Sikhism Wedding
By : Diane, Frank, Vanessa, Jade, Afsaana, and Josh
Culture
- Sikhs are those people who practice religion of sikhism
- Also known as SINGHS
- Keeping up the unshorn hair, beards, and moustaches with turban on head for males and scarfs for the females is a must. Symbolizes acceptance towards nature/great courage.
- Even if he/she doesn't keep their long hair, he/she should always wear a steel/iron bracelet on their right hand
- Sikhs greet other people by putting their palms together and simply bowing at 10-20 degree angle. (Meaning: No human has higher or lower ranks, we're all the same, mean no harm
- Family and religion come together in pair.
Sikh Wedding Expenses
Indian Cultural Foods
1. Butter Chicken
- One of the most popular Indian foods
- The origin can be traced back to New Delhi
- Usually served with naan, roti, parathas or steamed rice
- Typically dressed chicken is marinated overnight in a yogurt and spice mixture usually including garam masala, ginger, garlic paste, lemon or lime, pepper, etc.
- Usually cooked in a tandoor, but can also be grilled, roasted or pan fried.
2. Tandoori Chicken
- Spicy roasted chicken made in a tandoor
- Seasoned with spicy yogurt and curry based sauce
- Tandoor is an earthen oven used in India. The best substitute will be a closed charcoal grill. Can also use an oven.
- Ingredients include melted butter, lemon juice, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garlic paste, mustard, garam masala powder, etc.
- Originated from the Punjab region of India
3. Aloo Paratha/Roti
- Delicious shallow fried Indian stuffed roti
- Popular among all generations of people across India
- Stuffed with boiled potatoes, lead vegetables, radishes, cauliflower
4. Kulfi (Indian Spiced Ice Cream)
- Indian version of ice cream
- Contains delicate spicy flavours of spices such as cardamom, saffron, and cinnamon
- Ingredients include milk, cream, sugar, cardamom pods, and chopped almonds and pistachio
5. Kheer (Rice Pudding)
- Simply rice pudding with flavour of aromatic spices such as cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.
- Usually garnished with dried fruits such as cashews and dates
- One of the most popular Indian desserts
- Ingredients include basmati rice, whole milk, condensed milk, sugar
6. Gulab Jamun
- India’s most popular dessert
- Delicious dessert consists of dumplings traditionally made of thickened or reduced mil, soaked in rose flavoured sugar syrup
- The name Gulab means rose (for the rose flavoured syrup) and jamun which is a kind of deep purple coloured Indian berry
- Ingredients include sugar, water, cardamom powder, rose water, powdered milk, baking powder, thickened/heavy/double cream, vegetable oil for deep frying
Sikh Wedding Traditions
- "Kurmai" or Engagement is not organized at every Sikh wedding. When it is held, then it is done a week before the wedding in the "Gurudwara" or in the groom's home.
- A Gurudwara or "the doorway to the guru" is a Sikh place of worship (temple).
- If Kurmai is performed in the groom's home, the bride arrives there with "kara" (metal bracelet), "kirpan" (ceremonial sword) or traditional sweets. She also brings objects that are believed to be good omen. These are coconut, "chhuhare" (dry dates), sugar and money. Bride's family gets a a traditional suit and some sweets for the bride.
- "Maiya" is a traditional belief stating that the bride and groom are not allowed to leave their homes or change clothes few days before the wedding.
- "Gana" is a red thread tied to the groom's right wrist and the bride's left wrist. The gana worn by bride often has objects like cowrie shells, an iron key chain, pearls and a small silken bundle (with some sugar) attached to it.
- Few days before the wedding "vatna" or scented powder which is applied on the bride's and groom's body. The powder is made of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil. After that there is a ritual bath. On the evening of the wedding or as Sikhs would say "mehndi ki raat" the henna tattoo is made on bride's hands and feet.
- "Gharoli" ceremony is held in morning of the wedding day in the groom's house. During the ceremony the groom's sister-in-law with some female relatives go to a well or Gurudwara to fill a "gharoli" or a special decorated jug with water. The water is later used to bath the groom.
- "Kahare Charna" is yet another of pre-wedding ceremonies. The groom is sitting on a stool doing his bath and four girls are holding a cloth over his head.
Bride's maternal uncle or "mama" takes the bride for the "chooda" ceremony. She wears a "chooda" or set of red and white ivory (nowadays many used bone or plastic) bangles. These bangles have been dipped in "kachchi lassi" or buttermilk.
The tradition is to wear 21 bangles, but today most brides wear 7 or 9 bangles. Today the bride wears the chooda for month and a quarter. Traditionally it would be for at least a year. Bride's close female relatives tie "kaleeren" or golden metal danglers to the bride's wrist. The maternal uncles put the "nath" which is a traditional nose ring for the bride. In the past big Shikarpuri rings were popular. They covered large part of the face.