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Sikh Chaplaincy Resources

  • 4 days ago
  • 3 min read

About the Sikh faith


  • Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in the fifteenth century in the Punjab by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

  • Sikhs follow the teachings of the gurus, which are recorded in their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.

  • The core tenets of Sikhism include honest living, peaceful coexistence, spiritual growth, social responsibility, and compassion for all beings. Sikhs reject discrimination based on caste, creed, or gender.

  • Sikhs wear five articles of faith, known as the Five Ks, including uncut hair, a comb, a steel bracelet, a sword, and Kachera (special undergarments).

  • The community gathers at Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) to pray, sing hymns, and share the langar, a free communal meal.

  • Understanding Sikhism: Beliefs, Practices, and Core Values Explained

  • Sikhs in Canada - a short history of Sikhs in Canada

  • Sikhism in Canada - Wikipedia

Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara, Ontario (photo by Ian Muttoo, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara, Ontario (photo by Ian Muttoo, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Attitudes to death and dying

  • When caring for a Sikh patient it is important to:

    • Knock on the door to announce your arrival

    • Not interrupt a praying patient for routine care

    • Limit unnecessary touching

    • Be sensitive to the Sikh 5 K’s, uncut hair, wooden comb worn in hair,

      steel or iron bangle, cotton breeches or shorts, the sword.

    • If shorts are removed they should be replaced with another pair,

      consult family prior to removal.

    • These articles of faith are to be worn at all times.

    • Permission should be sought before removal of these items and all

      attempts must be made to allow them to wear these articles

    • Be aware that if the headdress is removed the patient may request to

      cover their head with an alternative covering, the headdress should be

      respected and given to family or put with personal belongings

    • Provide daily bathing and personal hygiene care

  • Sikh patients may request that a Sikh priest is nearby to perform prayers along

    with relatives and friends. At the departure of their loved one Sikhs console

    themselves with recitation of their hymns

  • It is important to allow the family and the Sikh priest to follow traditions to

    prepare the body for the funeral. The family may request to wash and clothe

    the body prior to removal.

  • The patient should be taken to the funeral home with minimum delay to be

    cremated.

  • It is important that funeral and cremation plans be made in advance through

    consultation with family. These plans should be made according to the wishes

    of the dying person.

  • After death, the body should be covered with clean linens and shrouded. If the patient is wearing any of the 5K’s, they should remain with the body.


Sikh organisations


Sikh spirituality


Resources for hospice chaplains


Sikh Gurdwara in Edmonton (public domain photo by WinterforceMedia)
Sikh Gurdwara in Edmonton (public domain photo by WinterforceMedia)

Recommended books & resources

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