Author: John L. Esposito and Sheila B. Lalwani

Source: Middle East Online

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=42151

News that President Obama may skip a visit to the Golden Temple, the holy shrine to millions of Sikhs on his upcoming trip to India, is a sign of the confused times in which we find ourselves.

Part of the requirement for entering the Golden Temple - a sprawling and serene complex of polished marble that is the spiritual center of the Sikh religion - is that men must cover their heads. Their headcovering has to include a knot because tying carries a spiritual significance.