Akhand Path is an uninterrupted ritualistic recital of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism. This kind of reading is held during the Gurupurabs and other similar religious occasion or during difficult times. The period of recital usually does not exceed 48 hours and people take turns in reading the scriptures.
During the Akhand Path, the recital must be precise and clear. A uniform pace should be maintained, which should be neither too fast nor too slow. Proper pronunciation is a necessity, with special stress given to the consonants and vowels. The people present during the ritual should pay proper attention to the reading and should not ignore it. It is mandatory that the reader should be served well with food and clothing.
A vessel containing the Karhah Prasad (sacred pudding) is placed in the venue of the Akhand Path. This sacred pudding is distributed among the devotees on completion of the recital. Offerings of draperies, flywhisk and awning, which conform to the prerequisites made by the holy book, are made to the readers.
