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The Amrit ceremony can be held in the Gurdwara, or any room which has been cleaned and prepared to serve as the Guru’s Court. If there is an Akhand Paath in progress during the appointed time for the Amrit ceremony, then another Palki should be set up in another room, so that there is only one ceremony conducted per room.
- It is preferable to conduct the ceremony during the Ambrosial hours, just before or at dawn; set-up, therefore, should be done the night before.
- The Gurdwara or room to be used must be thoroughly cleaned prior to set-up.
- Clean white sheets are to be put down to cover the entire floor.
- Serving bowls for the Gurprashad, a kirpan to cut it, and napkins should be placed near the Guru, on a small table, for example. Be sure to place the Gurprashad on a table, and not on the floor.
- Place fresh flowers before the Guru if they are available.
- Place six Siri Sahibs (swords) in front of the Guru’s ramalas, for use by the Panj Piaray and the Granthi.
- The single volume Gurmukhi Bir of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib is used, along with an English Translation. Each Hukam should be read out in Gurmukhi and then translated into English (or the language of the people present in the ceremony).
- A nitnem should be kept near the Guru, to read the following banis in this order: Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tev Prasad Swaiya, Bayntee Chaupe, and Anand Sahib. The Panj Piaray will read these banis if they do not have them memorized.
- An area about five feet square is prepared directly in front of the Palki Sahib, where the Panj Piaray will prepare the Amrit. Since the Panj Piaray will be kneeling during the ceremony, it is considerate to set down padding (blankets, foam, etc. but not sheepskins) and cover it with white sheets. After the Amrit is prepared, and before it is administered, this padding should be removed.
- An iron bowl (bata) is placed in the center of the square padded area. Iron is preferred to steel, since the iron will react with the water and release its essence into it. A small stool should be available, upon which the bata is placed when the Amrit is administered. Roll up a towel and place it around the base of the bata, to hold it steady, like tabla rings steady the tablas.
- Place a large iron kanda (sword) in front of the bata.
- Have some towels available for the Panj Piaray when they administer the Amrit.
- Have extra iron bowls available for use during the Amrit ceremony.
- Have a clean cloth or ramala to cover the bata.
- Keep a notebook and pen available.
- Water will be needed for the Amrit, and also for the Panj Piaray and Granthi and prashad servers to wash their hands, if no running water is available.
- Patasis from the Harimandar Sahib, or white sugar, are kept on the side, to be put into the water at the beginning of the ceremony by a Khalsa woman who represents Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
- If the ceremony is to be observed by a large number of people, consider using a sound system, with a microphone set up behind the Palki for the reading of the Hukams, and one in front of the Palki for the Panj Piaray to use.
- Arrange in advance for someone to play kirtan—preferably a Shabad written by or about Khalsa or Guru Gobind Singh; Song of the Khalsa and Anand Sahib will be played at the end of the Amrit Ceremony.
- There should be two or three Amritdhari sevadars available to help with the ceremony, preferably with experience. They serve as guardians of the ceremony. They will assist the Panj Piaray, hand out towels, and remove wet towels, as well as remove the extra sheets and padding. The sevadars are to have karas, kangas, kirpans, and kacheras available and will give them to the candidates before the ceremony, if necessary.
- A sevadar should record the names and addresses of the new Khalsas, as well as the Hukam page numbers, and mail this information to the Chancellor’s Office in Los Angeles, and the the Office of the Bhai Sahiba in New Mexico.
