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| Home » Matrimony by Religion » Sikh |
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Sikh matrimonial |
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Sikhs are encouraged to marry, and marriage is called 'Anand karaj', which means ' the ceremony of happiness'. The Gurus of the Sikhs taught that family life was very important and being married is thought to be a necessary part of this. For a Sikh matrimonial the bride should be at least be 18 years of age and it is usual for the groom to be older than the bride is. A Sikh matrimonial cannot take place unless both the bride and groom agree to it. On the evening before the wedding, the bride's friends and female relatives meet at her house. They have a party, where she is given money and special sweet foods.They paint beautiful patterns on her hands and feet with a special dye, called 'mehandi', which last for several days. Sikh weddings usually take place in the morning. They must always take place in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.Any Sikh may perform the marriage ceremony, provided that both families have chosen him or her.
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On the morning of the wedding, the bridegroom and his relatives are welcome to the bride's house. Often presents are exchanged. Usually things like cloth for turbans or clothing are exchanged as gifts. Then they all go to the Gurdwara. In a Sikh matrimonial the bridegroom usually wears a red or pink turban and wore a scarf around his neck. He sits at the front, in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. The bride's father puts a garland of flowers on the Guru Granth Sahib. The bride wears red, often with beautiful gold jewellery. After bowing to the Guru Granth Sahib, she sits next to the bridegroom, and is given a garland of flowers by her father.
Readings from the Guru Granth Sahib forms an important part of Sikh matrimonial. The couple and their parents stand while prayers are enchanted asking for God's blessing on the marriage. The couples are asked if they understand and accept their responsibilities to each other as husband and wife. When they have nodded showing agreement the bride's father gives her the one end of the scarf. This is a symbol that they are being joined together as husband and wife. She holds the scarf for the rest of the ceremony. The most important part of Sikh matrimonial is Lavan.. This is the reading of a hymn written for weddings by Guru Ramdas. It has four verses, which are spoken one at a time, and then sung. Each verse explains something about marriage. When each verse is sung, the bride and the groom walk in a clockwise direction round the Guru Granth Sahib. A meal follows the marriage, is held in the Langar room. This is the most conventional way of how a Sikh boy and a girl get married following Sikh rituals.
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