Thank you to all those who have made a gift! We are looking forward to putting on Northwestern's first Vaisakhi festival! We can't wait to share the rich history of Sikhism and the culture of Punjab with Northwestern's community. Please continue sharing our organization with anyone you think might be interested!
Kangha is one of the 5 K's of Sikhism and roughly translates to "comb." It is a symbol of cleanliness. During religious services, all participants (including non-Sikhs) must cover their head. Help us purchase head coverings such as turbans, rumals (bandanas), and chunnis (scarves) for our Vaisakhi religious service and Wildcat langars throughout the year.
A kara is a steel bracelet that is worn by observant Sikhs. One symbolic meaning of the kara is a permanent bond to community. We want to make sure our attendees can be part of the community and hear our speakers. Help us obtain microphones, speakers, and projector equipment for our Vaisakhi day celebrations!
A kachera is a type of undergarment that looks like shorts. It is worn by observant Sikhs to symbolize being ready at a moment's notice and to preserve modesty. Help us to explain the meaning of kachera and the other 5 Ks by helping us to pay for printing educational flyers and pamphlets. We also plan on making our information digital and accessible through QR codes in order to save paper.
Kesh roughly translates to "hair." Observant Sikhs don't cut their hair which is why some Sikhs choose to tie it in a turban. This money will help pay for a professional turban-tying group to come to campus and tie turbans on any interested students. This event is quite popular at nearby schools like the University of Chicago and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and we can't wait to bring it to Northwestern's campus!
A kirpan is a type of dagger that symbolizes the Sikh duty to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Unfortunately, many Sikhs (and other religious and ethnic groups) have historically faced acts of discrimination in the US especially in the wake of 9/11. Help us to teach others about the history of Sikhism in the US by making a gift to pay for transportation and speaker fees for our guest panelists and visiting professors.