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Kachera/Kaccha (Punjabi
Punjabi language

'Punjabi' , , is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region and their diasporas. Speakers include adherents of the religions of Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism....
: ??) are an undergarment which looks similar to boxer shorts.

It is one of the five Sikh
Sikh

Sikh is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit ' "disciple, learner" or ' "instruction"....
 articles of faith, called the Five Ks
Five Ks

The Five Ks, or panj kakaar/kakke, are five items of faith that baptised Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times at the command of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh who so ordered at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699....
, and was given as a gift of love by Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Patna, Bihar in India and became a Guru on November 11 1675, at the age of nine years, succeeding his father Guru Tegh Bahadur....
 at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699 and worn by all baptized Sikh.






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Kachera/Kaccha (Punjabi
Punjabi language

'Punjabi' , , is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region and their diasporas. Speakers include adherents of the religions of Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism....
: ??) are an undergarment which looks similar to boxer shorts.

It is one of the five Sikh
Sikh

Sikh is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit ' "disciple, learner" or ' "instruction"....
 articles of faith, called the Five Ks
Five Ks

The Five Ks, or panj kakaar/kakke, are five items of faith that baptised Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times at the command of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh who so ordered at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699....
, and was given as a gift of love by Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Patna, Bihar in India and became a Guru on November 11 1675, at the age of nine years, succeeding his father Guru Tegh Bahadur....
 at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699 and worn by all baptized Sikh. Kachaera must be worn by all baptized Sikh
Sikh

Sikh is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit ' "disciple, learner" or ' "instruction"....
s (Khalsa
Khalsa

Khalsa is a Persian term which refers to the collective body of all baptism Sikhs. The Khalsa was originally established as a military order of "saint-soldiers" on March 30, 1699, by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Gurus....
), after a mandatory religious commandment given by Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Patna, Bihar in India and became a Guru on November 11 1675, at the age of nine years, succeeding his father Guru Tegh Bahadur....
 (the tenth Guru of Sikhism) in AD 1699
1699

Year 1699 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, or a common year starting on Sunday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar)....
. Both males and females Sikhs wear very similar under-garments. This was one of five articles of faith, collectively called Kakars, that form the external visible symbols to clearly and outwardly display one's commitment and dedication to the order (Hukam
Hukam

Hukam is a Punjabi language word derived from the Arabic language hukm, meaning "command" or "order." In God whose is referred to as Waheguru....
) of the tenth master.

This Kakar was given by Guru Gobind Singh to remind his Sikhs that they should control their sexual desire, Kam
KAM

KAM may be:*Kolmogorov?Arnold?Moser theorem*The forerunner to KHAD, the secret police of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan*Kam *Kam-Tai languages...
 (lust
Lust

Lust is an inordinate craving for coitus often to the point of assuming a self-indulgent, and sometimes violent character. Lust, or an immoderate desire for the flesh of another , is considered a sin, or impure act, in all of the Abrahamic religions....
). The Kachera is a long underwear that comes to just above the knees and is supposed to give a feeling of dignity, modesty and honour to the person who wears it. The garment is usually made from white light-weight cotton material. It served to cover the person's private parts as well as remind Sikhs of the Guru's message to think of the opposite sex as they would think of their other family members and not as objects. The Kachera is secured and tied with a "nala" (drawstring). This serves as another reminder that when one is untying the drawstring one is given time to think about what one is about to do.

The Kachera is the Guru's gift and it reminds the Sikhs of the Guru's message regarding the control of the Five Evils
Five Evils

Five evils or five thieves as they are referred to in Sikh Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, are, according to Sikhism, the five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence....
, especially lust. Further, this garment allows the Sikh soldier to operate in combat freely and without any hindrance or restriction. It serves its purpose efficiently and effectively and is easy to fabricate, maintain, wash and carry compared to other under-garments of the day, like the dhoti
Dhoti

The dhoti or doti in Hindi, called suriya in Assamese language, pancha in Telugu language, Laacha in Punjabi language, mundu in Malayalam, dhuti in Bangla, veshti in Tamil language, dhotar in Marathi and panche in Kannada, is the traditional garment of men's wear in India....
, etc.

Gurbani reminds the Sikh that sexual desire can be overcome and that one should renounce worldly desire and seek the sanctuary of the Lord.