Some basic beliefs of Sikhism include:

Monotheism. There is only one God, who is omnipresent and infinite.

Human equality. All people are equal, regardless of religion, race, social class or gender.

Salvation by virtue, not rituals. A person is saved through devotion to the One God, serving humanity, and honest labor.

Positive outlook. Both happy and sad events in life are the will of God, and need to be accepted with a cheerful outlook.

No clergy. All people are equal before God. There are no priests to perform religious functions or dictate how people should think or act.

The eternal Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The scripture containing the writings of the Gurus and other holy saints is the final spiritual authority and instructor to all Sikhs.

Common meal. Langar, the common meal, is a free, vegetarian meal served at all Sikh places of worship, known as Gurdwaras. It is open to everyone, regardless of class, religion, etc., and represents that everyone is equal. It is vegetarian so that people with any dietary restrictions may eat.

Fight for justice. Sikhs have a long and celebrated heritage of speaking out against injustice and fighting for the defenseless.

Guru Khalsa Panth. The order of the Khalsa was established by the Guru Gobind Singh - the tenth Sikh Guru. Sikhs who are ready to commit to following the tenants of the faith undergo an initiation ceremony and become a member of the Khalsa.

Members of the order of the Khalsa maintain a strict spiritual and moral discipline and can be identified by their five articles of faith, known as the “five K’s.” Wearing the five K’s serves as a reminder of one’s spiritual quest, and is an easily identifiable uniform for others to recognize. The five K’s are:

Kes (uncut hair). Sikhs do not cut their hair, both out of deep reverence for the perfection of God’s creation and because it is an expression of acceptance of whatever God has given them.

Kangha (comb). Just as a comb helps remove tangles and cleans the hair, Sikhs carry a wooden comb to remind them to make a conscious effort to remain pure and spiritually clean.

Kara (metal bracelet). Worn on the right wrist, the bracelet reminds Sikhs that they are bound to God and have an unbreakable link to the Gurus and other Sikhs. It reminds them to exercise restraint at all times.

Kirpan (religious sword). The word kirpan is derived from the words kirpa (act of kindness) and aan (honor, respect, self-respect). It is usually a curved blade with a length no greater than nine inches, though the length can be much smaller. The kirpan is a reminder to Sikhs that it is their spiritual duty to help anyone in need and always be ready to defend the weak and the oppressed. 

Kachh (shorts). This is a pair of knee-length shorts worn as an undergarment. It is a reminder of self-control and marital chastity.
 
An additional article of faith is the dastaar (turban). Neither cultural paraphernalia nor a fashionable trend, the dastaar represents the Sikh’s commitment to always be recognized and therefore to never be able to shun responsibility. It represents the sacrifices that the Gurus made for the right to freedom of religion and for the rights of the poor and others who cannot freely live out their lives. Though mandatory for only Sikh men, some Sikh women also choose to wear the dastaar.