What Sikh initiation ceremony admits a person into the Khalsa community?

The Sikh initiation ceremony that admits a person into the Khalsa community is called Amrit Sanskar.

Amrit Sanskar, also known as Amrit Sanchar, is the formal initiation ceremony of the Khalsa, the community established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Initiates drink amrit, a sweetened mixture of water and sugar crystals stirred with a double-edged sword, while prayers are recited.

The ceremony is open to Sikhs who are prepared to accept the Khalsa discipline and commitments. Initiated Sikhs traditionally adopt the five articles of faith, commonly known as the Five Ks, and use the names Singh or Kaur according to Sikh convention.

Amrit Sanskar is not the same as a child’s naming ceremony or a general Sikh religious service. It is also distinct from the initiation rites of Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Christianity, despite some broad similarities in marking religious commitment.