Sindhi Marriage Customs and Rituals
Sindhi community is mostly made up of Sanatani Hindus. They are not known for following the Hindu Vedic rites in strictest terms. However, a Sindhi wedding is conducted as per the Vedic rites. Sindhi marriages project a blend of Hinduism and Sufism in Islam. The customs, ceremonies and rituals that are followed during a typical Sindhi wedding are influenced not only by Vedic practices but also certain traditions that are followed in weddings of the Muslim and Sikh communities. Generally, the Sindhi marriages take place on certain auspicious days such as the new moon day or the Satyanarayan Chandsi (सत्यनारायण चांदसी).
Sindhi Pre-Wedding Rituals
- Kachchi Misri –را مصري this ceremony is the very first ritual that is conducted before a Sindhi marriage. A coconut and a sugar rock crystal are offered to the bride and the groom and this signifies that they are going to become one soul. This takes place a week prior to the marriage. This ritual is also known as Ladki Rokna. This is considered as an alliance of a temporary nature and is an equivalent of an informal engagement. Gifts and delicacies are distributed among both the families. The female relatives of the groom put a red dupatta over the head of the bride and feed her with a sweetened wheat halva.
- Pakki Misri - مصري اڳڀرائي This isa formal engagement and as in the case of several important Hindu marriage functions, this ceremony will begin with a prayer to the Lord Ganesha who is the Hindu god of prosperity and good fortune. Engagement rings will be exchanged between the couple. The family of the bride offers five kilograms of sugar crystals or misri to the family of the groom in a pot. Seven married women make a Ganesha on the pot to bless the couple with good luck. Gifts are exchanged between both the families.
- Berana - बिराना - This function is held ten days before the marriage. Satsang ستسنگ and bhajans(भजन) are held in the honour of Lord Jhulelal پالڻھار who is actually Ishta Dev ديو God of the Sindhis. Lord Jhulelal had always preached equality between the Hindus and the Muslims.
- Dev Bithana - ديو ويٺي this is a ritual that involves installation of a stone grinder which is used traditionally to grind wheat. It is installed six days before the wedding in the houses of both the bride and the groom.
- Lada - موسيقيThis is a ceremony which is performed by the family of the groom. Women relatives, friends and neighbours are invited for a night out of music, dance, song and fun. This is a music fiesta and it is followed by placing an earthen pot before the bride and she is asked to break its cover in one attempt.
- Saagri - ساڙينديThis ritual involves the showering of flowers n the bride. Married sisters and cousins of the groom visit the house of the bride and beautify her with flower jewellery made out of mogra flowers.
- Mehndi – (मेहंदी) – This ceremony is common among most North Indian marriages. Intricate and decorative henna designs are tattoed or applied to the bride and other fenale relatives of hers. The whole family has a big party during this function.
- Tih - کپيA day before the marriage, the priest from the family of the bride will visit the house of the groom with rice, coconut, nine dates, twenty one sweet sugar candy bars, spices like cloves and cardamom and green silk yarn. A puja is performed in honour of Lord Ganesha. During this function, the muhurat time of the wedding is fixed formally. The groom is presented with a crown.
- Saanth - جي سهڪارThis custom involves applying of oil on the hair of the bride and groom by seven married ladies in her family. An ankle bracelet is also tied on the right leg of both the bride and the groom. At the end of the function, the clothes worn by the couple have to be torn and this symbolises a break from the past and it also helps to ward off evil spirits.
- Ghari Puja - ڳڙهيThis is a puja that is performed at the houses of the bride and the groom, simultaneously. The puja revolves around a water pot that is worshipped. While the prayers are being performed, women grind wheat as a token of prosperity. A handful of grains are given to the priest by the groom.
Sindhi Wedding Rituals
- The Thread Ceremony - هن موضوع تقريبThis is a crucial wedding ritual among Sindhis. Turmeric powder and mustard oil is applied to the groom and the bride. They are then not allowed to step out of their houses before the wedding.
- Swagat and Milni - ڀلي ڪري آيا ۽ ٿيThis custom involves a formal welcome of the groom and his family members by the parents of the bride and they are introduced to all the visitors. The bride also comes out to welcome her husband. The groom has to place his foot on her foot as a custom and the parents of the bride have to wash the feet of the groom with water and milk.
- Hathialo – (हथियलो) – This tradition involves tying of the shawl worn by the groom to the sari worn by the bride. Their right hands also have to be tied with a red scarf and a prayer is performed to bless their union as a couple. This is the beginning of the main wedding function. The couple is made to sit in front of a sacred pyre as the priest chants the marriage mantras. The couple has to take four rounds around this sacred fire.
- Kanyadaan - (कन्यादान) – During this ceremony, the father of the bride will hand over his daughter to his son-in-law. He will also pour holy water in the hands of the groom before placing his daughter’s hands into the hands of the groom.
Sindhi Post-Wedding Rituals
- Datar - داتارAfter the marriage ceremony is over; the bride is given a welcome in her new home. The parents of the groom will wash her feet and cover her head while the bride sprinkles milk all over the places in her new home. When this s done, the bride has to take a handful of salt and give it to the groom. The groom has to take that salt in his hand and give it back to her, without spilling salt on the ground. This process has to be repeated thrice.
- Dev Uthana - (देव उठनी) – This ritual is also known as Chhanar. The grinding stone that was kept in both the houses involved with the Sindhi marriage has to be removed. This is done on the day following the wedding. The unveiling is handled by a priest. After the prayers are performed, the mother of the groom will feed the bridal couple seven mouthfuls of rice, milk and sugar.
- Sataurah – (सैटौरा) – This custom is observed at an auspicious time that is fixed by the priest as the bridal couple visit the parents of the bride for the first time after their marriage. This custom is equivalent to the Chauthi custom among the Hindu and the Muslim communities.