Those who do kirtan on stage set an example for the rest of the sangat.  Those who are doing Kirtan on stage must wear the proper “bana” while doing kirtan which includes the 5 kakaars and Sikh dress such as simple suits, kurta pyjama or chola.  Requiring that those doing kirtan wear bana is an important way of promoting bana along with keski.  If the Akhand Kirtani Jatha did not preserve the rehit of Keski or dastaar for women, in part by insisting that all male and female kirtanis wear bana including dastaar, keski for women may have become extinct in the panth.

Sometimes exceptions are made for young children who are still preparing themselves to maintain the Sikh rehit but generally, the Jatha believes that kirtanis must be role models for the sangat who keep at least the minimum Sikh rehit.  Those who have committed “bujjer kurahits” (cardinal sins) or other serious infringements against Sikh rehit are also asked to seek forgiveness from the Punj Pyareh before doing Kirtan seva again.

The Akhand Kirtani Jatha make no differentiation between rich or poor, high caste or low caste, male or female. All people who accept the Guru’s teachings are allowed to perform seva. When Dayal Das, the grandson of Baba Adam Ji, tried to serve the sangat langar, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji rejected his service and said first acccept my Hukum then you can serve the sangat. Likewise, if one wants to perform any Seva in the Guru’s house then they must first accept Guru’s hukums such as keeping nitnem, panj kakkars, abstaining from bujjer kurahits, etc.