The Sarbat Khalsa is a term meaning “all congregation.” It refers to a traditional assembly of all factions of Sikhs to discuss social, political, and religious issues of great importance to the community.  

The Sikh religion provides for a gathering of believers, the Sarbat Khalsa, in times of extreme crisis. It was convened regularly in the 18th century, when the Mughal empire was trying to exterminate the Sikhs. The Sarbat Khalsa got discontinued in the beginning of the 19th century when the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh officially abolished Sarbat Khalsa in 1805.

Sarbat Khalsa was called just twice in the 20th century. 

Sarbat Khalsa literally means the 'entire Sikh nation'. Sarbat Khalsa - a congregation of the faithful, The Sikh religion provides for a gathering of the faithful, the Sarbat Khalsa, in times of great crisis.

The Sarbat Khalsa was called on a number of occasions during the 18th century when the Mughal empire was trying to exterminate the Sikhs.

The Sarbat Khalsa got discontinued in the beginning of the 19th century when the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh officially abolished Sarbat Khalsa in 1805.

In the 20th century Sarbat Khalsa was called twice. In 1920 it was called to discuss control over gurdwaras, and again in 1986 against the backdrop of the Indian Army’s Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple and the subsequent killing of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1986, a panthic committee was formed that gave a call for their own Khalistan (land of the pure).

Key Takeaways

• The idea of a deliberative assembly of Sikhs originated in the 18th century and was convened twice a year. The first Sarbat Khalsa was called by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh before his death in 1708.