The customs adopted by Sikhs for the duration of their marriage ceremonies are more or fewer equivalent to all those practiced by the Hindus.
Pre Wedding day Rituals
Like all other weddings, shopping is an integral element of a Sikh matrimonial. Sikhs start off their searching for the marriage ceremony with the buy of Rumalla Sahib – a set of 4 items of cloth that are wonderfully embroidered and are employed to include the Granth Sahib. In a Sikh marriage, a large amount is spend by the bride`s maternal grandparents and uncles on outfits and jewelry. They also host a meal in the course of the marriage ceremony ceremonies.
Kurmai or Engagement:
The engagement ceremony or kurmai is ordinarily a household affair. The bride’s family members visits the groom’s residence with presents that incorporate sweets, apparel and jewelry. The bride`s father items the groom a gold ring, a gold kara (bangle) and gold mohre (coins). Later on on, these coins are strung into a black thread and supplied to the bride. She wears this all-around her neck and it is akin to the mangalsutra which is worn by Hindu ladies. But amongst Sikhs, this thread is worn by brides only in the course of particular events.
Chunni ceremony or the marriage veil:
Just after the engagement, it is time for the groom’s spouse and children to take a look at the bride’s home. For this ceremony, only near family and mates of the bride and the groom are invited. The groom’s mother and aunts give the bride a phulkari (classic embroidery of Punjab) chunni. In this ceremony, the groom’s mom applies mehendi or henna on the palms of the bride. She is also supplied jewelry and clothes. Till sometime again, Sikh weddings were a extended drawn out affair and just after the engagement or Kurmai, the bride and the groom were confined to the residence until the true wedding ceremony took position. Having said that, the development has altered now and this period of time of confinement is just a working day. Maiyan (when the bride and the groom wear just regular dresses to search brighter on the marriage ceremony day) alerts the starting of the confinement among the the women of the household singing tracks to the defeat of dholkis (drums).
Vatna Ceremony:
The vatna ceremony normally takes put just a few times in advance of the wedding. In this ceremony a paste of turmeric, sandal, product and rosewater, identified as ubatan, is used on the bride’s physique. Below the shade of a bagh (a piece of handmade cloth with phulkari embroidery), the bride is scrubbed cleanse. Bagh is a piece of hand-manufactured cotton cloth with phulkari perform. A similar type of ceremony normally takes position in the property of the groom as effectively.
Following that, Mehendi is used on the palms of the bride and other women of the relatives way too apply mehendi, which is followed by singing and dancing.
The Marriage Day:
A Sikh wedding day ordinarily takes position prior to midday.
On the wedding working day, the groom’s sister-in-legislation (bhabhi) and other feminine relatives go to a gurduwara and fill a gharoli (earthen pitcher) with water. The groom makes use of this drinking water to consider bath. A similar ritual is done at the bride`s house as very well. Soon after using tub, she is produced to have on the chura that constitutes of 21 red and white bangles. Then she adorns her bridal apparel, which is a closely embroidered salwar-kameez or lehenga-chunni
In the meantime the groom’s facet gets ready to go away for his bride’s property or where by the matrimony ceremony has to acquire position. He normally wears a brocade ashcan (extended coat) or a match. When everyone is prepared to go away, the groom’s sister-in-law (bhabhi) applies surma (kohl) in his eyes and the groom presents her dollars as a token of enjoy.
The baraat arrives at the bride’s residence or the place of the marriage amidst singing and dancing. The relatives associates of the bride welcome the baraat. This little reception is named milni. A raagi (specialist bard) recites the holy verse. Gifts are exchanged by the members of both of those people. Soon after that, the groom is taken within and this is the time for the bride’s sisters and pals to engage him in a session of teasing.
Then the truly marriage ceremony usually takes position. The families of both the bride and the groom assemble at the gurudwara. Raagis (skilled bards) sing asa di var or the early morning hymn. The couple is created to sit in front of the Expert Granth Sahib. The priest initially recites the numerous obligations of a married everyday living. Just after that, he sings the hymns of marriage from the holy book. During lawaan, the groom and the bride keep a person each individual conclude of the scarf, which is ordinarily of pink color. The bride is led by the groom about the Granth Sahib. Just after the fourth round, the groom and the bride are pronounced as husband and spouse. All all those who are assembled bless the few and give them gifts and shagun. A major and lavish feast follows the ceremony of lawaan.
