Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was the founder of Sikhism in India, the religion that draws its elements from both Hinduism & Islam. The followers of the religion came to be known as Sikhs and their worship places as Gurudwaras (abodes of the gurus). They cremate their dead and baptize their children in a ceremony known as 'pahul'. Their holy book is the Granth Sahib which contains the works of the 10 sikh gurus together with Hindu & Muslim writings. The last guru died in 1708. Guru Nanak not only preached the importance of "Satnam & Waheguru" (true name or one god) but also that having a right guru (teacher) is important for self realisation. He neither believed in idol worship nor in casteism or asceticism and was a believer in 'Karma' as the only means of attaining 'moksha'. He introduced the concept of a common kitchen (the langar) to feed the poor.

Guru Angad, the follower of Nanak Sahib, popularised the Gurumukhi script while Guru Ram found Amritsar and the Golden temple and Guru Arjun Dev made the Granth Sahib, their holy book. However, Guru Gobind Singh, recreated the Sikhs as a military group called the Khalsa in 1699, with the aim that the Sikhs should be able to defend their faith for ever. Guru Gobind Singhji also established the Sikh rite of initiation (called khandey di pahul) and the 5 Ks. They are (i) Kesh - Long hair tied in a turban (ii) Kangha - (symbol of saintliness), the wooden or ivory comb - (symbol of cleanliness) (iii) Kuchha - shorts (symbol of alertness) (iv) Kara - the steel bracelet (symbol of determination) and (v) kripan - the sword (for the defence of the weak). The turban worn by the Sikh men is to hide the long hair that they wear in a knot. They practice tolerance & love of others and are firm believers in accepting the situations of life and getting on with them.