The Sikh Rehat Maryada presents kirtan in the gurdwara as a disciplined, reverent engagement with the living Word of the Guru. Kirtan is to be performed only by Sikhs, in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, with the sangat and performers oriented toward the Guru as the sole focus. The hymns sung are to be Gurbani from Guru Granth Sahib and other accepted Sikh scriptural compositions, and the musical form must serve the shabad rather than overshadow it. Styles that are frivolous, theatrical, or otherwise at odds with the spirit of the bani are rejected, and interpolating non-Gurbani lines or slogans into the shabad is not permitted. In this way, the Rehat Maryada seeks to ensure that the musical dimension of worship remains a transparent vehicle for the Guru’s message rather than a spectacle in its own right.

The code of conduct also outlines a clear structure for congregational services, so that the flow of the divan reflects a coherent spiritual discipline. A typical gathering centers on kirtan of Gurbani and may include katha, the exposition of Gurbani and Sikh history, which must remain faithful to Gurmat and avoid promoting sectarianism, superstition, or ideas that contradict the Guru’s teachings. Toward the close of the service, Anand Sahib is recited, followed by ardas, after which a hukamnama is taken from Guru Granth Sahib. The hukam is selected by opening the scripture at random, read clearly in the original, and then explained so that the sangat can internalize its guidance. Karah Parshad is then distributed in a respectful manner, reinforcing the sense of shared grace that undergirds the entire gathering.

Underlying these specific prescriptions is a broader ethic of conduct in the gurdwara space. All sit on the floor in humility before the Guru, with heads covered and behavior marked by sobriety and respect; intoxicants, idolatrous practices, and ritualistic or superstitious activities are excluded from the darbar. The sangat is to be open to all without discrimination of caste, creed, gender, or status, and those who serve as raagis or granthis are to understand themselves as sevadars rather than performers or functionaries seeking personal gain. Through these intertwined guidelines on kirtan, liturgical order, and personal conduct, the Rehat Maryada shapes the gurdwara service into a disciplined communal immersion in the Guru’s Word, where form and content are aligned to nurture remembrance, understanding, and equality.