The Sindhi community
is very much like other Indian communities and therefore Sindhi
matrimonials are very similar to other marriages carried through
out in India.
In a Sindhi family, like in every Indian matrimonial alliance,
once a daughter or son reaches marriageable age, they start looking
out for a suitable match. The Sindhi matrimonial alliance is generally
conducted through special Mehrajs (a Male) or Guryanis (a Female)
of the community. The rituals begin days ahead of the actual wedding
ceremony. Once the respective bride and groom have approved of
each other, the first formal ceremony takes place. This community
performs a ‘Shagun’ (Kacchi Misri), which is observed
in the presence of both the girl and boy and token gifts are exchanged
between the two families.
To proceed with the Sindhi matrimonial alliance, like in every
community, a sacred yellow thread is put on the groom, and the
pujari or maharaj (Brahmin priest) chants the guru mantra (the
Gayatri mantra) into the groom's ear. This is known as ‘Janya’.
The ‘Pucci Misri’ follows and is like any other formal
engagement in an Indian community. Here, rings are exchanged in
front of a pujari and the marriage alliance is declared formal
in front of family relatives and friends. Since this community
is very extravagant, the ceremonies that follow are adhered to
with great lavishness.
The community, in accordance with the Sindhi matrimonial rituals,
normally holds a 'Satasang’ a week ahead of the actual wedding,
but this ceremony is not compulsory. However, as in every Indian
community, the ‘Mehendi’ ceremony is held with great
zest. Though this is not religiously significant, it is considered
a very important part of the matrimonial alliance with professional
mehendiwaalis or henna artists adorning delicate patterns of mehendi
dye on the hands of the bride to be and other womenfolk. The zeal
reaches its pitch with the women singing folk songs teasingly.
Dinner and cocktails follow the ladies ‘Sangeet’.
On the morning before the actual wedding, the ‘Navgrahi
Puja’ is performed to invoke harmony within the planets.
The pujas performed on this day also include the 'Ganesha Puja',
'Omkar Puja', 'Lakshmi Puja' and the 'Kalash Puja'. These ceremonies
are held to bless the actual Sindhi matrimonial alliance to take
place the next day and are not uncommon to the Indian community.
The same evening ‘Sagari’ is held at the bride’s
home where the groom’s sisters adorn her with floral decoration.
The bride-to-be is also presented with cosmetics (including perfume),
five types of fruits, sugar candy, along with a thali of dried
coconut, and sweetmeats.
Just as in other Indian matrimonials, the Sindhi community also
does not forget the importance of the mothers of the bride and
groom. A special Sindhi wedding ceremony, known as the ‘Ghari’,
is performed on the night before the holy matrimony. This ceremony,
which is revered highly by the community, is conducted simultaneously
in the respective houses of the bride and the groom-to-be. As
per the community culture, a matka is placed full of water on
the head of the mother, which is then carried out of the house
with the help of her son-in-law who carries a katti or a knife
to protect the mother from evil spirits. The pot of water is then
brought back into the house and every person present, garlands
the mother and the father of the bride or the groom (as the case
may be). This matka is now placed in the pujasthan (a shrine found
in the home of every community in India) inside the home. The
son-in-law or ghor as he is now addressed, gives money to the
priest after circling it around the pot of water and the bride
or the groom.
