Page 210 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

Religious Ceremonies and

Important Religious Days

1. The Naam Karan Ceremony
The adherents who come for the Amrit Sanskar
When a child is born into a Sikh family and the mother
Ceremony must wash their hair before coming and are required to
is fully rested, the family would take the newborn to the nearest
wear the 5 kakkars or Articles of Faith: Kesh (uncut hair and beard),
Gurdwara for a blessing. They sit in front of the Holy Book to rejoice
Kanga (wooden comb), Kachhera (cotton underwear), Kara (steel
and show their thankfulness to the Guru. The Granthi will randomly
bracelet or bangle) and Kirpan (a small sword). After obtaining the
open the Holy Book, enshrined on the pedestal at the Moment, and read Amrit Sanskar, they must strictly adhere to the code of conduct as
from the upper left corner. The first alphabet of that word is announced, addressed in the religious disciplines of Sikhism by wearing the
according to the hukam (order of God) to the congregation and the Articles of Faith at all times.
parents will use that alphabet letter to name their child. However, There are 4 severe misconducts in the rules of Sikhism:
for every boy, the ending name will always be ‘Singh’ and the girl
(1) Cutting hair in any manner, is strictly forbidden.
will have an ending name as ‘Kaur.’ Following that, the people in
(2) To eat Kutha, tortured or ritually-slaughtered meat
the ceremony pray together for the blessing from the Guru. After the
is forbidden.
ceremony ends, the Granthi will distribute a dessert, made of flour,
(3) Having sexual relations with anyone other than
sugar and butter called, “Kra Parsad,” in equal share symbolizing
one's marital partner is forbidden.
that everyone has been blessed by the Guru.
(4) Consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other
2. The Amrit Sanskar Ceremony (Baptism) intoxicants is forbidden.

It is considered to be an important and sacred rite of the The Sikh male who passed through the Amrit Sanskar
Sikhs, similar to an ordination in other faiths but done in the Sikh ceremony will have the name ‘Singh’ added to a man’s name and
manner. This ceremony began in the period of Guru Gobind Singh, for the female, the name ‘kaur’ is added. Singh means lion and Kaur
means grace and dignifies both as a “prince” in order to show that the
the 10th and last Guru of Sikhism. He added the regulation that
female Sikh is equally strong and responsible as male. It indicates
Sikhs who want to dedicate themselves to follow the teachings of the
the Sikhs' tolerant and liberal attitude toward equality between
religion must go through the Amrit Sanskar Ceremony in order to
genders and in social aspects between men and women.
be one of the ‘Khalsa’ or a Purified Disciple, as one who is baptized.
Generally, the Sikhs, men and women of all ages, when desiring to
participate in the Amrit Sanskar Ceremony, and are positive they Important Religious Days of Sikhism
want to maintain the religious diciplines, can inform the Granthi of There are many important days in Sikhism that are
their intention at the Gurdwara. Then, the official in the temple will connected to the history of the Sikh Gurus and their followers. Some
set the date for the ceremony at the ceremonial site. The Holy Book examples are: 1. The Birthday (Gurpurab) of Guru Nanak Dev,
the Founder
Guru Granth Sahib is to be installed. ‘Five Amritdhari Sikhs’ are
th
chosen from Baptized Sikhs who have strictly followed the rules of The birthday or Gurpurab of the Guru was on the 15
th
the relligion, and they will conduct the ceremony. day of the waxing moon in the 12 month of the lunar moon. There
are big celebrations on this day, around the world annually. Before

208

208