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Karah Prashad Service in the Gurdwara


Taking prashad at Gurdwara
Photo © [Khalsa Panth]

Gurdwara and Karah Prashad

During a gurdwara service, a sevadar commonly sits on the floor and doles out karah prashad to visitors and sangat once they have performed mathatake, a gesture of respect to Guru Granth Sahib. The devotee cups both hands together extending them to receive the prashad.


Karah Prashad is prepared ahead of time in the langar kitchen. A batch of prashad is always blessed by a sevadar offering of ardas and touching with kirpan before being served. Once it has been blessed, prashad can be mixed in with remnants of any other batch of prashad. A gurdwara service routinely ends with one or more sevadars walking among the congregation and individually serving karah prashad to all sangat present.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/new-to-gurdwara/25846-gurdwara-what-to-expect-simple-overview.html


Another personal note: In Punjabi culture, young men often are the ones who serve food at weddings and other important celebrations to guests. In keeping with that tradition at some gurdwaras, not all, young boys and the young and older men will be the ones who serve the karah prashad. They also may be the ones who cook langar and serve langar in the langar hall. More about that later. I only mention this because if you are new to Sikhism and come from a Christian faith you will be surprised by this seva -- you probably are used to seeing only woman preparing and serving food to the congregation.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25846


Karah Prashad in the Gurdwara