Source: https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kara/ ਕ [Kosh](https://jugti.com/kosh/)/[Words](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/)/Noun Word # ਕੜਾ kara Say it**kuh-RAA**Type**Noun** In short The kara is the steel bracelet worn by initiated Sikhs, one of the Five Ks, a circle of iron reminding the hand to act righteously. ## How it's used 1. 1ਉਸ ਦੇ ਸੱਜੇ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੋਹੇ ਦਾ ਕੜਾ ਹੈ।He wears an iron kara on his right wrist. 2. 2ਕੜਾ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੈ।The kara is one of the Five Ks. 3. 3ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੜਾ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਉਤਾਰਦਾ।I never take off my kara. ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ ਕੜਾ ਲੋਹੇ ਜਾਂ ਸਟੀਲ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਦਾ ਕੰਗਣ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਧਾਰੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁੱਟ 'ਤੇ ਪਹਿਨਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੈ। ਗੋਲ ਆਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਨਾ ਆਦਿ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਅੰਤ, ਉਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ; ਅਤੇ ਲੋਹਾ ਤਾਕਤ ਅਤੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹਤਾ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕ ਹੈ। ਕੜਾ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਸੱਜੇ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਹਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਧਰਮ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਰਹੇ। ਕਈ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ 'ਨੇਕੀ ਦੀ ਹੱਥਕੜੀ' ਵੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਭਾਵ ਹੱਥ ਕੇਵਲ ਚੰਗੇ ਕੰਮ ਹੀ ਕਰੇ। ੧੬੯੯ ਵਿੱਚ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਖ਼ਾਲਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਕੜਾ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਅੱਜ ਕੜਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਪਛਾਣ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੈ। ## Meaning The kara is a plain bangle of iron or steel worn on the wrist, usually the right wrist, the working hand, by initiated Khalsa Sikhs. It is one of the Five Ks, the five articles of faith. Its meaning is read in its shape and substance. The circle has no beginning and no end, like God; it speaks of unity and of the unbroken bond between the Sikh and the Guru. The steel, sarb loh, 'all-iron', speaks of strength and resolve. And because it sits on the wrist of the hand that acts, it is a constant reminder: whatever this hand does, let it be righteous. Sikhs sometimes call it a handcuff to good conduct, a restraint willingly worn. ## Origin and history The kara was mandated in 1699 as part of the Five Ks when Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. Iron had long been associated with the Sikh martial tradition, the Guru's own weapons were of sarb loh, and putting a band of it on every Khalsa's wrist made that association personal and permanent. Unlike the kirpan or kesh, which are reserved to the initiated, the kara has been widely adopted by Punjabis of all backgrounds, Sikh or not, as a cultural emblem, which is why you will see karas on wrists far beyond the Khalsa. ## Cultural context Karas range from slim plain bands to broad, sometimes engraved ones bearing the khanda emblem or lines of Gurbani. Many Sikhs never remove theirs, it is worn sleeping, bathing and working, a piece of the discipline that never comes off. For the same reason, the kara has occasionally been at the centre of disputes in schools and workplaces with no-jewellery rules; Sikhs have generally won the right to wear it as an article of faith. To ask a Sikh to remove the kara is to ask them to set aside a vow. ## What is the kara? The kara is a plain bangle of iron or steel worn on the wrist, usually the right wrist, the working hand, by initiated Khalsa Sikhs. It is one of the Five Ks, the five articles of faith. ## What does the kara symbolise? The circle has no beginning and no end, like God: it speaks of unity and of the unbroken bond between the Sikh and the Guru. The steel, sarb loh, 'all-iron', speaks of strength and resolve. And because it sits on the wrist of the hand that acts, it is a constant reminder: whatever this hand does, let it be righteous. Sikhs sometimes call it a handcuff to good conduct, a restraint willingly worn. ## Do only Khalsa Sikhs wear the kara? No. Unlike the kirpan or kesh, which are reserved to the initiated, the kara has been widely adopted by Punjabis of all backgrounds, Sikh or not, as a cultural emblem. Many Sikhs never remove theirs, it is worn sleeping, bathing and working, a piece of the discipline that never comes off. ## ਕੜਾ ਕੀ ਹੈ? ਕੜਾ ਲੋਹੇ ਜਾਂ ਸਟੀਲ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਦਾ ਕੰਗਣ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਧਾਰੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁੱਟ 'ਤੇ ਪਹਿਨਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੈ। ## ਕੜੇ ਦਾ ਕੀ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ? ਗੋਲ ਆਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਨਾ ਆਦਿ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਅੰਤ, ਉਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ; ਅਤੇ ਲੋਹਾ ਤਾਕਤ ਅਤੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹਤਾ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕ ਹੈ। ਕੜਾ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਸੱਜੇ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਹਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਧਰਮ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਰਹੇ। ਕਈ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ 'ਨੇਕੀ ਦੀ ਹੱਥਕੜੀ' ਵੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ## Related words [ਕਿਰਪਾਨkirpanCeremonial sword of the Khalsa](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kirpan/)[ਕੇਸkeshUncut hair of the Khalsa](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kesh/)[ਖੰਡਾkhandaDouble-edged sword; Sikh emblem](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/khanda/) Sources (2) 1. Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha 2. Sikh Rehat Maryada, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee [Report a correction](https://jugti.com/corrections/) **Jugti is free and independent.** Reader support keeps the Kosh growing. [Support](https://jugti.com/support/) ## More words [ਜੀਭjeebhtongue](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/jeebh/)[ਦੰਦdandtooth; teeth](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/dand/)[ਈਰਖਾirkhajealousy and envy: the burning feeling of pain at another person's good fortune](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/irkha/)[ਤਰਸtaraspity, compassion and mercy: the soft feeling that moves a person to help or forgive](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/taras/)[ਗੋਡਾgoddaknee: the joint in the middle of the leg that lets it bend](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/godda/)[ਉਂਗਲungalfinger: one of the five jointed parts at the end of the hand](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/ungal/) [ੳ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B3)[ਅ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%85)[ੲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B2)[ਸ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B8)[ਹ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B9)[ਕ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%95)[ਖ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%96)[ਗ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%97)[ਘ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%98)[ਙ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%99)[ਚ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9A)[ਛ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9B)[ਜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9C)[ਝ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9D)[ਞ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9E)[ਟ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9F)[ਠ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A0)[ਡ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A1)[ਢ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A2)[ਣ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A3)[ਤ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A4)[ਥ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A5)[ਦ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A6)[ਧ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A7)[ਨ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A8)[ਪ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AA)[ਫ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AB)[ਬ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AC)[ਭ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AD)[ਮ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AE)[ਯ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AF)[ਰ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B0)[ਲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B2)[ਵ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B5)[ੜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%9C) On this page[In short](#in-short)[How it's used](#how-used)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ](#pa-meaning)[Meaning](#s-k279)[Origin and history](#s-k285)[Cultural context](#s-k291)[What is the kara?](#s-faqen0)[What does the kara symbolise?](#s-faqen1)[Do only Khalsa Sikhs wear the kara?](#s-faqen2)[ਕੜਾ ਕੀ ਹੈ?](#s-faqg3)[ਕੜੇ ਦਾ ਕੀ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ?](#s-faqg4) Related words[ਕਿਰਪਾਨ kirpanCeremonial sword of the Khalsa](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kirpan/)[ਕੇਸ keshUncut hair of the Khalsa](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kesh/)[ਖੰਡਾ khandaDouble-edged sword; Sikh emblem](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/khanda/) [A Punjabi wordਦਰਖ਼ਤdarakhtTree](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/darakht/) Browse words by letter [ੳ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B3)[ਅ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%85)[ੲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%B2)[ਸ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B8)[ਹ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B9)[ਕ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%95)[ਖ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%96)[ਗ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%97)[ਘ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%98)[ਙ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%99)[ਚ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9A)[ਛ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9B)[ਜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9C)[ਝ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9D)[ਞ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9E)[ਟ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%9F)[ਠ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A0)[ਡ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A1)[ਢ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A2)[ਣ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A3)[ਤ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A4)[ਥ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A5)[ਦ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A6)[ਧ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A7)[ਨ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%A8)[ਪ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AA)[ਫ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AB)[ਬ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AC)[ਭ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AD)[ਮ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AE)[ਯ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%AF)[ਰ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B0)[ਲ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B2)[ਵ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A8%B5)[ੜ](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/?letter=%E0%A9%9C) ## Keep exploring Everything in the Kosh, with sources. 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