How to Prepare and Serve Gurprasad

The Blessing of Prasad

We may have many wonderful experiences in a Sikh gurdwara, but one of the most memorable is enjoying the taste of Prasad, or Gurprasad, the delicious sweet that is distributed at the end of every gurdwara program. The distribution of Gurprasad to all present is an old tradition which is a sacrament and serves to connect people to the tangible experience of receiving the Guru’s blessing. It is considered a huge blessing to have the opportunity to prepare or to serve the Gurprasad. You are serving the Sadh Sangat (the gathering of the holy) but you are also serving the will of the Guru.

But how is this divine concoction prepared? What are the exact ingredients? A mere recipe will not suffice. The act of making Gurprasad is a spiritual practice in itself. There are special cooking implements required and specific ingredients to be gathered. The ingredient quantities need to be exact and the exact timing of each step in the preparation is vital to the successful completion.

To really understand the subtleties of preparing Gurprasad you need to be instructed by someone who has experience. But for those of you who do not have access to someone so experienced, there is still hope. Sikh Dharma International has created a YouTube video that shows you, step-by-step, how to prepare Gurprasad. It is freely and universally available to everyone, worldwide, so you can watch it over and over again to thoroughly understand each part of the cooking and serving. If you are new to preparing and serving Gurprasad, we hope you enjoy this video and that it will serve you as you undertake this great seva.

Watch the How to Prepare and Serve Gurprasad Video