Rites and Rituals

Amrit ceremony

Sikhs who have been through the Amrit Ceremony of initiation become baptised Sikhs, take new names, and wear the 5 Ks.

Baby rites

Sikhs follow the instructions for all ceremonies (birth, naming and marriage) as set out in the Sikh Rahit Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) and by following the holy book the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Gurdwara

A Sikh temple is called a Gurdwara, but more than just prayer goes on there.

Sikh weddings

The Sikh marriage is called Anand Karaj. This form of marriage was introduced from the time of the Sikh Gurus and was given statutory recognition during the British rule in India by the Anand Marriage Act 1909.

Sikh worship

Sikhs pray to one God either publicly or privately. Unlike members of many other religions they worship God in his true abstract form, and don’t use images or statues to help them.