Nitnem (Punjabi: ਨਿਤਨੇਮ) (literally Daily Routine) is a collection of Sikh hymns (Gurbani) to be read minimally 3 different times of the day. These are mandatory and to be read by every Amritdhari Sikh as expressed in the Sikh Rehat Maryada. Optionally additional prayers may be added to a Sikh's nitnem. There are five hymns (Five Banis) to be done during Amrit Vela (early morning), the Rehras Sahib hymn for the evening and Kirtan Sohila for the night. The morning and evening prayers should be followed by an Ardaas.
5:00 AM TO 6:30 AM
ASA KI VAR ਆਸਾ ਕੀ ਵਾਰ
The term "Asa di Var" comprises three words: The third word var means an ode or a lyrical verse; the word Asa which means "hope" in Punjabi) is also a Raag or musical measure used in the Guru Granth Sahib; and "ki" or "di" mean "of". Thus together the terms means "A ballad of hope". Raag Asa is the raga of pre-dawn hours and the custom of reciting the hymn at morning time is traced to the days of Guru Nanak himself.
6:30 AM TO 8:00 AM
REHRAS SAHIB ਰਹਿਰਾਸ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Rehiras Sahib is the evening prayer of the Sikhs, which speaks of the greatness of Waheguru. As recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib, it contains the hymns of four different Gurus; Guru Nanak, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjan Dev. Now part of the Rehiras Sahib the Benti Chaupai, attributed to Guru Gobind Singh was added to the Bani in the late 19th century. The addition was later ratified by the supreme Sikh religious body - the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.
5:00 PM TO 6:00 PM
SHABAD KIRTAN ਸ਼ਬਦ ਕੀਰਤਨ
Kirtana (Sanskrit: कीर्तन; IAST: Kīrtana), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance arts, connoting a musical form of narration or shared recitation, particularly of spiritual or religious ideas, native to the Indian subcontinent.
6:00 PM TO 6:40 PM
KATHA ਕਥਾ
Katha is the verbal explanation/discourse of Gurbani (the utterings of the Guru's) and our great history. Katha has been an integral part of Sikh practice since the revealed inception of Sikhism by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee and great Sikhs of his era performed Katha and it was and is still through Katha that many people gain knowledge about Sikhism and become enlightened. Katha is both a spiritual and historical discourse, it endows the listener with spiritual and worldly knowledge, and helps Sikhs along the path of Sikhi.
6:40 AM TO 7:20 PM
DHADI/ SHABAD KIRTAN ਢਾਡੀ/ਸ਼ਬਦ ਕੀਰਤਨ
Gurbani Kirtan or Shabad Kirtan simply Kirtan refers to Sikh devotional music that originated in the Hindu tradition as loving songs sung to God. Kirtan is also one of the important aspects of Sikhism that refers to the singing of the Sacred Hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib accompanied by music. The Sikhs place huge value on this type of singing and a Sikh is expected to listen to and/or sing Guru-Kirtan as frequently as possible.