Sikh Funeral Procession, Pallbearers, and Coffin Requirements

The physical movement of the coffin — from the family home to the hearse, from the hearse to the Gurdwara, and from the Gurdwara to the crematorium — follows specific Sikh conventions. If you're coordinating the logistics or have been asked to help carry the coffin, here's what to expect.

Who Carries the Coffin

Pallbearers in a Sikh funeral are called Kanhi. Traditionally, the sons and grandsons of the deceased serve as the primary Kanhi. If the deceased was unmarried, the duty falls to the father, brothers, or maternal uncles. Close male family friends may also be called upon.

Modern practice has loosened some of these conventions. In reform-minded families, daughters and other female relatives are increasingly included as Kanhi. The Sikh Rehat Maryada doesn't restrict pallbearing to men — egalitarianism is a core principle — but traditional family expectations still lean heavily male in many communities.

If you're invited to serve as Kanhi, it's a mark of closeness and respect. Don't turn it down unless you're physically unable.

The Procession

The coffin moves through several stages, and the atmosphere during each transition is meant to be meditative — not hurried or chaotic.

From the home (or funeral chapel) to the hearse: The Kanhi carry the coffin out. The family may open the coffin briefly for immediate relatives to view the face and place flower petals inside. Sukhmani Sahib or the Mool Mantar may be recited. Then the coffin is closed and carried to the waiting vehicle.

During the procession, the Kanhi and accompanying family walk slowly, chanting "Waheguru, Waheguru" or singing hymns of detachment. The pace is deliberate — not a march, but a measured walk that allows everyone to maintain a focused, prayerful state.

From the hearse to the Gurdwara anteroom: The coffin goes to an anteroom, courtyard, or separate corridor. It never enters the main Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed. Brief hymns and an initial Ardas happen here. This is the stage where miscommunication with transport staff most often creates problems — make sure the funeral director and hearse driver know exactly where to deliver the coffin.

From the Gurdwara to the crematorium: The coffin is loaded back into the hearse for transport. The family and Sangat (congregation) follow in their own vehicles.

At the crematorium: The Kanhi carry the coffin from the hearse into the crematorium chapel. The larger congregation gathers for Kirtan Sohila and the Antim Ardas.

Coffin Requirements

Sikhism prescribes simplicity and equality in death. The coffin should be plain, unadorned, and modest — no ornate hardware, no velvet interior, no cosmetic flourishes. A simple wooden casket is the standard choice.

The coffin should allow the family to view the face briefly (for the home or chapel viewing stage) and close securely for transport. Beyond that, any upgrades are at odds with Sikh values. The cheapest casket a funeral home offers is often the most religiously appropriate one.

What goes inside:

• The body, dressed in simple white or light-colored clothing
• The Five Kakaars (for Amritdhari Sikhs)
• Simple flower petals placed by family during the viewing
• A plain white sheet draping the body

What doesn't go inside:

• Expensive jewelry or ornaments
• Food, clarified butter (ghee), or any offerings
• Personal valuables (these are removed before the coffin is sealed, unless the family decides otherwise)

At the Crematorium: The Committal

After the service — Shabads sung by Ragis, Kirtan Sohila recited, Antim Ardas spoken — the coffin is committed to the furnace. In Western settings, the eldest son or closest relative presses the cremation button or takes direction from the crematorium technician.

Sikhism rejects any ritualized circumambulation (circling) of the coffin, and no food or ghee should be poured into the furnace. These are Brahmanic customs that the Rehat Maryada explicitly prohibits.

After the committal, the congregation returns to the Gurdwara for hand-washing, Langar, and the beginning of the scripture reading (Paath).

The Sikh Funeral Guide includes a ceremony sequence planner that maps each transition point — home, Gurdwara, crematorium, return — with timing, transport notes, and a checklist of who needs to be where at each stage.