INTRODUCTION
Sindhis originally hail from the Sapt Sindhu, the area of the Sindhu river. Sindhu is known as Indus river and is in Pakistan now. In the Vedic period, the Sindhis had developed a vast trading network across the area. Trade during the times was mostly by the river route and the Sindhu river was the lifeline of this route. Sindhis still remain a major business community, their skills having developed over generations. In the wake of partition, Sindhi Hindus migrated to independent India. Apart from a small number of landowners, the Sindhi Hindus in pre- partition Sindh belonged, predominantly, to the business and professional classes. Consequently, the Sindhi Hindu population was concentrated in and around metropolitan cities and townships.
MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES
Hindu Sindhis in India are a mixed blend of the traditional Hindus and little bit of Sufism. They do not follow staunch Hindu rites in a hard and fast way. They are Sanatani Hindus and follow the Vedic rites. The day for marriage is usually fixed on an auspicious day such as the Satyanarayan Chandsi or the New Moon day. Otherwise, there is this custom of doing a Gudhuro marriage in cases such as where a favorable muhurta cannot be decided by astrology. It is under such circumstances that the couple may go for Gudhuro marriage, which can be performed on any day after sunset. Some Sindhis used to sacrifice a goat to appease the Gods and the spirits to ensure a successful marriage. The latter is no more prevalent though.
MATCH MAKING
Matchmaking is done in two main ways in the Sindhi community. The first is to seek the service of Sindhi Marriage Bureaus. The second is to solicit the opinion and help of a mediator for the purpose.
RITUALS
Rituals Before Marriage
Kacchi Mishri
Once a boy is selected, people from the girls' side visit the boy's place with a tray of sugar candy along with a small token amount of money. In case, the boy's family accepts this shagun or token gift, it is believed that the proposal is approved. Then, both the parties take a liitle mishri (sugar candy), thus marking the end of the betrothal ceremony as well. This event is also called ladki rokna (engaging the girl).
Pakki Mishri
Pakki Mishri is the formal engagement, wherein the boy and the girl put rings in each others' fingers. The girl's family sends all the clothes and accessories to the bridegroom. These are generally garments that he requires for the actual wedding ceremony. These gifts are accompanied by sugar candy, the sacred thread, a coconut and traditional sweets. There goes a Brahmin priest alongwith. He takes note of the names of the bride and the groom, consults their horoscopes and then tallying from the almanac fixes the exact time of marriage so that it is conducted during an auspicious period.
Dev Bithana
Dev Bithana is an ethnic ritual that takes place five to six days before the wedding begins. In this a granary called gundro is prepared. The gundro is being worshipped throughout the marriage ceremonies. This establishment of a totemic deity is known as Dev Bithana. It is done by a Brahmin priest. The gundro has to be placed in front of the couple. The priest puts some sacred objects such as the seven Haris, eight Patras or sons, and nine Bublans or covers. These are then worshipped. Then the family members apply tilak to the gundro. This formally marks the commencement of the nuptials.
Lada is a version of the Ladies Sangeet of Punjabi marriages. Songs and dances are an integral part of Indian marriages as they imply celebration spirit and gaiety. The commencement of a Sindhi marriage is initiated with the groom's family inviting the laides of the neighborhood to take part in the ceremonial singing of traditional wedding songs. The singing of these ladas is often accompanied by the beat of a dholak (drum) or a plain thaali (metal plate). There is also a lot of dancing and joyful merriment and these festivities go on every night till the day of the wedding. The bridegroom's family distributes sugar to all the assembled visitors.
Tih
Tih takes place a day before the marriage. The priest of the bride's family goes to the groom's house and carries with him some goods. These would include things like a small bag of rice, a coconut, nine dates, twenty one sweet nibatas, which are bars of sugar candy one to two inches in size, sugar, cardamom, cloves and a skein of green silk yarn. He also takes with him the lagna of the marriage (time fixed as auspicious) written on paper.
There takes place a ceremony in which the priest pays obeisance to Lord Ganesh and the Planets. The priest then ratifies the lagna and sanctifies it by reciting certain incantations (pritishta) and then places the written material in the groom's lap. The groom then pays his respects to the priest and the elders who are present.
Mehendi
Mehendi is a ritual of the girl's house. A day before the marriage, a mehndi (heena) ceremony is held. The palms of the hand, and the feet of the bride are decorated with mehndi paste in artistic patterns. This is not originally a Sindhi ritual but has been incorporated after the Sindhis migrated to India.
Banwa
Banwa is an unusual custom which has a grinding stone being installed as the household deity for the time being. The priest performs this ritual. After the Bnawa, customarily speaking, the girl is not allowed to move out of her house till the marriage day. The bride's Ainar, who is generally her jija i.e. the brother-in-law looks after all her needs, especially those entail that the bride goes out of the house.
Baraat
Baraat is the traditional voyage of the groom and his people to the bride's house. The groom is seated on a well-decorated mare. He is accompanied by the joyous relatives, friends and well wishers. The assembled group of women, led by the groom's mother who holds the lamp lit for the household deity, makes oblations of grain to the crown. They sing traditional wedding songs during this ceremony and target the Ainar for a round of leg pulling.
Swaagat
Swaagat is welcoming the groom's people. The baraat is received with all the cordiality and they are garlanded. In the Sindhis, the bride is made to have a look at the groom as he climbs down the mare. Though, the tradition is that the bride gazes upon the groom's mukut but not on his face. The bride's sisters and brothers invite their new jija (brother-in-law). The groom then calls upon his mother to lead the way, who in turn invites the women of the baraat to accompany her. The women are welcomed with sindur (vermilion). Their married (suhagin) status is honored with red ribbons or scarves. The bride's family also gives them gifts. The number of such gifts is specified beforehand so that they can be arranged. These gifts are usually saris.
Marriage Rituals
Jaimala
Only after the feet-washing ritual can the Jaimala or exchange of garlands take place. The couple faces each other and exchanges garlands once. There is no exchange of gifts between the groom and the bride at this time.
Phera
The circumambulation of the sacred fire takes place at the pre-determined time of lagna. At that moment, the couple is seated on the bridal bed, which is later gifted to them. Four pheras are conducted in a Sindhi wedding, unlike the seven of a Hindu marriage. The groom leads the first three rounds and the bride leads the fourth. After this, the marriage ceremony is concluded. Then there are some other rites and only after the removal of Dev at the bride's house, is the marriage ceremony considered over.
Rituals After Marriage
Vidai
Vidai is a common ritual that has the bride going to the groom's house once all the marriage rituals are over. The girl's father gives away a whole lot of gifts as the daughter parts from him. The Sindhis occasionally beat the drums to announce the homecoming of the bride, in a royal manner.
CELEBRATIONS
Music & Dance
Lada are being sung by the women folk of the bride's as well as the groom's houses. Lada are Sindhi folk songs. The singing of these ladas is often accompanied by the beat of a dholak (drum) or a plain thaali (metal plate). There is also a lot of dancing and joyful merriment and these festivities go on every night till the day of the wedding. The bridegroom's family distributes sugar to all the assembled visitors. Even during the Pakki Misri, ladas would be sung.
Cuisine
The main attractions of the Sindhi wedding feast would be the commonly known Sindhi dishes such as Kamal Kakri curry, Palak in Channa Dhal, Aloo Tikki, Stuffed Tinda, Dilpasand Kadi and Sindhi Mutton.
SOME STRANGE CUSTOMS
Lagana
On the day of the wedding, a pot containing oil and coins is kept for the oiling rituals of the bride. The family and relatives dip their fingers into this pot and oil the bride's head. This is a form of ashirwad (blessing). Then the ornamentation of the bride begins for the wedding ceremony in the evening.
Indian Folk Music
