WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION

Kirtan, Ardas, Karah Parshad

• On a lower level than the Guru, but often on a separate platform, sit the ragis (musicians and singers). They sing shabads (hymns) from the Guru Granth Sahib. This hymn singing is called kirtan.
• A Sikh service is hymn singing (kirtan) followed by explanation of the hymns (katha).
• After the selected hymns have been sung, Ardas (the requesting prayer) is said.
• Ardas (the requesting prayer) is said by Sikhs before they begin anything new. It asks for God's help or forgiveness or whatever. It is a prayer created by the Khalsa which starts with remembrance of God, then the Ten Gurus, then the Khalsa and Guru Granth Sahib, and then the categories of great Sikhs in history. There is then a space in which people can add their own words. It goes on to ask for gifts of faith and good sense, and closes with a prayer for the welfare of the whole world (sarbat da bhalla).
• The sangat (congregation) sits down, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random, and a hymn is read which is called 'vaak' or 'hukam'. This is regarded as God's message for the day.
• Karah Parshad is a sweet made of flour, semolina, sugar, water and butter. It is available during the service and all given away at the end of the service. It is provided as a refreshment and as a blessing from the Guru.