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Sikhism's relationship to the caste system is a complex and controversial topic in the modern-period. [1] [2] Although the discriminatory practices derived from the Indian caste system is repudiated by the religion's tenets, which stresses upon humanity's oneness, castes continue to be recognized and followed by much of the Sikh community, including prejudices and biases resulting from it.
Caste systems in Africa are a form of social stratification found in numerous ethnic groups, found in over fifteen countries, particularly in the Sahel, West Africa, and North Africa. [1] These caste systems feature endogamy , hierarchical status, inherited occupation, membership by birth, pollution concepts and restraints on commensality.
At 93.33% Sikh, Tarn Taran is the world's most Sikh district or county. [37] Located in the heart of the Majha region of Punjab founded by Guru Arjan Dev - the 5th Sikh guru, [38] Tarn Taran also hosts the world's largest sarovar (sacred pool) [39] even surpassing the great Darbar Sahib - Golden Temple in the neighbouring Amritsar district.
The Sikh diaspora has been most successful in the UK, and UK Sikhs have the highest percentage of home ownership (82%) of any religious community. [226] UK Sikhs are the second-wealthiest religious group in the UK (after the Jewish community), with a median total household wealth of £229,000 .
The list of religious populations article provides a comprehensive overview of the distribution and size of religious groups around the world. This article aims to present statistical information on the number of adherents to various religions, including major faiths such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others, as well as smaller religious communities.
The Sikh literature mentions Varna as Varan, and Jati as Zat or Zat-biradari. Eleanor Nesbitt, a professor of Religion and author of books on Sikhism, states that the Varan is described as a class system, while Zat has some caste system features in Sikh literature. [287]
Each broad caste level is a hierarchical order that is based on notions of purity, non-purity and impurity. It uses the concepts of defilement to limit contacts between caste categories and to preserve the purity of the upper castes. These caste categories have been exclusionary, endogamous and the social identity inherited. [89]
The first Sikh pioneers settled in Durban in KwaZulu Natal on the eastern coast of the country. [3] More Sikhs began settling in South Africa after Apartheid ended. [4] After the system was abolished in 1994, Sikhs began migrating to the country. [4] In 2006, a gurdwara was established in Johannesburg by a Kenyan Sikh expatriate. [5]