Khalsa which means 'Pure' is the name given by Guru Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking Amrit in ceremony called Amrit Sanchar. The first time that this ceremony took place was on Baisakhi, which fell on 30 March 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in India. The Sikhs celebrated the 300th anniversary of the day in 1999 with thousands of religious gatherings all over the world.

Historically, one of the male children (usually the first) of many Khatri Hindu families in the Punjab was intiated as a Khalsa Sikh.

The Khalsa must carry the Five Ks – Five Kakkars – Kara steel bangle, Kesh –uncut hair, Kirpan – (Kirpa (act of kindness, Sanskrit) + Aan (self respect, Persian) sword (the length cannot be limited)), Kanga – small comb and Kacha – Shorts/Pants .

All Sikhs were taught to treat all in the community as equals; no distinction was made of the different tiers of 'craftsmen' and professions.