In Sikhism, the Amrit Sanskar (Amritsanskar) is the initiatory baptismal rite into the Khalsa brotherhood in the Sikh religion. During the ceremony, which recalls the baptismal ceremony performed for the inauguration of the Khalsa, a sacrament called amrit (nectar) is created by ritually stirring sugar into water in a large iron bowl. Prayers are recited, hymns are sung, and the new initiates are baptised with the amrit (which is consumed by and sprinkled on the initiates). The sugar is said to represent the initiate, and it's dissolution into the water his absorption into the unified body of Sikhs. The ceremony was initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, who formed the original Khalsa order as an elite military group with just five initial members chosen for their extreme bravery and loyalty to the Guru.

Related Resources:

• An account of the first Khalsa baptism [offsite]
• Sikhism
• Pictures of Guru Nanak