What are Sikh funeral rites?
Sikh funeral rites, called antim sanskar, have three main parts: cremation with prayer, a reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, and the bhog and antim ardas that close the period of mourning.
The spirit of the rites is acceptance. Sikh teaching sees death as part of God's will (hukam), and the soul as not subject to death. The Sikh Rehat Maryada, the code of conduct issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, asks the family to recite Gurbani or repeat Waheguru, and not to wail or beat the chest.
Families differ. Some follow the Rehat Maryada closely. Others keep customs from their village, region or biradari. Your granthi or gurdwara committee is the right guide. What follows is common practice in Delhi NCR.
What should the family do in the first hours?
Sit with the one you've lost, recite Waheguru or Gurbani, and inform your gurdwara. Then secure the death papers so the cremation can go ahead.
- Many families read Sukhmani Sahib or Japji Sahib beside the person in their last hours and after death.
- The Rehat Maryada asks that the body not be moved from the cot to the floor, and that no lamp or ritual offering be placed beside it.
- Get the death certified by a doctor or the hospital. See when someone dies at home or in hospital.
- If the death was sudden or accidental, a post-mortem may be needed first.
The funeral is usually held quickly, often the same day or the next. There is no religious rule against cremating at any particular time of day, but crematoria in Delhi NCR keep their own hours and slots, so call ahead.
How is the body prepared: ishnaan and the five Ks
The body is bathed (ishnaan) and dressed in clean clothes. For an amritdhari Sikh, the five Ks stay on the body: kesh, kangha, kara, kachhera and kirpan.
Close family of the same gender usually do the bathing, often at home. The hair is left uncut and is commonly covered with a turban or a chunni. Some families add yoghurt to the water for washing the hair, a custom that is cherished but not required.
The body is then placed on a plank or in a coffin. Before it leaves home, the family and sangat offer Ardas. If the body leaves from a hospital, this Ardas can be offered at the cremation ground instead.
What happens at a Sikh cremation?
Cremation is the preferred practice. Ardas is offered before the body is placed on the pyre, a close relative or friend lights it, and Kirtan Sohila is recited, followed by a final Ardas.
- Shabads that speak of detachment are sung on the way to the cremation ground.
- Ardas is offered before the body is placed on the pyre or moved into the electric or CNG chamber.
- A close relative, often a son but any close family member or friend, lights the pyre.
- Once it is burning, the sangat recites Kirtan Sohila, then offers Ardas, and leaves.
Wood, electric and CNG cremation are all used by Sikh families in Delhi NCR. See cremation in Delhi for how each works. The Rehat Maryada also lists practices it does not support, such as kapal kriya (breaking the skull), breaking an earthen pot on the way, and pind offerings. If cremation is not possible, it allows another dignified method such as burial.
What do Sikhs do with the ashes?
The ashes and remaining bones are collected and immersed in flowing water, or buried at the spot with the ground levelled. No memorial is built at the cremation site.
The Rehat Maryada does not name a special river. Many Punjabi families still take the ashes to Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib at Kiratpur Sahib, on the Sutlej, which is a cherished choice rather than a requirement. Others immerse them in the Yamuna or another flowing river closer to home. Our asthi visarjan guide explains the practical side of travelling with ashes.
What are Sahaj Path, Akhand Path, bhog and antim ardas?
After the cremation, the family begins a reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. Its completion, the bhog, is followed by the antim ardas, the final prayer for the one you've lost.
- **Sahaj Path:** a non-continuous reading at home or in the gurdwara, often by family members with a granthi. The Rehat Maryada says it should ideally finish on the tenth day, or another convenient day.
- **Akhand Path:** an unbroken reading by a relay of readers, which takes about 48 hours. Many families choose it so the bhog falls on a fixed day.
- Bhog: the reading concludes, Ramkali Sadd is recited, a hukamnama is taken, and karah prashad is distributed. Kirtan by a ragi jatha is common.
- Antim ardas: the final Ardas for the one you've lost. Relatives and friends often speak briefly, and langar is served.
In many families, the eldest son or another family member is given a turban at the bhog (rasm pagri), marking that they now carry the family's responsibilities. The bhog marks the end of the formal mourning period.
What happens at home in the days before the bhog?
The days between the cremation and the bhog are quiet days of Gurbani, visits and shared meals. The Rehat Maryada notes that kirtan may be held in the evenings during the reading.
- Relatives and neighbours visit to sit with the family. A simple greeting and a few minutes of listening to the Path are enough.
- The Rehat Maryada does not support some older mourning customs, such as sitting on a straw mat (foorhi) or keeping a lamp lit for a year. Families may gently set these aside.
- Close friends often take over the cooking and the phone so the closest family can rest.
This is also a good time to gather papers for the registrar and the bank, without rushing. Our guide to paperwork after a death lists what is usually needed.
How do you arrange the bhog and antim ardas at a gurdwara in Delhi NCR?
Speak to your local gurdwara committee as early as possible to book the date, the darbar hall and langar. Popular gurdwaras fill quickly on weekends.
- Confirm whether the Path will be at home or in the gurdwara, and who will do it.
- Book a ragi jatha for kirtan if you would like one, and ask what offering is customary.
- Agree the langar arrangements and the number of guests expected.
- Share one clear notice with the date, time and gurdwara address. Many families also print a short antim ardas card or place a newspaper notice.
Register the death within 21 days, as required under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Our death certificate guide explains how. If you would like us to carry this part, Eternal Repos can arrange dignified transport, help with papers and coordinate with your gurdwara and family, in your family's tradition. Call +91 84486 61338, any hour.