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Synopsis Written by leading experts in Sikh history, religion, and the arts of the period, the book is a lavish tribute to the rich cultural splendors of the Sikhs. This authoritative and sumptuous study of the cultural heritage of the Sikhs is published to coincide with the 300th anniversary of a p[pivotal event in Sikh history, when Guru Gibing Singh- the last of the ten Sikh Gurus - initiated five of his followers to create the Khalsa, or 'Order of the Pure'. Following this, men adopted the name Singh(lion) and the women Kaur (princess), a tradition which, along with customs as the wearing of turbans, remains to this day. In 1801 Ranjit Singh was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of the Panjab, the 'Land of the five rivers', at Lahore. The magnificent illustrations include jewelry and gemstones from his treasury and the paintings, luxurious textiles, gold-decorated weapons and armor of his reign. The book also tells the little-known story of the continuing traditions of the later Sikh kingdoms after the annexation of the Punjab by the British in 1849, as well as the beguiling friendship between the deposed Maharaja Dalip Singh and Queen Victoria.