Kara (Sikhism)

Ceremonial religious bracelet worn by Sikhs

A kara is a steel or cast iron bangle worn by Sikhs. It is not necessarily expected to be worn by all Sikhs, but it is a prevalent practice and broadly represents ones' devotion to Sikhism. Sikhism preaches the importance of equality, and having reverence for god (Waheguru) at all times, represented through the five Ks; ceremonial items worn or used by Sikhs in the practice of Sikhism, of which kara is one.

The kara was instituted by the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh explained:

He does not recognize anyone else except me, not even the bestowal of charities, the performance of merciful acts, austerities, and restraint on pilgrim stations; the perfect light of the Lord illuminates his heart, then consider him as the immaculate Khalsa.|Guru Gobind Singh

The Kara is a symbol of unbreakable attachment and commitment to God. As the Sikhs' holy text the Guru Granth Sahib says "In the tenth month, you were made into a human being, O my merchant friend, and you were given your allotted time to perform good deeds." Similarly, Bhagat Kabir reminds the Sikh to always keep one's consciousness with God: "With your hands and feet, do all your work, but let your consciousness remain with the Immaculate Lord." The kara is also worn by many Sikhs and other non Sikh Indian families across the states in the North, North West and West of India (such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and even Maharashtra) by Hindus.

It was also historically used like a knuckle duster for hand to hand combat. Battlefield variations include kara with spikes or sharp edges. Sikh soldiers serving for the British army in India would settle disputes by competing in a form of boxing known as loh muthi (lit. iron fist) with a kara on one hand.

In 2022, a Sikh lady candidate, Manharleen Kaur was barred from taking a competitive examination by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) until she removed her metallic Kara, despite arriving at the examination site before the closing time. Kaur later filled a case against DSSSB in Delhi High Court for the denial of permission to her to appear in examination. DSSSB informed court that "Sikh candidates are allowed to appear in examinations with metallic kara (bangle) or kirpan (dagger) subject to their reaching the centre at least one hour before the reporting time" and a notice was sent to Kaur informing the above guidelines but Kaur argued that "such notification was notified only two days after the examination was held." After hearing the petitioner, the court directed DSSSB "to ensure that adequate notice, which is well in advance, is given concerning the additional requirement to reach the examination centre one hour before the reporting time in case a candidate is wearing a kara and/or kirpan so that no undue hardship is caused to them."

In November 2007, a 14 year old Sikh girl, Sarika Singh was excluded from Aberdare Girls' School in South Wales for wearing a Kara as the "school has banned students from wearing any jewellery other than plain ear studs and wrist watches." In July 2008, Judge Stephen Silber of the High Court of England and Wales said that "the bangle known as the kara was a symbol of her Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery". He further said that "the school is guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws" and Singh was allowed to return to school wearing her Kara in September 2008. In 2017, 8 year old Kaiden Singh was banned from wearing a kara to school in Tipton, England.