This ceremonial dagger, known as 'kirpaan', is one of a group of items collected by the donor from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, during the Sikh celebrations of the tri-centenary of the Khalsa (formation of the Sikh faith), in April 1999. The kirpaan is one of the '5 Ks' or 'Panj Kakaars' - the identifying accoutrements of the Sikh faith. Literally meaning hand of mercy, the kirpaan was to be used primarily for purposes of defence and not offence. Sikh teachings insist that a kirpaan should only be used to defend oneself or someone else in danger from an aggressor.