Circles and wheels

Kara

The kara, the steel bracelet worn by Sikhs as one of the Five Ks: what it stands for, why it is plain steel and how it is worn today.

Also called Sikh bracelet

In brief

I.The kara is a plain steel or iron bracelet, one of the Five Ks worn by initiated Sikhs.
II.Its circle, without beginning or end, stands for the eternity of God.
III.It reminds the wearer of the bond with the Guru and to do only good with the hand that wears it.
IV.Many Sikhs who are not initiated also wear one.

Chapter I

What it means

The kara is a circle, and a circle has no end: it stands for God, who is eternal. Worn on the wrist, usually the right one, it reminds Sikhs that they are bound to the Guru and to God, and that the hand which wears it should do no wrong.

Its plainness matters. It is made of steel or iron, not gold, to show strength and humility rather than wealth.

Chapter II

Where it comes from

The Five Ks were given to the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh when he founded the order in 1699, as outward signs of a disciplined life. The kara is the simplest of them and is often the first worn by children.

Chapter III

Where you see it today

The kara is worn by Sikhs throughout the world, by men, women and children, initiated or not. Many people of Punjabi heritage of other faiths wear one too, as a sign of identity.

Questions people ask

What are the Five Ks?

Five articles of faith worn by initiated Sikhs: kesh (uncut hair), kangha (a wooden comb), kara (the steel bracelet), kachera (cotton undershorts) and kirpan (a short sword).

Why steel and not gold?

Steel is strong and humble. A plain metal bracelet shows that it is a sign of faith, not decoration or wealth.

Sources and further reading

Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Five Ks”
W. Owen Cole and Piara Singh Sambhi, The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Sussex Academic Press, 2nd ed. 1995)
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Religious symbolism and iconography”

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