MERICAN Journal of Public Diplomacy and International Studies www.
grnjournal.us Concept of God. All these beliefs are based on the teachings of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak
taught that God is shapeless, timeless, and invisible, and it is known as Ik Onkar, the One
Supreme Reality. Sikhs call their god Waheguru, a name composed of three different words:
vāhe (wondrous), gu (darkness), rū (light). [15]
Worship places for Sikhism. The worship place of Sikhism is called gurdwara, where
people from all faiths are welcomed to join. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib, where the Guru
Granth Sahib, the scripture of Sikhism, is kept. There is also a community kitchen (a langar)
where people can enjoy vegetarian food served by volunteers. Usually, a gurdwara will also have
some other facilities, like classrooms, nursey, meeting rooms, playground, a gift shop, a medical
facility room, etc. The most beautiful and the most famous Sikh temple (gurdwara) is
undoubtedly the Harmandir Sahib or the as it is known in English. Located in Amritsar, this
temple encircles around a man-made lake and has a striking golden color. The Golden Temple is
the Sikh community's holiest shrine. This temple is three stories and protects important religious
relics including the Sikh holy book which the temple holds during the day. At night, the holy
book is transferred to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the seat of the supreme governing body of
Sikhism.[16-41,50]
Daily practices for Sikhism. When a child is born, Sikhs open the Guru Granth Sahib
randomly and the child's name is chosen according to the first letter on the top left-hand corner
of the left page. All the boys have Singh as last name, while the girls have Kaur. Marriage
ceremony is held in front of the Guru Granth Sahib following the anand karaj ceremony: a
joyous event where families from both sides are heavily involved. When a Sikh dies, his/her
body is usually cremated. When this is not possible, the body is disposed in another respectful
way.
Sikhism Festivals. One of the most important festivals of Sikhs is , wherein Sikhs are
asked to gather and celebrate as a community. Celebrations are held on April 13 and 14. It is a
holiday because in 1699 the tenth Guru inaugurate the Khalsa, the 11th body of Guru Granth
Sahib, leader of Sikhs till the end of time. On these days, Sikhs bathe in lakes or rivers before
visiting the local Gurdwaras and community fairs. There are numerous processions, people share
food and socialize. The festival is celebrated also by Hindus, as it is their traditional solar new
year. [17-21,23]
Islam was introduced to India during the 8th century and since then has greatly
contributed to the development of the local culture, especially Indian classical music. It was
through the many Muslim dynasties that ruled from Delhi from 1206 to 1555 that Islam was
spread throughout India. Islam in India reached its peak during the reign of the Mughal Empire,
which controlled North India for 300 years. The Mughals established a rich culture by blending
the finest of Islamic and Hindu traditions. One of the most iconic monuments of the country, the
Taj Mahal, represents the pinnacle of Mugal architecture. [18-71]
Daily practices of Muslim. The day of a Muslim is dictated by the five . They occur at
specific times of the day and are indicated by the call to prayer (adhan). Before praying, Muslims
have to wash themselves.
Worship places for Muslim. There are about 300,000 mosques in India, and each one of
them is basically an open courtyard surrounded by a pillared verandah, with a dome on top. One
of the most important mosques in India is the in Delhi, built between 1644 and 1656. The