#sikhs

2026: The Chooda ceremony is a central Sikh pre-wedding ritual celebrating the bride's transition into married life. The bride's maternal uncle and aunt gift her red and ivory bangles, which are first dipped in a mixture of milk and rose petals to cleanse and bless them. This act symbolizes fertility, prosperity and spiritual protection, while family members gather to pray for the bride's happiness and success in her new journey.

2026: Cincinnati's Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, with a vibrant parade organized each April by the Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati. Vaisakhi marks one of the most important festivals in Sikhism, commemorating the founding of the Khalsa, the collective body of initiated Sikhs, by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The day symbolizes renewal, equality and the spirit of selfless service. During the celebration, participants fill the streets singing hymns, sharing food and wearing traditional colorful attire. The parade not only honors faith and heritage but also serves as an act of outreach, inviting the broader Cincinnati community to learn about Sikh values of compassion, inclusion and unity. For many of Ohio's Sikhs, celebrating Vaisakhi publicly affirms their identity and ensures that younger generations stay connected to their cultural and spiritual roots while fostering understanding across cultures.

2026: A family bows on their knees, touching their heads to the ground in worship before the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal guru of the Sikh faith, at the Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati. In Sikhism, spiritual guidance once came from human gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak and continuing through nine successive gurus. After the 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh, the lineage of human gurus ended and the Guru Granth Sahib — the holy scripture — was declared the eternal guru, embodying the gurus' wisdom, teachings and spiritual presence. The text rests on a raised throne and is treated with the same respect as a living person. It is ceremonially awakened each morning, offered food and ceremoniously laid to rest at night. Devotees gather to sing hymns and offer prayers, practicing devotion, humility and service. These traditions preserve a living connection to the gurus' teachings and pass cultural and spiritual values to future generations, anchoring the Sikh identity even while living in the America.

New Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh (10) battles for the ball with Iran’s Saeid Ezatolahi (6) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026.

When New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh made his tournament debut against Iran this year, he became the first Sikh to play in the men’s FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Singh said, “It means a lot to me, it means a lot to my people, my family, my community.” He added he hoped to see “many more Singhs and Sikhs and Punjabi footballers coming through, and Indian heritage footballers.”

April 2026: Hassan Abdal, Pakistan

Sikh pilgrims attend a ceremony to celebrate Vaisakhi festival, which also marks the new year in Sikh tradition, at the shrine of Gurdwara Punja Sahib