Vaisakhi - the Sikh New Year festival - is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi is a spring festival which happens on the 13 or 14 April every year. It marks the start of the Punjabi New Year, but it is also a day to celebrate 1699 - the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith.
Having looked at it in the past, it seems a decent philosophy. One of the (many) bits I didn't know is that wearing the turban is a symbol that they are a protector, and not just of their own faith, but of anyone in distress. It's a big dishonour for a man in a Turban not to help when needed.
About the only thing I know about them is the name Khan means Lion if you are a Sikh. I remember after 9/11 there were quite a few Sikhs being attacked because people thought, "he is wearing a turban, he must be a Muslim, Al Qaeda lover".
I worked with a few of them once,no fan of Muslims but that might have something to do with breakup of India,think babies get their head shaved to rid themselves of their mothers hair or something,nice lads all the same.
Sikh babies,was on a night shift with them in my late teens and would go looking for them and they'd be behind a machine praying,made an impression on a young Paddy just off the boat.
They are also known for being partial to a few sherbets, which is unusual for Indians. Not averse to a punch up either, should the occasion arise. In fact a Hindu friend once told me, the Sikhs are just like the Irish (with better food, obviously).
