ਕਥਾ

What does katha mean in Punjabi? Katha (ਕਥਾ) is the spoken exposition of Gurbani, the religious discourse in which a kathakar explains a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib to the congregation. The word comes from Sanskrit kath, to speak or narrate, and in a gurdwara katha turns scripture into guidance for daily life.

What does katha mean in Punjabi?

Katha is the noun form of the Sanskrit word kath, meaning to speak, describe, narrate or interpret, and in Sikh use it means the exposition of a passage of scripture. The kathakar recites a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib, then explains it in plain words, with anecdotes, parables and quotations that bring out its spiritual teaching. Katha is not a lecture from a book: it is delivered in the presence of the scripture itself, and the congregation listens as the sangat, together.

Where did katha begin in Sikhism?

The tradition of katha in Sikhism has its formal beginning in the time of Guru Arjan, who compiled the Guru Granth Sahib and is said to have asked Bhai Gurdas, who had transcribed the holy volume, to expound a hymn from it daily, briefly and precisely. The masands, the sangat leaders appointed by the Gurus, began to deliver katha at local gatherings in the same way. Guru Gobind Singh later instructed Bhai Mani Singh in the explication of the scripture, and from him comes the Giani school of interpretation that still shapes katha today.

What happens during a katha?

In most gurdwaras katha is a regular feature, usually about an hour at a fixed time, and it follows kirtan in the daily programme. The kathakar sits cross-legged, often in attendance behind the scripture, recites the hymn and then works through it line by line, connecting its meaning to everyday life. Some kathas explain a section of the Guru Granth Sahib, such as Japji Sahib or the saloks of Kabir and Farid, and others tell Sikh history, often from the Suraj Parkash. The World Gurdwaras guide notes that the kathakar should speak with restraint, staying neutral and non-judgmental, and that only God, Guru and Gurbani should be discussed in the presence of the scripture.