD-DAD (E.D. Cal. consent decree entered May
2010); EEOC v. Healthcare and Retirement Corp. of America d/b/a Heartland Health Care Center -
Canton, Case No. 07-13670 (E.D. Mich. consent decree entered Dec. 2009).
• Large employers, including AT&T, Boeing, and the International Monetary Fund, have also provided
kirpan accommodations to Sikhs.
• Employers normally provide accommodations because a number of secular objects found in most
workplaces are often as or more dangerous than many sheathed kirpans. (These include letter openers,
scissors, kitchen knives, boxcutters, etc.)
School Accommodations
• Public school districts nationwide routinely provide accommodations for Sikh students in elementary
through high school to wear kirpans at school.
Is it Legal to Wear a Kirpan? Yes
• On rare occasions, Sikhs have been mistakenly arrested and charged under anti-weapons statutes
for carrying kirpans. However, criminal charges for carrying the kirpan are consistently dropped by
prosecutors or dismissed by judges because of the kirpan’s religious nature and Sikhs’ benign intent
in wearing them. See e.g., State of Ohio v. Harjinder Singh, 690 N.E.2d 917, 920 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996)
(reversing trial court criminal conviction because the Sikh defendant carried his kirpan as a religious
article and not a mere weapon); New York v. Partap Singh, 516 N.Y.S.2d 412 (1987) (sua sponte dismissing
weapons charge against kirpan-wearing Sikh).
• Courts and prosecutors consistently refuse to apply anti-weapons statutes to kirpans even
when the “bladed” sections of Sikhs’ kirpans are longer than allowed by anti-knife laws. See,
e.g., City of Detroit v. Sukhpreet Singh Garcha, Slip op., No. Z-775606 (36th Dist. Ct., City of
Detroit) (refusing to apply Detroit’s anti-weapons statute to Sikh student’s ten-inch kirpan).
***Note, this guide is not intended to be an exhaustive list of kirpan accommodations made to Sikhs in the
United States. For more information about Sikh kirpans, please email legal@sikhcoalition.org.
The Sikh Coalition is a community-based organization that works towards the realization
of civil and human rights for all people. The Sikh Coalition’s Legal Program defends and
safeguards religious freedom by providing essential legal services to victims of hate crimes,
employment, discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, profiling and other
forms of discrimination.
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