Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab

"Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab" was developed by the Smithsonian Institution and sponsored by the Sikh Heritage Foundation. Sikhs, a unique culture and religion, originate in the Punjab region of India, straddling the India-Pakistan border. Male Sikhs are easily recognized by their turbans and untrimmed beards. The community and its leaders have been working with the museum to continue educating about their culture, which has experienced discrimination and suspicion in a post-9/11 society. The exhibit features a collection of traditional Sikh art, information on the culture's history and beliefs, artifacts such as ceremonial weapons and armor, and a model of the Golden Temple, one of the sacred sites of the Sikh religion.