In
Sikhism
Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...
, Karah Parshad (Punjabi: ਕੜਾਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ), alternatively known as Deg or Degh (literally meaning "cooking pot"),
is a type of whole wheat flour
halva
Halva (also halvah, halwa, halua, and other spellings; ) is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Central Asia, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad va ...
made with equal portions of
whole-wheat flour,
clarified butter
Clarified butter is butter from which all milk solids have been removed. The result is a clear, yellow butter that can be heated to higher temperatures before burning.
Typically, it is produced by melting butter and allowing the components to ...
, and
sugar
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose
Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...
and double quantity of water. It is offered to all visitors to the
Darbar Sahib in a
Gurdwara
A gurdwara or gurudwara () is a place of assembly and place of worship, worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "home of guru". Sikhism, Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths and rel ...
.
Overview
It is regarded as a treat for attendees of gurmat seminars. As a sign of humanity and respect, visitors accept the Prashad sitting, with hands raised and cupped. The offering and receiving of this food is a vital part of
hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship of a host towards a guest, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill and welcome. This includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, ...
protocols. It has the same amount of whole-wheat flour, clarified butter and sugar, to emphasize the equality of men and women. The Sewadar serves it out of the same bowl to everyone in equal portions. The Karah prasad is a sacred food; if it is not accepted, it may be interpreted by some Sikhs as an insult. Prashad is also taken at the initiation ceremony of
Amrit Sanchar at the very end where it is shared out equally among all. It is a symbol showing that everyone is equal.
The sacred food is also distributed during
Naam Karan and
Antam Sanskar ceremonies.
The
Gurdwara
A gurdwara or gurudwara () is a place of assembly and place of worship, worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "home of guru". Sikhism, Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths and rel ...
is the place where Sikhs go to worship. Gurdwaras can be any size or shape, but one thing they always have is a kitchen, or
langar
Langar may refer to:
Community eating
*Langar (Sikhism)
*Langar (Sufism)
Places
Afghanistan
*Langar, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
*Langar, Bamyan, Afghanistan
*Langar, Faryab, Afghanistan
*Langar, Herat, Afghanistan
*Langar, Wardak, Afghanistan
...
. People can go there for food, and can even rest there for the night. Every day a meal is prepared here for as many people who want to eat and its free of charge.
History
According to W.H. McLeod, the practices surrounding karah prasad were presumably taken from the Hindu custom of offering prasad in temples.
Variants
In Pakistan, visiting Sikh ''
yatri'' pilgrims are given ''pinni parshad'', prepared by adding semolina to
sattu, wheat, or ordinary flour.
The wheat flour is heated in a large pot and
desi ghee is added to the pot.
After the oil is absorbed, refined crushed sugar is mixed in.
Dried fennel seeds and thinly-sliced almonds are crushed and mixed in.
The resultant pinni parshad can last for several months whilst still being edible.
The reason Sikh pilgrims are given pinni parshad insead of halwa parshad is due to halwa parshad being more perishable, thus one cannot present it after long periods of time as a ''tabarruk''.
See also
*
Bhog
*
Deg Tegh Fateh
References
{{reflist
Sikh practices
Religious food and drink
Confectionery