The Sikh Holy City it also the 'City of Swords'

Amritsar, May 6 (UNI) 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 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 of 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 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.

MORE UNI