Rites of passage and worship

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The status and role accorded to the human gurus, to the Guru Granth Sahib, and to the Khalsa.

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The Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random and the first letter of the first word on the page gives the first letter of the child's name — so the scripture chooses it.

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Initiation into the Khalsa panth. The guide says it is opted for by some Sikhs — it is not required of all, and a person raised Sikh is already a Sikh.

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The four rounds a couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib during anand karaj, the Sikh marriage ceremony, as its verses are sung.

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The body is washed, dressed in the five Ks, prayers are said and the body cremated. Monuments over the dead are prohibited. An Akhand Path usually follows.

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A continuous reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib, taking about forty-eight hours. Shaj panth is the same reading spread over several days; sukhmani path is continual reading of the Sukhmani Sahib.

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Diwan (reading from the Guru Granth Sahib), katha (talks explaining a passage or Sikh history), kirtan (meditative singing of God's Word), and Ardas (the standing prayer). Karah prashad is shared afterwards.

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Installing the Guru Granth Sahib before dawn, and resting it at night — because it is treated as a living Guru rather than as a book about the Gurus.

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No. Sikhs make a special effort to attend the gurdwara one day a week depending on the country they live in — in Britain, probably a Sunday.

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Any place where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed. The building takes its identity from the scripture.