Kara (jewellery)

Kara or Kada is a thick metal ring or bracelet usually worn on the hands or wrists of men and women in India. It is a religious bracelet that Sikhs wear. Mostly made of Iron, the kara has different design styles and is usually used to honor a religious figure. Kara is worn by Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa. It is one of the five kakars or five Ks &mdash; external articles of faith &mdash; that identify a Sikh as dedicated to their religious order. The kara was instituted by the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh Ji explained:

"He does not recognize anyone else except me, not even the bestowal of charities, 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." 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 ethnic Punjabis and other non-Punjabi Indian families across the states in the North, North-West and West of India (such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra) by Hindus. Nowadays, irrespective of religion or its associated beliefs, many people wear kara for fashion purposes.