Sindhi

Rituals

Sindhi Marriage Rituals:

Rituals of the Sindhi Marriage are to a degree similar to the rituals at a Hindu wedding, however set on an exceptionally eager and rich scale. Amongst the Sindhi group, there are exceptional clerics known as Mehraj who work in matchmaking and a Guryanni whose fundamental occupation is to convey horoscopes of qualified young men and young ladies from house to house.

Pre-wedding rituals of the sindhi marriage:

• Janya

Janya alludes to the hallowed string service where the lucky man wears a yellow string and a mantra is whispered in his ear by the minister (Purohit), or the Mehraj as he is by and large known in the Sindhi group. Despite the fact that it should be led in when the to-be-groom is younger, most Sindhi men like to have this done a day or two preceding the wedding. A marriage is viewed as inadequate if the lucky man has not had the string service.

• Kachchi misri

The Kachchi Misri alludes to the casual engagement between the man of the hour and the lady, where they are given coconuts and the main ingredient mishri as a typical acknowledgement that she/he is the person who fits in with the other family. On this day, shaguns (token endowments) are traded by the families of the bride and the groom. By and large, the shagun comprises of five sorts of foods fruits, mainly the coconut symbolizing itself as the main fruit and also some cash for the bride and the husband to be. Moreover, the bride’s family sends five kilos of sweets, five coconuts, and a crate of different fruits, some kada prasad, and a little token measure of cash to the groom’s family. On this day, suji sheera is cooked that is later served as Prasad. Throughout the fundamental function, the groom’s sister blankets the bride’s head with a red-shaded duppata and feeds her with the sheera. This is trailed by different relatives feeding suji sheera to the prospective couple.

• Pakki mishri

This ceremony alludes to the formal service of engagement. In this ceremony the rings are traded between the couple either at home or in a temple. This is however in the vicinity of the cleric. The ceremonies start with Ganesh Puja, which is trailed by an Ardas. The groom's family puts a basket laden with fresh fruits, garments, beauty products and adornments on the bride’s lap to mean that she has been acknowledged and to wish her joy.

• Berana

Berana alludes to a satsang that is held for the sake of Jhulelal, the Sindhi God. It implies the beginning of the services for the imminent wedding and is typically sorted out ten days prior to the wedding.

• Dev Bithana

Dev Bithani alludes to the establishment of a totemic divinity of chakki (stone processor) in the homes of both the girl and the boy. Tilak is applied to the chakki by the relatives. After this service, which is generally led five to six days prior to the marriage, the couple is not swayed to leave their homes and ainars (marriage gatekeepers) are designated for them who are for the most part their siblings or in- laws.

• Lada

This function includes the groom's family welcoming all the ladies in the area to a night of fun and happiness where they all sing conventional wedding tunes with the background of dholak beats.

• Tih

The function of Tih is directed a day prior to the marriage where a minister, sent over by the bride’s family and transports a coconut, a little sack of rice, nine dates, twenty one sweet nibatas, which are bars of sugar, cardamom, cloves and a skein of green silk yarn.

Food:

Along with all the ceremonies be it, pre, during or post the occasion, even the food is given equal or more importance. The Sindhis are prominently vegetarian and the weddings serve delectable delicacies that leave the guests waiting for more and licking their fingers meanwhile.