This article is about the Amrit Ceremony of initiation for Sikhs.
Amrit ceremony
Last updated 2009-10-27
Amrit Ceremony
Sikhs who have been through the Amrit Ceremony of initiation, or Amrit Sanskar, become baptised Sikhs, take new names, and wear the 5 Ks.
The Amrit Ceremony is the initiation rite introduced by Guru Gobind Singh when he founded the Khalsa in 1699.
A Sikh can go through this initiation as soon as they are old enough to understand the full committment that they are making.
The ceremony
The ceremony takes place in a Gurdwara, before the Guru Granth Sahib, and in the presence of 5 initiated Sikhs (who represent the Panj Piyaras, the first 5 Sikhs to be initiated).
During the ceremony, hymns are recited from the Sikh scripture, prayers are said, and the principles of Sikhism are affirmed.
Then amrit is prepared. Amrit is a mixture of sugar and water that has been stirred with a double-edged sword.
The candidates for initiation drink some of the amrit from the same bowl, and have it sprinkled on their eyes and hair.
Each then recites the Mool Mantra (the fundamentals of Sikhism). There are readings from the Guru Granth Sahib and an explanation of rules of Sikhism.
The ceremony ends with the eating of the ceremonial karah parshad. Parshad is a sweet tasting food which has been blessed. It is made from semolina, sugar and ghee.
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