Ardas is the Sikh congregational prayer — a standing supplication performed at the beginning and end of every religious gathering, every ceremony, every important family moment. The word Ardas comes from the Persian "arz dasht" meaning "a petition" or "a request." It is both a formal prayer and a living conversation with the Divine — encompassing praise of the Gurus, remembrance of those who sacrificed for the faith, and the specific intentions of the present gathering.
Structure of Ardas
Opening — Ik Onkar
Ardas begins with the invocation of Ik Onkar (There is One God) and the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji
First section — Remembrance of the Gurus
The fixed portion of Ardas — a set text recalling the ten Sikh Gurus and their contributions, passed down unchanged through Sikh history
Second section — Martyrs and history
Remembrance of Sikh martyrs, the five Takhts (seats of temporal and spiritual authority), and all places of Sikh pilgrimage
Third section — Variable/personal portion
This is the living part of Ardas — where the person leading adds the specific purpose of the gathering, names of those being prayed for, and requests of the Guru
Closing
Ardas closes with prayers for the welfare of all humanity: 'Nanak naam chardikala, tere bhane sarbat da bhala' (By Nanak's name, may there always be well-being; O God, by your will, may there be peace for all)
When Is Ardas Performed?
How to Perform Ardas at Home
- All present stand with hands folded (in respect and supplication) facing the Guru Granth Sahib Ji if present, or facing the direction of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar if no Guru Granth Sahib Ji is present
- One person leads — traditionally a family elder, the Granthi, or any Sikh who knows the Ardas. The congregation stands silently with bowed heads.
- The first two sections are recited from memory (the fixed portion) — these are the same every time
- The third section is spoken aloud with the specific intention: 'We ask for your blessings on the occasion of [name the event]', naming those being prayed for
- At the conclusion, everyone says 'Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh' together — affirming the Khalsa belongs to God and victory is God's
- Karah Prasad (sweet semolina offering) is distributed after Ardas as a symbol of divine blessing shared equally among all present
Ardas for NRI Families Abroad
For Sikh families abroad, Ardas is often the single most portable and adaptable Sikh practice — it requires no special venue, no equipment, and can be performed anywhere with any number of people. Many diaspora families mark every significant moment — a child's exam results, a new job, a recovery from illness — with a family Ardas at home. Teaching children the Ardas text and its meaning is one of the most impactful ways of transmitting Sikh faith across generations.
💡 Family tradition tip
Record an elder performing Ardas in their voice — the specific rhythm, the pauses, the emotional inflection that comes from decades of practice is something no printed text can capture. This recording, preserved on OurParampara, teaches the next generation in a way that a written guide cannot.