Do Sikhs celebrate Diwali?
Is tying a Rakhri or Rakhi a Sikh ritual? Why or why not? (i) Yes. On Diwali day fireworks are displayed at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Sikhs gather there in maximum numbers on that day. Diwali day has a different significance for people of different faiths. For many people, it is more a social celebration of happiness than a religious day. We are not sure if some religious connections attributed to that day are historically true or not. It is, however, known that Bhai Mani Singh Shaheed, during the early 18th century, started the gathering of the Khalsa at Amritsar twice a year, once on Baisakhi (spring), and the second time on Diwali (autumn). (ii) The Rakhri ritual is not a Sikh ritual. Its practice doesn t fit in the Sikh philosophy. Rakhi or Rakhri means protection. This is a custom among some Hindus. Accepting a Rakhri from a girl, sister or a cousin, means that the boy takes responsibility of protecting her if she happens to the into any trouble. As a token of his promise, he g
