Sikh Religion has 20M Followers World-Wide

[sarblohsingh2004]

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh !

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3906701

Sikh Religion has 20M Followers World-Wide

By Matthew Cooper, PA

Sikhism, which was founded in the 15th century, is thought to have around 600,000 followers in the UK and Gurdwaras welcome people of all faiths.

Generally open 24 hours a day, many Sikh temples provide temporary accommodation for visitors or pilgrims and all Gurdwaras offer free food to those that want it.

Gurdwaras, meaning the gateway through which the Guru could be reached, not only offer Langar – a free community kitchen – but often act as libraries of Sikh literature, schools to teach children scriptures and as charitable centres.

In the Langar, all diners sit on the floor and food is cooked and served by volunteers.

Sikhism, which has an estimated 20 million followers across the globe, is the youngest of the great world faiths and originates in the Punjab.

Present day Sikhism, which is based on the teachings of its founder, Guru Nanak, and nine Gurus who followed him, advises worshippers to avoid superstitious behaviour, pilgrimages, statues, and “blind” rituals.

The religion is said to emphasise social and sexual equality and stress the importance of doing good actions rather than merely carrying out rituals.

Visitors to Gurdwaras are expected to remove their shoes and cover their heads as signs of respect to the sovereignty of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

Guru is a Sanskrit word meaning teacher, honoured person, or saint, but is used by

Sikhs to specifically refer to the 10 Gurus who founded the religion, starting with Guru Nanak in 1469 and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708.

Sikhs reject any form of idolatry, including portrayals of the Gurus.

Divali, the Festival of Light, comes at the end of October or early November and is celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus.

The Sikh calendar takes its first year as 1469, the year of Guru Nanak’s birth, but it is not approved by all Sikh groups, meaning some festivals are celebrated on more than one day.

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

Actually, population is higher...when census is taken in India, the Vanjara and Siklighar Sikhs are not included in Sikh column.

[Gill]

i think its much much lower,

aren't real sikhs the ones who truly believe in the sggs,

the majority of people claiming to be sikh have their hair cut,

i m sure the numbers much lower,

[Guest vikramkhalsa]

yeah, when they say sikhs they should be counting the number of amritdharis, cause if your not part of the khalsa you ont count as a member of the sikh religion...

[Gupt daasan daas]

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

there are very few sikhs in the world

they are many people who claim to be sikh

but as sant kartar singh je said

if ure not amritdhari, dont do nitnem, dont follow reight

how are u a sikh???

bhula chuka maf

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

Daas stands corrected...please forgive the mistake.

Like the Sikh who stated to Sant Attar Singh Ji that thousands of Khalsa had assembled in the Sangat...Sant Ji stated that Khalsa were but 4 in the world.

The avastha you speak of is rare indeed. Daas referred to worldly census...the census of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is more important.

[Khalsa04]

I know that sikhi is declining in UK youth because the youth would rather smoke "spliffs" and drink a bottle, then scream out "SINGHS!" which is shameful but ive heard that America/USA have increasing numbers of white people who have come into Sikhi, i dont believe this is called converting because these people came into Sikhi of their own choice, this is more of choosing faith which i felt so proud after hearing.

Fateh.