To all the Abhilakees (ones preparing for Amrit), there are a few things to share with you, just so that you can get a further understanding of what Amrit is and what we need to sacrifice. Please put this in mind that you are going to ask for Amrit it does not mean that we are 100% that you will be taking Amrit that night. It’s a blessing, It’s only when Guru Gobind Singh Ji wants to give it to you not when you want it. Some brief points are below as basic advice. If one wants to know more then please ask other Gursikhs.

Kurehat is a Punjabi word which has two roots - Ku meaning opposite or negation and rehta which mean 'code of conduct'. So the word Kurehta means conduct from which to refrain or keep away from.
It is said that when Guru Gobind Singh first initialled the five Sikhs (Khalsa) in 1699 he mentioned the four Kurehta (the four prohibitions) to them after they had taken Amrit (baptism ceremony with water) at Vaisakhi 1699. The Guru asked the five Panj Piare (beloved of the Guru) to refrain from the four Kurehtas; namely,
1. Cutting or trimming of hair or Kesh,
2. Fornication or adultery,
3. Halal meat or flesh of animal slaughtered in a slow and painful manner, (some say all meat is banned - the Guru is believed to have used the word - "Kuthha")
4. Use of tobacco and intoxication drug.

A Sikh boy marrying an English girl isn’t an unusual occurrence in today’s multicultural Britain expect that, in this case, the girl is the 30-year-old previously nightclub-going blonde daughter of a former Tory cabinet minister and the boy is a Nihang Sikh who used to practise yoga on the roof of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

What some may find slightly worrying, though, is that Alexandra Aitken, who has changed her name to Harvinder Kaur Khalsa, has felt it necessary to share her happiness with both Hello! magazine as well as the Daily Mail — presumably for a handsome consideration.

The marriage has been reported as though Alexandra could have done better. But she seems to have discovered bliss and is looking forward to bringing up her children in the foothills of the Himalayas where her romance with Inderjot is said to have blossomed.

Alexandra’s effortlessly elegant father, Jonathan Aitken, 68, who was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, was the Tory MP for Thanet, Kent, from 1974 until the May 1997 general election. He served in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet in 1994 when he was chief secretary to the Treasury.

The five sacred Sikh symbols prescribed by Guru Gobind Singh are commonly known as Panj Kakkar or the 'Five Ks' because they start with letter K representing Kakkar in the Punjabi language. They are:

1. Keski or dastaar or turban, regarded as a symbol of saintliness. The keeping of hair in its natural state is regarded as living in harmony with the will of God, and is a symbol of the Khalsa brotherhood and the Sikh faith. You need to wear keski to cover your hair. Hair is an integral part of the human body created by God and Sikhism call for its preservation. The shaving or cutting of hair is one of the four taboos or Kurehats.

2. Kangha or the comb is necessary to keep the hair clean and tidy. A Sikh must comb his hair twice a day and tie his turban neatly. The Gurus wore turbans and commanded the Sikhs to wear turbans for the protection of the hair, and promotion of social identity and cohesion. It has thus become an essential part of the Sikh dress.

We received a number of questions from users on the topic of taking Amrit (Sikh "Baptism"). With this being a central part of the Sikh lifestyle it is no surprise that there are so many different kinds of questions related to this topic. In the below video Guruka Singh answers some of the below questions related to Amrit Sanchar as well as discussing commitment & discipline in relation to this subject. Everyone who has received the Guru's Amrit probably has had a different experience, different motivation and different calling that inspired them to take this step of commitment to the Guru. Many years ago I wrote about my experience & I'm sure others can tell their experiences as well which give a larger picture about the blessing of receiving the Guru's Amrit.