Even though my father and grandmother immigrated here from Delhi, India in 1973, they kept our culture strong after moving to America. I wear a bracelet, called a kara, to remind me of my beliefs. I have been wearing a kara since I was a baby. The picture above shows different sizes of the kara as my wrist grew over time. It is in the shape of a circle to represent infinity, reminding me that God is eternal. The kara is made of iron to remind us not to get too attached to its materialistic value. The first time a kara was worn was on Vaisakhi day in 1699. This is an important day in the history of the Sikhs because it is when we were officially given our new identity. The kara is typically worn in the dominant hand so that we remember our spirituality when taking any actions. When my father came to America, he had a few physical differences from everyone, including other Indians. He had long, uncut hair, wore a kara and never forgot his roots in Sikhi. In Sikhi, there are five articles of faith, the kara being one of them. I feel more connected to all the people of my heritage because we all wear a kara. I am proud of our identity and culture and the fact that my family kept our religion strong all these years.

– A.K.

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant