The Sikh Rehat Maryada shapes a Sikh’s day by providing a clear rhythm of prayer and conduct, so that spiritual practice permeates ordinary life. It sets out a daily discipline, known as nitnem, that anchors the believer at key points: early morning, evening, and night. At Amrit Vela, before sunrise, one is to rise, bathe, and recite Japji Sahib, along with other prescribed compositions such as Jaap Sahib, Tav-Prasad Savaiye, Benti Chaupai, and Anand Sahib, followed by Ardas. The evening is marked by Rehras Sahib, again followed by Ardas, and the day closes with Kirtan Sohila before sleep. This pattern applies especially to the initiated Sikh, while others are strongly encouraged at least to recite Japji Sahib in the morning, Rehras Sahib in the evening, and Sohila at night. In this way, the Rehat Maryada does not leave prayer to personal whim, but weaves it into the natural transitions of the day.

Alongside these specific recitations, the code of conduct emphasizes rising at Amrit Vela, personal cleanliness, and modest presentation, including respectful care of unshorn hair and, for the initiated, the wearing of the five Ks. The day is not meant to be dominated by ritual withdrawal, but to be ordered around honest work, family responsibilities, and service, with remembrance of the Divine Name running quietly through all activities. Regular reading from the Guru Granth Sahib, participation in congregational worship at the gurdwara, and engagement in kirtan and Ardas further extend this rhythm from the individual to the communal sphere. Ethical injunctions—avoiding intoxicants and tobacco, living truthfully, earning by honest means, and sharing with those in need—ensure that the schedule is not merely a timetable of prayers, but a framework for righteous living. The Rehat Maryada thus offers a disciplined yet practical structure, in which the Sikh’s daily schedule becomes a continuous dialogue between devotion, ethical action, and community life.