Khalsa means to be pure, to be clear - and this was the creed the Sikhs live by. Formed on the 30th of March 1699, the Khalsa tradition was to play a pivotal role in defining the Sikh community. Its etymology is rooted in the Arabic word Khalis - meaning pure.

Initiated as warriors to protect anyone from any form of religious persecution, Khalsa aimed to start a new tradition among the Sikhs. A new basis of leadership was created by the articulation of this ideology - a political and religious vision, becoming from a spiritual community to a temporally recognized, organized power.

Amrit Pahul was the ceremony needed to be initiated into the Khalsa - and upon initiation, a male would be given the title Singh, while a female would be given the title Kaur, and inducted into the community, on grounds that they follow the rules of life - the Rahit and the dress code, the five Ks.

The 4 prohibitions - not to disturb hair growth, not to eat kutha meat, not to cohabit with anyone else but the spouse, and not to use any intoxicant, along with 5 Ks as dress code  - the kesh (uncut hair), kangha (wooden comb), kara (iron or steel bracelet on wrist), kirpan (sword), kachera (short breeches) - would become the identifying markers for Sikhs in general, and signify their commitment to the Khalsa in particular.

The establishment of Khalsa is celebrated at Baisakhi every year, the harvest festival. However, not all Sikhs are the followers of Khalsa, yet retain a wide popularity.