What's covered
Key facts
Festivals: Vaisakhi and Diwali
Sikhs also celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at the time of Diwali.
Langar: The Free Community Kitchen
Diners sit on the floor in lines, to symbolise equality.
The Gurdwara
Heads must be covered in a gurdwara.
The Khalsa: Initiated Sikhs
Amrit Sanskar happens in a Sikh gurdwara.
Festivals: Vaisakhi and Diwali
Diwali means festival of lights.
Langar: The Free Community Kitchen
Langar is free of charge.
The Gurdwara
Gurdwara means "door to the Guru".
The Khalsa: Initiated Sikhs
Amrit is a sweet nectar drunk at initiation.
Festivals: Vaisakhi and Diwali
The Khalsa was founded in 1699.
Langar: The Free Community Kitchen
The Sikh shrine with the world's largest langar is the Golden Temple.
Practice questions with answers
A taste of the 37 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
When is Vaisakhi?
- ✓April each year
- •January each year
- •June each year
- •October each year
What is langar?
- •Ceremonial sword kept in gurdwara
- ✓Free community kitchen
- •Sacred pool surrounding a temple
- •Sikh daily prayer service
What does the word 'gurdwara' literally mean?
- ✓Door to the Guru
- •House of God
- •Path of devotion
- •Place of light
Who were the Panj Piare?
- •compilers of the scripture
- ✓The first five Khalsa
- •the ten Sikh Gurus
- •writers of the Mool Mantar
What does Vaisakhi celebrate?
- •Guru Gobind Singh's death
- •The birth of Guru Nanak
- ✓The founding of the Khalsa
- •The opening of the Golden Temple
Who can eat at langar?
- ✓Anyone, regardless of background
- •Only initiated Khalsa members
- •Sikhs and their invited guests
- •Those who have completed seva duty
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