At the end, the entire congregation stands with hands folded and the priest recites the Ardas, literally meaning a humble petition or prayer, concluding with a supplication to God, seeking His grace for the good of all mankind. The Ardas recalls the blessings of the Gurus and the sacrifices made by the community in the course of its history. At the end of the service, prasad or sacrament, generally a preparation of wheat flour, ghee and sugar, is distributed. The gurdwaras are open to all communities and castes and no purdah is observed. On a visit to the temple, the head is to be kept covered as a mark of respect to the Granth Sahib, and shoes are not allowed inside.
Smoking is taboo, and so also are liquor and other intoxicants.
There is no hereditary priestly class among the Sikhs. Anyone could work as a priest in a gurudwara or function as such on a given occasion. Any layman who can read the Granth Sahib can conduct even ceremonial rites, such as on the occasion of a marriage. All gurdwaras however employ priests, called granthis, so that someone can devote all his time to the upkeep of the temple and to routine duties. The priest is expected to be well up with the scriptures, Sikhs recognise no hereditary class of people for performing kirtan in the shrines.