Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd)
10, Featherstone Road.
Southall, Middx, U.K. UB2 5AA
Tel: +44 020 8574
1902
Fax: +44 020 8574
1912
Reg Charity No: 262404
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Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd)
10, Featherstone Road.
Southall, Middx, U.K. UB2 5AA
Tel: +44 020 8574
1902
Fax: +44 020 8574
1912
Reg Charity No: 262404
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Ceremonies
Many Sikhs, especially children, who are unable to recite the 'Japji' do recite the Mul Mantra or just Sat Nam Waheguru. 'Asa Di Var' is then recited in the Gurudwara and in the evening 'Raharas' and 'Sohila' prayers are recited. The only other ceremonies the Sikhs have are termed Smagam (functions) and are as follows:
Started
on 30th March, 1699, by Guru Gobind Singh, this ceremony consists in preparing
'Amrit' (nectar) by putting some water in a bowl, adding sugar and stirring
it with a double edged sword while five baptised Sikhs each recite a prayer.
The initiate takes the vows of the Khalsa faith and bows in acceptance
of them while five palmfuls of Amrit are given to the novice. He is given
the name 'Singh' for male or 'Kaur' for female after his or her name. The
member then wears the five Ks : (Kachha - underwear, Kesh
- hair, Kara - iron bangle, Kangha - comb, Kirpan
- sword). If a baptised Sikh violates the vows, he must confess his guilt
before the holy congregation. The decision about punishment or fine (or
both) is taken by the Sangat according to the nature of the offence. This
is called 'Tankha' and consists of recitation of Gurubani (hymns), service
of the Sangat, cleaning the utensils or shoes of the congregation, grinding
the corn for the Langar, etc. There is no age limit for baptism.
It
is solemnised by making the bride hold one end of a sash while the other
end is held by the bridegroom. The four marriage vows (lavan) are read
while the couple walk round the Holy Granth. They bow in acceptance of
the lavan and Sit down cross-legged in front of the Holy Granth to listen
to the religious obligations of married life. The ceremony is called Anand
Karaj which means the ceremony of bliss. It is usually carried out early
in the morning. While every effort is made to celebrate marriage as early
as possible, most marriages in England are celebrated in broad daylight
considering the difficulties of getting up early and that of accommodating
English well-wishers.
Widow remarriage is permitted in Sikhism and is performed more or less
in the same way. It is called CHADAR PAUNA (Offering Protection).
Some
days after the birth of a child the whole family accompanied by some relatives
and friends, come to the Gurudwara. A prayer is offered in thanksgiving
and for a long and blessed life for the child. After a random reading from
the Granth, the first letter of the hymn is taken up by the Sangat and
names beginning with that letter are suggested for the child.
After one of the names having been accepted by the parents, the Sangat raises a loud cry of 'Sat Siri Akal' (God is Truth).
The Sikh names usually carry a meaning:
Gurbakhsh Singh: Blessed by the Guru.
Dhanna Singh: Wealthy.
Sewa Singh: A dedicated servant of society.
Ajit Singh: Invincible.
This
is the reading of the Granth from cover to cover and usually takes seven
days (Sahaj Path). A continuous recitation by five readers for forty-eight
hours is called Akhand Path (incessant recitation by relays). There is
no priest in the Gurudwara and anyone can read the Granth but usually a
paid Granthi (reader) is present to assist. Sikhs do not invest the Granthi
with any particular social or religious status but he usually commands
a respect in society if he is well-read and is able to explain the word
to the layman.
At the end of each of there ceremonies the 'Anand' is recited and 'Karah
Parshad' (sweet dish) ( 1. Prepared from equal weights of sugar, flour,
water and butter. Semolina is heated with butter and afterwards hot sweetened
water is added and the whole lot stirred into a thick dough-like Karah
Parsad ). The person who prepares Karah Parsad takes a bath before doing
so and repeats the five Sikh Prayers while preparing it is distributed
as a grace from the Lord to all, irrespective of the contribution of each.
Path is arranged by a family on occasions of birth, death, opening a business,
going abroad and on other social occasions.
The birthdays of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, and the martyrdom days of Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur are also celebrated and called Gurpurbs. On these occasions a procession ( 3. Processions are not often taken out in England, to avoid problems of congested traffic. The lectures are delivered inside the temple. The whole programme is in Punjabi unless English guests have been invited. ) of the Granth is taken out from the Sikh Temple in a flower bedecked palanquin with Sikh ensigns on each side. Five men march in front of the Granth with drawn swords in their hands, representing the five beloved ones (first five baptised Sikhs. Lectures are delivered at important places and prayers are held in all Gurudwaras and Sikh homes.
The Sikh Temple is not only a place of worship but also a field of action
and headquarters of the ideal society conceived by Guru Nanak. It is the
pivot of universal brotherhood, voicing the concept of one God and demolishing
all prejudices, between man and man, man and woman, religion and religion,
rich and poor and high and low. It is free from formalism, ritualism and
intolerance. It is a place of gainful activity inviting the individual
to lead the life of a householder and plunge into the field of action by
serving others. It is a school imparting lessons in modesty, humility,
equality, purity, fraternity, service, knowledge and devotion, and it caters
for the physical, mental, moral, ethical and spiritual needs of its scholars.
It is a place where the individual always remains in the divine presence
and is exposed to no attack from within or without. It is the abode of
human brotherhood, a centre of shared life, a sanctuary of God, the headquarters
of the commonwealth of people consecrated to God; people who look upon
service not as an irksome duty but as a honourable task and a privilege.
It is a resting place amid the conflicting creeds and practices of man,
highlighting the necessity of living a religion rather than only professing
it. Everyone here prays for everyone everywhere invoking. "THE GOOD OF
ALL UNDER THE WILL OF THE LORD." (Ardas)
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