Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Womack and I am really excited to be working with you today.

I've just got one of those feelings that we're going to do a brilliant job and learn lots and lots.

So let's get started, shall we? Today's lesson is called "Perspectives on taking Amrit" and it comes from the unit "Sikhs: what does Khalsa mean to Sikhs today?" By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to describe how taking Amrit shows commitment to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.

Here are the keywords that we're going to be using throughout the learning.

Let's have a look at them together now, shall we? The first one is amrit, which is a holy drink used in a special ceremony to show commitment to God and to becoming a true Sikh.

The second is commitment.

A promise to keep doing something, even when it's hard, because you believe it's important.

Singh means lion and is a name given to Sikh men during the Amrit ceremony to show bravery and equality.

And the last one is Kaur, which means princess, and is a name given to Sikh women during the Amrit ceremony to show dignity and strength.

So keep your eyes peeled because we're going to keep returning to using these keywords throughout the lesson.

Here is the lesson outline.

In the first part of the lesson, we're going to look at, "What is an Amrit ceremony?" And in the second part, we're going to look at, "What impact does taking Amrit have on Sikhs?" We're going to start with, "What is an Amrit ceremony?" Alex explains how we use social science in religious education.

Alex says, "Social scientists are interested in how people live and how context, like where they live or when they lived, affects this." He continues, "We can better understand people's worldviews by looking at photographs or analysing data.

We can survey or interview people to find out more about their worldview." In this lesson, we will learn about the Amrit ceremony in Sikhi by looking at photographs and data.

We will also interview different Sikhs to better understand their worldview.

Well, have a look at this picture.

Does anything strike you about the picture? What do you think is happening here? And do you know what story is happening from this picture? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think about this picture and those three questions.

Sofia and Jun are investigating how Sikhs live today.

They are curious about what an Amrit ceremony is and want to use the tools of social science to do this.

Sofia says, "Have you heard of an Amrit ceremony before, Jun? How could we find out more?" Jun says, "We could speak to different Sikhs to find out what they know and compare their views.

We could also look at photographs." Here's Mandeep.

Mandeep has a Sikh worldview and is from London.

Sofia says, "Hello, Mandeep.

What is an Amrit ceremony?" Mandeep responds, "It is a special ceremony to show a person's commitment to God as they join the Khalsa." Well, let's take a moment to quickly check our understanding, shall we? With a quick multiple choice question.

What is an Amrit ceremony? Is the answer A, a Sikh wedding ceremony? Is it B, a festival to mark the new year? Or is it C, a ceremony to join the Khalsa? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the right answer.

The right answer is C, a ceremony to join the Khalsa.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Sofia says, "Where does the ceremony happen?" Jun asks Mandeep, "What happens during the ceremony?" Mandeep says, "The Amrit ceremony happens in a gurdwara.

Let me take you through the different steps of this important ceremony so you can understand what happens.

The ceremony starts with a prayer.

This is called Ardas.

The Amrit ceremony is a very special event in Sikhi.

It's like making a commitment to live your life according to the teachings of the Gurus.

The ceremony happens in a gurdwara in front of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy scripture of Sikhs.

When I took Amrit, I sat before the Guru Granth Sahib with my family and friends, and a special prayer called Ardas was said by everyone.

It's a moment of quiet reflection before I made my promises.

The Panj Pyare lead the Amrit ceremony.

Next, the Panj Pyare, the five beloved ones, come forward.

They are chosen for their devotion and wisdom.

They stand ready to lead the ceremony and one of the leaders repeats the duties which members of the Khalsa must keep.

The Panj Pyare prepare the holy water.

Amrit, sweetened water, is prepared by the Panj Pyare who stir it with a khanda, a two-edged sword, symbolising strength and unity.

I knelt on my right knee and I drank a sip of the sweetened water.

It was also sprinkled on my eyes and hair to show I'm being purified and blessed by the guru." So, let's take a moment to check our understanding with a multiple-choice question.

What does the person do with amrit during the ceremony? Is the answer A, drink it and have it sprinkled on their eyes and hair? Is the answer B, pour it over their head and on their hands, or C, mix it into food? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the right answer.

The right answer is A.

They drink it and have it sprinkled on their eyes and hair.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Back to Mandeep.

The person taking Amrit makes five vows or commitments.

He continues, "After drinking amrit, I made some really important promises.

I promised to live by the five Sikh values which guide how I should think, speak, and act every day.

These promises are what makes someone a member of the Khalsa, the community of committed Sikhs.

It's not just a one-day event, it's a promise for life.

When the ceremony finishes, something very special happens.

I was given a new name.

I received the name Singh, which means lion.

If someone is a woman, they receive the name Kaur, which means princess.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone shares Karah Parshad, a sweet pudding made of flour, sugar, and ghee.

This is a special treat that shows everyone is equal and united." Well, it's time for a task now.

Here's Izzy.

Izzy says, "I'm not sure what an Amrit ceremony is." Help Izzy complete the explanation of the Amrit ceremony using these words.

Singh, gurdwara, Sikh, eyes, hair, Kaur, amrit, prayers, sword, Panj Pyare.

You can see that there's some sentence starters underneath to help you.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you construct your explanation to help Izzy.

I look forward to seeing what you put.

I wonder what you put.

Maybe you said something like this.

The Amrit ceremony is a special event for Sikhs who want to join the Khalsa.

It takes place in a gurdwara.

Five Sikhs called the Panj Pyare prepare a sweet drink called amrit.

They stir it with a sword while saying prayers.

The person drinks amrit and has it sprinkled on their eyes and hair.

They promise to follow the Sikh way of life.

And at the end, they are given a new name.

Boys are called Singh and girls are called Kaur.

Really well done for working so hard to complete that task.

So, that completes the first part of our lesson on, "What is an Amrit ceremony?" We're going to move on to the next part of the lesson, looking at, "What impact does Amrit have on Sikhs?" So here we go, let's look at, "What impact does taking Amrit have on Sikhs?" Sofia and Jun further investigate Amrit and what difference it makes to Sikhs who have taken it.

They think of some questions social scientists might ask.

Sofia says, "What does Amrit mean to different Sikhs? Do all Sikhs take Amrit?" Jun says, "Does anything change for a Sikh after taking Amrit?" Sofia and Jun interview Giani Pradeep, who is a Sikh leader from London.

"Hello, Giani Pradeep.

What happens when someone takes Amrit?" "Taking Amrit is a very important step.

It means a person is choosing to fully commit to living the way the Sikh Gurus taught us." Giani continues, "Being a Khalsa Sikh means that there are duties you have to perform each day.

For example, we need to recite the Guru Granth Sahib every day and meditate on the words and teachings from the Sikh Gurus for at least two hours.

We need to ensure our connection to God is pure so we can act with courage and bravery." So, let's take a moment to check our understanding.

Who do Sikhs try to follow after taking Amrit? Is the answer A, the Sikh Gurus; B, their neighbours; or C, their favourite athletes? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the right answer.

The correct answer, of course, is A, the Sikh Gurus.

Well done if you got that one right.

So back to Sofia and Jun.

They are now talking to Harpreet, a Khalsa Sikh who lives in Slough.

Sofia says, "Harpreet, when and why did you take Amrit?" Harpreet responds, "I took Amrit when I was 18 years old.

I wanted to make a deeper commitment to Waheguru, God, and live a life of equality and courage." Harpreet continues, "Taking Amrit was a really special moment for me.

I felt calm and proud.

After taking Amrit, I became a Kaur, which means princess, and it reminds me every day that I'm strong and equal to everyone.

It's helped guide my choices, like standing up for others, being honest, and making time to pray.

It's also made me feel proud of who I am." So, let's take a moment to check our understanding again.

What does Harpreet want to do after taking Amrit? Is the answer A, become a princess; B, become a proper Sikh; or C, live a life of equality and courage? Pause the video now whilst you think about the right answer.

The answer is C, she wants to live a life of equality and courage.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Sofia is now talking to Mandeep to find out his point of view about taking Amrit.

Sofia asks, "Did you take Amrit yourself? What changed after taking Amrit?" Mandeep says, "Yes, I took Amrit.

I made a promise to follow the Sikh way of life more seriously and to live how the Gurus teach us." Mandeep continues, "After taking Amrit, I started waking up early to pray, I stopped cutting my hair, and I now try to be kinder and more honest every day.

I feel closer to Waheguru, God, now, and it helps me feel calm and strong even when things are hard.

I also have Singh in my name now, which shows that I'm a part of the Khalsa and a proud follower of Guru Gobind Singh Ji." So, let's check our understanding with a true or false question.

True or false? Mandeep feels part of the Khalsa because he has Singh in his name.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think if the answer is true or false and why.

The answer is true.

In Sikhi, adding Singh for males or Kaur for females to one's name after taking Amrit is a symbol of belonging to the Khalsa, showing commitment to the Sikh faith and equality.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

So, back to Sofia.

Finally, Sofia interviews Balbir, who is a British Sikh from Bradford.

"Hi Balbir.

Do all Sikhs have to take Amrit?" Balbir responds, "No, not all Sikhs have to take Amrit.

It's a personal choice.

Some Sikhs choose to take Amrit when they feel ready to fully commit to the Sikh way of life." Balbir uses some data from the British Sikh report, which surveyed over 2,000 Sikhs.

"In this survey, 84% of Sikhs had not taken Amrit, 16% of Sikhs had taken Amrit.

So actually, most Sikhs have not taken Amrit.

The older you are, the more likely it is." Why do you think older Sikhs are more likely to have taken Amrit? You might want to pause the video whilst you think about the answer to that question.

So, let's check our understanding with a true or false question.

True or false? All Sikhs have to take Amrit.

Is the answer true or false, and why? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you think which is the right answer.

The right answer is false.

Many Sikhs choose to take Amrit when they feel ready, but others may follow Sikh teachings in their own way without going through the ceremony.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

It's time for a task now.

Here's Ranjit.

Ranjit says, "I am thinking about taking Amrit when I'm grown up, but I'm not sure." You need to answer the following questions.

Why might Ranjit choose to take Amrit? What things would Ranjit need to do after taking Amrit? And to whom would Ranjit be showing commitment after taking Amrit? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you construct your answer for this task.

I look forward to seeing what you put.

I wonder what you said.

Your answer might look something like this.

Ranjit might choose to take Amrit when he is an adult because he wants to make a commitment to follow the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and live a life focused on God.

Data shows approximately 16% of Sikhs take Amrit.

After taking Amrit, Ranjit would have to commit to waking up early to pray and read the Guru Granth Sahib.

He would need to stop cutting his hair and try to stay away from bad habits.

And finally, taking Amrit would show Ranjit's commitment to the Sikh Gurus' teachings because he would be choosing to live every day according to the Gurus' guidance.

Really well done for putting lots of effort in to complete that task.

And so, that brings us to the end of our lesson.

Let's take a moment to summarise what we found out together.

We've learned that the Amrit ceremony is a special Sikh ritual where a person drinks amrit, a holy drink, to show their commitment to God and to join the Khalsa.

As part of the ceremony, Sikhs are given the names Singh for men or Kaur for women, symbolising bravery, dignity, and equality.

Taking Amrit is a personal choice and it marks a deeper commitment to follow the Sikh way of life.

And finally, Sikhs who take Amrit feel closer to Waheguru and work at being guided by the teachings of the Gurus in their daily lives.

Really well done for all your hard work in this lesson today.

I've really enjoyed working alongside you and I can't wait to work again with you in a future lesson.

Bye for now.