Click to play videoHoshiarpur: The face-off between Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikh groups has resulted into a rise in the demand for Kirpans as many people now think the sword is mightier than the pen.
It's sharp, thin and back in fashion. The kirpan – the Sikh ceremonial sword – is flying off shelves in Punjab.
Balwinder Singh, a general store owner in Hoshiarpur, says he's selling kirpans at twice their normal price.
“Earlier the kirpans would cost Rs 150 but now they cost Rs 300-400. The demand has almost doubled,” said Balwinder.
The kirpan is one of the five k's a Sikh man is supposed to traditionally wear. The word kirpan literally means weapon of defense, but the clashes between Sikh groups and the Dera Sacha Sauda could well be the reason for the newfound interest in kirpans.
Many people buying the swords say they want to use them to defend themselves.
“I am buying a Kirpan for my self-defence. If somebody attacks you or your religion, you must be prepared to defend yourself,” said Paramjit Singh a customer.
While shopkeepers like Balwinder are happy with the brisk business, for many buyers the kirpan is a symbol from which they draw strength, at a time when many feel their religion is under threat.
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