Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Karah Parshad" in English language version.
Karah-Parshad (Sanctified Food): Karah-parshad is the most important food and is distributed to members of the sangat at the culmination of the service. It is regarded as a gift from God and is always received in cupped hands. The term karah-parshad is composed of two words: karah, meaning an iron pan, and parshad, denoting food offered to a deity (hence, sanctified food cooked in an iron pan). The word parshad also means "grace," signifying the sacredness of the food. Another word applied to karah-parshad is deg (literally, a cooking pot). Preparation of the karah-parshad is regarded as a sacred ritual. The kitchen must be clean. Usually, it is cooked by a granthi, who takes a bath before beginning the preparations. He or she recites gurbani (compositions from the Adi Granth) during the entire operation, and no one is allowed to interfere during preparation of the karah-parshad. Once the karah-parshad is ready, it is carried above the head to the congregational hall and placed near the Adi Granth. During recital of the ardas, a special plea is made for God's blessing of karah-parshad. At that moment, an attendant stirs the karah-parshad with a small sword, signifying fulfillment of the plea. Before the karah-parshad is distributed to members of the congregation it is ritually offered to five amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs, symbolizing the authority of the guru. No Sikh will leave a gurdwara without receiving a portion of karah-parshad for those members of the family who are not able to visit the gurdwara, either because of illness or because they are engaged in domestic duties. Karah-parshad is made of equal portions of whole-meal flour, sugar, and ghee (clarified butter). Many Sikhs make offerings of flour, sugar, and butter to the gurdwara for the karah-parshad, whereas some families donate cash, particularly for deg/karah-parshad.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Karah-Parshad (Sanctified Food): Karah-parshad is the most important food and is distributed to members of the sangat at the culmination of the service. It is regarded as a gift from God and is always received in cupped hands. The term karah-parshad is composed of two words: karah, meaning an iron pan, and parshad, denoting food offered to a deity (hence, sanctified food cooked in an iron pan). The word parshad also means "grace," signifying the sacredness of the food. Another word applied to karah-parshad is deg (literally, a cooking pot). Preparation of the karah-parshad is regarded as a sacred ritual. The kitchen must be clean. Usually, it is cooked by a granthi, who takes a bath before beginning the preparations. He or she recites gurbani (compositions from the Adi Granth) during the entire operation, and no one is allowed to interfere during preparation of the karah-parshad. Once the karah-parshad is ready, it is carried above the head to the congregational hall and placed near the Adi Granth. During recital of the ardas, a special plea is made for God's blessing of karah-parshad. At that moment, an attendant stirs the karah-parshad with a small sword, signifying fulfillment of the plea. Before the karah-parshad is distributed to members of the congregation it is ritually offered to five amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs, symbolizing the authority of the guru. No Sikh will leave a gurdwara without receiving a portion of karah-parshad for those members of the family who are not able to visit the gurdwara, either because of illness or because they are engaged in domestic duties. Karah-parshad is made of equal portions of whole-meal flour, sugar, and ghee (clarified butter). Many Sikhs make offerings of flour, sugar, and butter to the gurdwara for the karah-parshad, whereas some families donate cash, particularly for deg/karah-parshad.
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