| Sikh Missionary Society:
Sikhism:
Ceremonies
Ceremony means observance of formalities on some
solemn occasion or performance of religious rites. It is a formal act to
mark the sacredness of an occasion. The Sikhs call the ceremony as “Samagam.”
The ceremony is thanks giving act and there is always an aim
to pray to God for His Grace. According to Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the ceremonies
are useless if the dirt of ego is not cleansed from the hearts (495).
Sikhism believes in true and active Bhakti and not outer
or ceremonial Bhakti. The ritualism and formalism is an outer guise and
not true devotion to God. Some people think that God can be attained by
performing ritualism and rites. According to Sri Guru Granth Sahib,
"Burnt be those rites and formalities, that make
me forget my Beloved".
There are very few recognized ceremonies in Sikhism. The
Sikh ceremonies mark the solemnity of religious occasions which are not
of ritualistic nature. The Sikhs give more importance to the cultivation
of moral values and spiritual development.
Sikhism is against blind rituals, ceremonies , customs
or traditions. Some of the ceremonies are celebrated by the Sikhs in one
or the other form. The good sign is that almost all the Sikh ceremonies
are to take place in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. After performance
of the ceremonies, Karah Parsad and Guru Ka Langar is served.
The Sikhs have disciplinary outfit in the form of Amrit
ceremony. The Sikhs believe that religion is not a matter of individual
concern. There is need of uniform discipline to spread religious
teachings. Teja Singh writes, “As is God, so is the Guru and as is the
Guru, so must be the follower” The Guru gifted the Sikhs with five articles
of faith. So it is must for the Sikhs to wear them.
The Sikh religion is very simple. It does not believe
in blind dogmas. It is so simple a religion that it believes in praying
and chanting the praises of God in a simple way.
|
