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What immediately comes to mind when someone mentions a Sikh marriage? Loud music? or festivities bigger than life? Or perhaps delectable food?

 

Sikh weddings are typically associated with extravagant festivities, flashy attire, and grandeur. Many of us, however, are unaware of the differences between the rituals that are performed at Sikh weddings and Hindu- Sikh weddings and those that are performed at  Hindu- Sikh weddings and assume that they are interchangeable.

 

There are certain similarities between the rites performed at Sikh and Hindu- Sikh weddings but there are also some distinctions.

 

Similarities

Both Hindu-Sikh weddings and Sikh weddings follow many of the same pre- and post-wedding customs. These are what they are:

 

Roka and Thaka -

In a "Roka" ceremony, the bride's family presents the groom and his family with gifts, while in a "thaka" ceremony, the groom's family returns the favour to the bride's family. The pair are forced to sit together and receive presents from both sides after these rituals, known as "shagun," and are then believed to be legally engaged.

 

Sagai (Engagement)-

The bride and groom typically exchange rings in front of their family and friends after the Roka and thaka ceremonies. The engagement ceremony, or "sagai," is what is known as this custom.

 

Gana-

The crimson thread is tied to the left wrist of the bride and the right wrist of the groom during the ceremony. Along with this, several lucky objects are also linked to the wrist for luck, including cowrie shells, an iron key chain, pearls, and a tiny sugar pouch.

 

Mehendi Ceremony:

The bride and groom's houses are where the Mehendi ceremony is held. Here, artistically patterned Mehendi or henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet as well as to the other female family members. Even though it now occurs in the groom's family, the ladies' sangeet, which features intimate friends of the bride singing and dancing, is often held after the Mehendi ceremony.

 

Kalire and Chooda Chadhana Ceremonies-

Either the day before the wedding or the day of the wedding, this ritual takes place. The bride's maternal uncle and his wife give her a set of 21 bangles, often crimson, at the "chooda" ceremony. However, the bangles are first cleansed with milk and rose petals before being placed on the bride's wrists. Later, the bride's sisters and friends will attach "kalire," or umbrella-shaped figures, to the bangles she is wearing. The majority of the kalire are gold-plated and are suspended with a red thread. The young married women seated below the bride are then given a "kalire" to shake, and it is said that if any part of the "kalire" lands on one of them, he or she will next get married.

 

Haldi Ritual-

Like the majority of Hindu weddings, the Haldi ceremony takes place on the wedding day. To make the bride and groom look fresh on their wedding day, the female relatives and friends apply "haldi," or turmeric, on the visible parts of the couple.

 

Milani-

The bride's family performs a puja to welcome the groom and the wedding procession as they arrive at the wedding destination. After the puja, the bride's maternal uncles greet the groom's maternal uncles with presents and money. But at a Sikh wedding, sacred songs, or "shabads," are sung after an "ardaas."

 

Laavan pheras-

Typically, Hindu marriages consist of seven pheras, but Sikh weddings or Hindu- Sikh weddings have only four pheras, the four prayers that sanctify the union, are spoken while singing Laavan.

The bride and groom walk around the sacred book, Guru Granth Sahib, as the laavan is chanted. To unite them for all time, the groom's shawl and the bride's pallu are linked together. The groom leads the procession while wielding a Kirpan (sword).

 

Doli-

The bride dons the outfit and jewellery that were given to her by her in-laws to execute this Sikh post-wedding rite. She then serves prepared rice to the male family members before getting ready to go with her new family. She must throw a handful of puffed rice, which stands for blessings and prosperity for her own family, as she leaves the house.

When the pair arrives at the bride-to-home, the bride-to-mother greets them by pouring some oil over the door. The groom then stops the mother from drinking water from a lota or jug. The bridegroom finally gives up and allows the mother to drink the water after three futile attempts. With six additional female relatives, this behaviour is repeated.

 

Reception-

The groom's parents host a reception which is like a formal introduction of the newlywed couple to the extended family and friends.

 

Pauna Phere -

The bride is welcomed into her own home for the first time during this ceremony after the wedding and is showered with gifts and blessings.

 

Differences

A wedding between the Hindu and Sikh communities is referred to as a Hindu-Sikh wedding. It frequently combines Hindu and Sikh ceremonies, traditions, and culture. In contrast to the customary Hindu- Sikh wedding where the groom dons a turban, the groom at a Hindu- Sikh wedding wears a white dhoti or Dhara and tunic while sporting a floral headband (dhaal). This ceremony is often conducted in a large outdoor area or a mandap that has been ornately adorned.

 

There is a mixing of two cultures in the Hindu- Sikh wedding. The ceremony is held following Sikh customs, despite the bride and groom's typical Indian Hindu wedding clothes.

 

The traditional Sikh wedding ceremony adheres to Punjabi culture's traditions. The ceremony is held according to

Sikh customs and the bride and groom are dressed in traditional Punjabi clothes.

 

Hindu- Sikh weddings are the joining of two different people of two different religions of the same faith.

 

Sikh weddings are a union of two members of the same religion. According to Sikh tradition when a Sikh woman marries a Hindu guy or vice versa then it is known as an interfaith union

The customary Hindu and Sikh traditions are performed simultaneously during Hindu-  Sikh weddings. When the families of two people wish to follow the traditions and customs of both religions in their way, they decide to have a Hindu- Sikh wedding.

 

The Kanyadaan ceremony, in which a father gives his daughter in marriage to her fiancé, is a significant Hindu- Sikh weddings custom. This ceremony is followed by the Gurdwara ceremony (the Sikh ceremony). Although these two ceremonies occur at the same time, there may be a slight delay.

 

Anand Karaj is another name for a Sikh wedding. It excludes all rites from other religions or cultures and is typically solemnised in front of just five persons, four of whom are members of the immediate family.

 

Conclusion

Hindu- Sikh weddings and Sikh weddings also follow similar post-wedding traditions, with the family of the newlyweds hosting a reception celebration. Here, Sikh wedding dance is typically performed for entertainment by the bridal couple, their relatives, and friends.

Even though there are some obvious distinctions between the two kinds of weddings, most people, including a Punjabi or Sikh wedding planner, know how to prepare and make the ceremony a huge success.