Cultural Features

The British-Asian community is both rich and diverse in its cultural heritage. Since migrating to the UK it has enriched British life with its own way of life, food and even clothing. Curry has been one of the biggest Asian success stories of all, with on average two and a half million Britons flocking to Indian restaurants every week.

The food by its very nature and origin is very spicy and rich in flavours, which has resulted in restaurants developing dishes such as vindaloo aimed specifically at the British market. Traditional female clothing, namely saris, ghagra-cholis, shalwar-kameez, dupatta, pyjama and kurta have had a deep impact on British fashion influencing a range of clothing. Bindi’s and mehndi (henna) have in recent years become must have accessories for women dressing up for a night on the town.

Other areas where Asians have had a major impact on the British community are in areas of entrepreneurialism/business, Asians have injected some much needed life into the new/small business sector. In fact 1 out of 4 all new business start-ups in the UK are attributed to Asians (see below for further discussion on this topic sub-section 5, Asian business success stories). In the transport and textile sector, these industries were dominated by Asian migrants, who although were traditionally paid low wages, this kept the industries going.

Although in the current era, ironically the countries that the Asian migrants came to the UK have been responsible for the demise of the textile industry, particularly due to very low labour costs. The transport industry is still heavily dominated by large numbers of Asian workers.
Collectively, the Asians have added a great deal to the British way of life, whilst still preserving those things that are central to their own culture. Religion is an integral part of the community and illustrates how diverse and dynamic the Asian way of life is. In Britain, Asians principally follow three main religions – Sikhism, Islam and Hinduism.

Historians and specialists broadly believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, that is it originates from the Bhakti movement within Islam and Hinduism, to which some independent beliefs were added. The name of the religion itself can be defined as ‘learner’ and this has led many Sikhs to believe that their religion is a direct revelation from God. The religion was founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538) who received a vision to preach the way to God and some form of enlightenment. He is principally responsible for the saying “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim”, which has since become the backbone of the religion.

The first Sikh temple was erected at Katarpur by Guru Nanak himself and Panth (his followers). The Sikh people do not have an independent homeland, despite the Sikh state of Punjab being founded in Northern India in 1801 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh holy text, Shri Guru Granth Sahib, was compiled by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru. It consists predominantly of hymns and writings of the first ten Gurus.
Sikh Beliefs/Practices:
• The aim of Sikhs is to build a loving and respectful relationship with God.

• Sikhs believe in a single God with many names and who is without form. Only one God can be worshipped and He is reached by meditation.

• Like Hindus, they hold belief in Samsara (reincarnation) and Karma (an accumulated sum of one’s good and bad deeds), following death.

• Sikhs are prohibited from worshipping any images or idols and have prayers which are repeated several times a day, at home or the temple.

• The Five K’s are clothing practices and an integral part of the Sikh faith (usually followed by the more stricter Khalsa saints):
1. Kangah (comb)
2. Kacha (short pants)
3. Kara (metal bracelet)
4. Kesa (long, uncut hair)
5. Kirpan (a ceremonial dagger).

• The Khanda (a vertical double-edged sword with a broad blade) is the Sikh religious symbol.
Although Sikhs do not have a mandatory place of pilgrimage or worship, the Golden Temple in Amritsar in the state of Punjab is the most significant historical place of worship and Sikhs from all over the world flock there every year.

Islam
Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, believed by Muslims to be the first man and the first prophet of Allah (God). The name of God's religion lslam was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word is also seen to represent a peace which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Muslims consider Muhammad (PBUH), born in Makkah in Saudi Arabia in the year 570 C.E. to be the last Prophet, who re-expressed the true religion of Allah in its final form.
Muslim Beliefs/Practices
The Seven Articles of Faith
1. Belief in the Oneness of God.
2. Belief in the Angels of God.
3. Belief in the Revelations (Books) of God.
4. Belief in the Prophets.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgement.
6. Belief in Qadar (Predestination).
7. Belief in Resurrection after Death.

The Five Pillars of Islam
I. Shahadah (the profession of faith)
The simple statement of “There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God”.

II. Salah (prayer)
There are five prayers each day, namely at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening. These are prayed facing the Ka’bah, seen as the house of God in Makkah.

III. Zakat (charity)
A fixed proportion of a Muslim’s net worth is prescribed to be donated for the social and economical welfare of the entire community.

IV. Sawm (fasting)
During the Muslim month of Ramadan, fasting takes place between dawn and dusk where Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual contact and any undesirable behaviour.

V. Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The journey to Makkah is obligatory to every able-bodied and economically stable Muslim. It is made between the eighth and thirteenth days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.

• Islamic laws fall broadly into two main categories; Halal (that which is permitted by God) and Haram (that which is absolutely prohibited).

• The most obvious examples of haram foods are those from the flesh of the swine, such as bacon or pork. Intoxicants including alcohol and drugs are also prohibited.

Hinduism
Hinduism, regarded by most as the world’s oldest organized religion, has grown to be the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Approximately 13% of the world’s population, that is 762 million people, follow it. There is much ambiguity surrounding the origins of the word Hindu. It could be derived from ancient transcriptions which translated India as being a country lying between the Himalayan mountains and the Bindu Sarovara – a combination of the ‘hi’ from Himalaya and the ‘ndu’ of the word Bindu leading to ‘Hindu’ as we know it. Other explanations see it as being derivative from the Persian word for Indian or a name coined by the British administration during colonial times.

• The three-in-one god known as “Brahman,” which is composed of: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer).

• The Caste System. According to Hindu teaching there are four basic castes, each one having its own rules for living. The elite caste is Brahman (Priests). Second are the Kshatriyas (Warriors and Rulers). Third are the Vaisyas (Merchants and Farmers). Finally we have the Shudras (Laborers). And those outside the caste system are labelled the Untouchables.

• Karma. The law that good begets good, and bad begets bad. Every
action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences – good or bad – that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come.

• Reincarnation. Also known as Samsara. This is a journey where each person experiences a series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths. With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood. Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in their next life.

• Nirvana. This is the goal of the Hindu. Nirvana is the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths.

• Sacred texts. The most important Hindu texts are the Vedas (Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda). The Upanishads and the Mahabharata (written around 540 to 300 BCE) are also crucial texts. The Bhagavad-Gita is perhaps the most central text to Hinduism. It is the sixth book of the Mahabharata, a poem describing a conversation between the warrior Arjun and the God Krishna.

• Paths to Moksha (salvation) are achieved largely in three ways:
a) Karma Yoga – liberation through fulfilling one’s familial obligations.
b) Jnana Yoga – salvation through knowledge and overcoming ignorance. c) Bhakti Yoga – this involves a self-surrender to one of the many personal gods and goddesses, expressed through acts of worship, temple rituals and pilgrimages. It is a salvation reached largely through devotion.