Courtship period meaning in punjabi

Roka and Thaka Parental consent is considered to be of utmost importance when it comes to a Sikh wedding. Be it a love match or an arranged one, the parents of both the bride and the groom must express their consent for the union before the wedding proceedings can progress further. Roka and Thaka, two of the most important pre-wedding rituals, is flip side of the same coin that celebrates the involvement of parents and their wholehearted support. The father of the bride visits the grooms place and expresses his approval and appreciation by applying a tilak on the grooms forehead and presenting him with gifts of sweets, clothes etc. The same ritual is practiced by the grooms parents for the bride. The RokaThaka may take place either on the day or a few days prior to the engagement ceremony.

Of the 30 million practicing Sikhs worldwide, majority are residents of the state of Punjab in India. Sikhs are monotheists who believe in giving and receiving love to create a prosperous and peaceful life. Sikhs are also one of the most powerful warriors among Indian communities but are lover of peace as preached by their revered Gurus. Marriage and family are considered to be one of the primary duties of a Sikh. Through the holy union of marriage one is brought closer to the Divine Love. The Sikh marriage ceremony is known as Anand Karaj, which has been recognized by Indian Government since 1909. Sikhism is strictly against the practice of dowry at the time of marriage, and grants equal rights to men and women during the process of the wedding. A celebration of union, a Sikh Wedding spans through several days of pre and post wedding ceremonies. The rich culture and strict adherence to religious codes of conduct make the Sikh wedding a study in contrasts. Lets take a peek at the fascinating rituals of a Typical Sikh Wedding.

Kurmai Kurmai refers to the formal engagement ceremony that takes place at the grooms house or at the gurudwara. Close friends and family from both sides attend this event. Before the engagement formalities begin, the priest or Granthi offers a short prayer. Generally, the groom presents a ring to the bride who accepts the same. The brides family presents the groom with a Kara, the mandatory steel bangle that Sikh men need to wear and a Kripan, a small knife that is a reminder of the Sikhs heroic heritage. A red scarf is placed on the grooms shoulders, around his neck and a few dried dates are placed on the grooms hands. As per the instructions of the Granthi, the grandfather of the bride feeds the dates to the groom. After these formalities are over, all the guests are served with food and drink.

Akhand Paath Generally, the weekend before the date of the Anand Karaj is fixed, readers from the family sit down at the house or at the gurudwara to read the entire Guru Granth Sahib within 48 hours time. The non-readers assist the reader by providing them with nourishment. Both the bride and the grooms family hold this ritual separately. This event aims to explain to the bride and groom the importance of religion and the teachings from Guru Granth Sahib outlining the pious way of living.

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Kirtan Kirtan is a performance of religious music. Prior to Anand Karaj, the Sikhs consider it good omen to hold at least one Kirtan performance at their residence. Experienced musicians, known as Raagis, associated with the local gurudwara sing Gurbani accompanied by tabla and harmoniums.

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The Punjabi language has many different dialects, spoken in the different sub-regions of greater Punjab. The Majhi dialect is Punjabis prestige dialect. This dialect is considered as textbook Punjabi and is spoken in the historical region of Majha, centralizing in Lahore and Amritsar.