INTRODUCTION
Sikhs are a community well known for solidarity. Sikhism though austere, regards it as normal and proper for a true Sikh to marry and raise a family. This stage of married life and raising a family is thought to be of great value. For marriage is considered to be sacramental and instrumental for social change. Traditionally speaking, a Sikh should marry a Sikh to evade conflict in family, religion and raising children. Marriages are arranged by the parents of the two families by mutual consent and decision. All the Sikh ceremonies including that of marriage are simple, inexpensive and has a sacred undertone.
MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES
'They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." - Guru Amar Das. This saying of Guru Amar Das summarizes the philosophy behind Sikh matrimony. A Sikh man should marry off her daughter to a Sikh only. The Sikh marriage takes place according to the Anand marriage rites only. Sikhism does not permit child marriage. Girls are married only when they attained the marriageable age and ready for the responsibility by virtue of maturity of character.
Sikhs go for the arranged marriages. But the girl and the boy's views are always taken into consideration. In fact they are made to see and talk to each other. Of course the parents of both the families also chalk out the compatibility factor between the prospective couple and eventual relation between the two families.
It is in fact the right way of selecting the right partner from a number of choices or proposals. A Sikh marriage takes into account several things before making a proposal. Most important are the boy and girl themselves who show their willingness only after taking into account, personality, family background, educational standing and physical appearance of the proposed partner. Normally the relatives or family friends come up with a match they find suitable for the boy or the girl of the family.
Traditionally speaking a Sikh bride wears a bright Salwar Kameez. The color of the Kameez is mostly red or magenta. The Dupatta is a must on the head of the bride. The salwar kameez is a heavily embroidered one. At times the bride also wears a lehenga-chunni, wherein the chunni has gota-kiran attached to it. The coy bride also wears the tikka in the parting of her hair.
COSTUMES
Groom's Attire
A Groom would mostly wear a Kurta Pyjama. Otherwise, he can wear a brocade achakan (long coat) and churidar pyjamas. He also sports the Pagri (turban) veiled in flowers.
The men from the boy's family also wear pink turbans, when they come as the barati.
RITUALS
Rituals Before Marriage
Kurmai
Kurmai or a formal betrothal is not mandatory. Yet if both the parties want to go for the ceremony, a simple engagement ceremony can be held wherein the girl's parents visit the boy's parents on a day which has been mutually agreed.
Indian Wedding Wear
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