Deg also known as Karah Prashaad is a sweet treat from the Guru to his Sikhs. It is also a sign of the Sikhs equality and unity.
Code of conduct regarding Karah Prashaad:
Listen to the method of making Krah Parshaad. Take three equal quantities of sugar, butter and flour. Clean the utensils and bowl. Take a cleansing bath, repeat 'Vaheguru' while preparing. Stay focused while making the Parshaad and sing the Guru's Hymns. Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee
Sikhs that know Jap Ji sahib of by heart, repeat this while making Karah Prasad, and then they recite the Gurmantar unitl it is ready. 6 verses of the Anand Sahib (by the whole Sangat present) are to be recited before the Bhog is done. Make sure Deg is at a decent temperature before doing Bhog with the kirpan.
I have prepared all sorts of foods in various ways, and all sorts of sweet deserts. I have made my kitchen pure and sacred. Now, O my Sovereign Lord King, please sample my food. Ang 1266 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
If while distributing Kraah Parshaad one discriminates and becomes greedy. Giving some more than others they will forever receive unhappiness. Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee
A Sevadar distributing Deg should never set aside his own portion before serving others. The sevadaar must have no discrimination in their hearts, the whole Sangat must be treated equally and fairly (Nobody is to get a second serving until the whole Sangat has been served Deg at the end of the divan, only after the whole sangat has been catered for and there is extra Deg left over, then you may have a second serving). Most Gurdwaras have a person serving on the mens side and a person serving on the womens side at the same time, this gets rid of any gender discrimination. The whole sangat is to remain seated and jap “Satnam-Waheguru” while Deg is being served and you may only leave darbar after the whole Sangat has been in this way you show respect to the whole Sangat.
With a single, impartial eye, look upon all alike, and see God pervading all. Ang 833 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
DEGH PARSHAD MUST BE COOLED BEFORE IT IS CONSECRATED
Once, on the eve of the birth of the Khalsa, at Vaisakhi celebrations, parshad was brought into the Guru’s presence in two containers and placed before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The hasty preparation by the attendants meant that the parshad was still hot when placed in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At the end of the programme, Ardas was performed and as per the tradition, parshad was offered to Guru Ji so that it could be consecrated. The hukamnama was read, following which, the attendants distributed the deg parshad, to the sangat. The sangat was reciting simran of Satnam-Waheguru and Baba Ji was standing behind Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji waving the fan (chaur Sahib). At this time the tenth master Guru Gobind Singh Ji appeared before Baba Ji and said, “Bhai Harnam Singh! Today the deg was very hot. Just look, the attendants can’t even serve it properly with their hands. How can we have such hot parshad? So in the future, deg should be prepared with sanctity and allowed to cool down before it is offered for bhog (consecration or blessing of the parshad by the Guru).” After the parshad was distributed, Baba Ji told the sangat about the order of the great Guru. After this incident, Baba Ji would personally check the vessel and parshad to see if it was too hot, before it was offered for bhog. If it was too hot, then the parshad would be stirred to cool it down before being offered for consecration. So, we should always be careful about offering hot deg parshad to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji for bhog and make sure the parshad is warm or cool before the Ardas and bhog.
