The granthi
A granthi is a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth SahibThe Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru.. It is someone - a man or woman - who can read the Guru Granth Sahib, which is in the GurmukhiThe script in which the Guru Granth Sahib is written. It is the script used for Punjabi in India’s Punjab state. script. A granthi leads daily worship. Although the granthi is trained and often the only paid official, they are not considered a priest. This is because there are no such religious figures in Sikhism. There is no hierarchy within Sikhism and so the granthi does not have a higher status than any other Sikh.
The roles of the granthi include:
- arranging the daily services within the gurdwara, including the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
- ceremonially bringing the Guru Granth Sahib in from the Sach KhandThe 'realm of truth'. An individual's union with God. Can also refer to the room where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed overnight. in the morning and return it to its resting place at night
- reading the Guru Granth Sahib during ceremonies and worship
- being responsible for performing the Akhand Path (Akand Path)Unbroken 48-hour reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib., which is continual reading of the Guru Granth Sahib - it takes 48 hours and is often done at times of mourning and celebration
Management of the gurdwara
As Sikhism does not have a priesthood or a hierarchy within the religion, the gurdwara is run by the sangatCongregation in a Sikh gurdwara.. Sikhs are selected to run the gurdwaraSikh place of worship. Literally, the 'doorway to the Guru'., and they organise and coordinate its daily running, including its finances, events, maintenance and cleaning.
