The Sikh Holy City it also the City of Swords

Amritsar, May 6: In Sikhism, the 'kirpan' (sword) is a religious symbol, which the followers of the 'Guru' must only wield to protect the defenceless.

This important symbol which was one of the five 'Ks' that Guru Gobind Singh had asked Sikhs to ordain, has a close relationship with the Holy City of of Amritsar. The sixth Guru Hargobind who established the Akal Takht, the highest religious seat of Sikhism here, used to wear two 'kirpans' symbolising the spiritual and temporal commitments of the followers of the faith.

Over the years, the Holy City, has emerged as an important centre for making swords that have found their way to homes all over the globe. The 'kirpan' cottage industry, which include other traditional sharp edged weapons, here has an annual turnover of about Rs 40-45 crore.

There are about a dozen big houses and a large number of small untis that are involved in manufacturing and trading of swords and other traidtional arms, which include the dagger, 'gupti' (a type of hidden sharp-edged weapons in small sticks, 'khukri', ' khanda' (double-edged straight sword) and even samurais and many more.

All these traditional weapons including the 'kirpan' form an integral part of 'gatka', the Sikh martial art. During religious festivals, these traditional weapons are displayed by 'gatka' experts.

Advancement of technology has changed the age-old art of making 'kirpans'. Earlier an artisan used to take almost a day to prepare a kirpan, but with the introduction of machines, the time factor has been reduced.

There are around 10,000 to 15,000 people involved in this profession, particularly in the small units. Each unit produces about 150 kirpans a day, which are largely prepared for religious ceremonies.

Over the years and with the introduction of firearms, the quality and weight of the 'kirpan' has some hat been compromised. Old timers in this profession recall that their forefathers used to make kirpans weighing upto three kg but now the weight is around half a kg.

"It was once an important weapon of supremacy and used in the battlefield, but now it is merely a religious symbol or a decorative peice of art kept in households". Mr Sohan Singh president, Kirpan Maunfacturers Association said. " A Sikh bridegroom will carry a sword, but once the marriage ceremony is over, he will probbably keep the kirpan in some obscure corner of his house", he added.

Generally, iron and other metal sheets are given to traditional sharp-edged weapon makers, who give it the desired shape of a 'kirpan'. The unfinished 'kirpan' goes to various processes of grinding, polishing, embossing of trademark, nickel or chrome plating and then sword is given a shine.

Thereafter various parts of the sword, like the grip and sheath, are fitted together and a piece of velved cloth is covered over it to give it an impress look to attract customers.

Blacksmiths of Dhapai village, on the outskists of the city, have been invovled in this profession for centuries. The art has been passed on from one generation to another in this village.

The raw material for the swords come from Mandi Gobindgarh while the grips are purchase from Moradabad in UP and fixed here.

The increasing influx of tourists over the last couple of years has given this industry a fresh lease of life and the 'kirpans' and other traditional weapons are much in demand. Being a religious symbol, 'kirpan' is free from all type of taxes, though the raw materials are taxed.

According to the blacksmiths here swords were earlier made of copper, but now iron mixed with copper and steel are used. On demand a blacksmith here will also assembly a silver or gold plated sword.

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