Sikhs ( or ; Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ, sikkh, [sɪkkʰ]) are people who adhere to Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak
The term Sikh has its origin in the word śiṣya (शिष्य), meaning ‘disciple’ or ‘student’
Male Sikhs generally have Singh (’lion/King’) as their middle or last name, though not all Singhs are necessarily Sikhs; likewise, female Sikhs have Kaur (‘princess’) as their middle or last name
Sikhs who have undergone the Khanḍe-kī-Pahul (‘baptism by Khanda’), which is an initiation ceremony known as Amrit, are from the day of their initiation known as Khalsa Amritdhari Sikhs, and they must at all times have on their bodies five Ks:
kesh, uncut hair, which is kept covered usually by a dastār, also known as a turban; kara, an iron or steel bracelet; kirpan, a dagger-like sword tucked into a gatra strap or a kamal kasar belt; kachera, a cotton undergarment; and kanga, a small wooden comb
The Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent has been the historic homeland of the Sikhs, having even been ruled by the Sikhs for significant parts of the 18th and 19th centuries
Today, the Punjab state in northwest India has a majority Sikh population, and sizeable communities of Sikhs exist around the world
Many countries, such as the United Kingdom, recognize Sikhs as a designated religion on their censuses, and, as of 2020, Sikhs are considered as a separate ethnic group in the United States