Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas

Yesterday Diwali or the ‘Festival of Lights’ was celebrated by many Hindus and Sikhs across the globe. As a Sikh I knew the reason behind the Hindu celebrations, the triumph of good over evil. It is the celebration of Ram returning home with Sita after defeating the demon Ravan, who had kept Sita as a hostage. But, what is the reason behind the Sikh celebrations?

How it began...

The Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, had imprisoned Guru Hargobind Ji on political grounds. Jahangir believed that Guru Ji, due to his increasing popularity, was becoming a threat to his empire. However, the initial threat came once Jahangir realised that by imprisoning Guru Hargobind Ji, he himself had turned many against his thrown.

In order to rectify his mistakes, Jahangir agreed to release Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior. But Guru Ji refused to accept the grounds of his release until 52 innocent Hindu kings were granted their freedom alongside him. On hearing this Jahangir set his own conditions. Only those kings would be released who could hold onto the tails of Guru Ji’s cloak.

As a result of Jahangir's conditions Guru Hargobind Ji soon had a cloak made with 52 tails, one for each king. The day of Guru Ji’s release is known as Bandi Chorrh Divas and it was on the day of Diwali that Guru Ji had finally returned to Amritsar.

In the Georgian calendar Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas are commonly celebrated on the same day.

How do we celebrate Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas?

Family and friends often gather in order to celebrate Guru Hargobind Ji’s freedom. We visit the local gurdwara in order to gain Waheguru Ji’s blessing for the year ahead. In the evening we light divas and share with one another Indian snacks and sweets, this is followed up by a firework display to end the evening’s festivities.

Glossary

Amritsar	“Pool of nectar” Is the spiritual centre of Sikhism located in the North Indian state of Punjab.
Bandi Chhor Divas	“Prisoners’ Release Day” Is the day when Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 kings were released from Gwalior prison.
Diva	Lamp
Diwali	Is an abbreviation of "Deepavali" meaning "row of lamps".
Gurdwara	A Sikh place of worship.
Guru Hargobind Ji	The sixth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism.
Gwalior	City in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Jahangir	The fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605-1627
Mughal Emperor	Is the term used to refer to those who ruled the Mughal Empire in South Asia.
Ram	The seventh avatar of the God Vishnu in Hinduism.
Ravan	A devout follower of the god Shiva. Ravan is believed to have had ten heads
Sita	Is the consort of Ram and an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi.
Waheguru Ji	Is the term used by Sikhs to refer to God.

The Heels - Indian Wedding Raves #3

Finding the right shoes for an Indian outfit is far from easy and the task often comes with a tick list. They have to be comfortable, sturdy, no more than 3-4 inches and they need to match the embroidery on my outfits.

Well, with so many demands being made I can never manage to find the right pair on the high street, as they just never seem to fit the requirements. So when I shop for heels the only place that I seem to head to is an Indian shoe store.

On a recent trip to Southall Broadway I kept my eyes open for two sets of heels, a gold pair and a silver pair. Gold and silver seemed like ideal colours as they would match the embroidery on most of the Indian outfits I own.

After failing in a few shoe stores, I soon found both of these beauties. I was fortunate enough to spot them in the end of season sales, and at £20 each I knew I had found a bargain! The second pair of heels isn’t quite silver, but due to their pewter tone I knew I could get away with wearing them with my pink sari.

I am proud to report that after two days of dancing in these heels my feet have survived. With no pain it’s safe to say that I’ll continue to buy my shoes from Indian stores.

The Sikh Wedding - Indian Wedding Raves #2

Image: theurbannexus via Flickr

“They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together.

Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies.” 
Guru Amar Das Ji, Pauri, pg. 788

Anand Karaj

This week my cousin will take the traditional steps to marrying his beloved. Behind the glitz and the glamour, it is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, dating back to the times of our Guru Jis.

A Sikh wedding is referred to as an Anand Karaj where a man and woman are joined together before a congregation at a gurdwara in the holy presence of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The bride and groom take their place in front of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which is followed by an Ardas. The only people who stand for this Ardas are the bride and groom and their parents. After the Ardas a Hukam is read from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Then the father of the bride gets up to give his daughter away. He takes one side of the groom’s scarf and places it in his daughter’s hand.

After the bride has been given away there are four Laava. The Laava are marriage hymns written by Guru Ram Das Ji. They are recited while the groom leads his bride and circles around the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a clockwise direction. These Laava guide the couple on how to live in a harmonious marriage by explaining the relationship between Waheguru and an individual.

The ceremony is drawn to a close with an Ardas and the offering of Karah Parshad to the congregation.

A brief summary of the Laava

First Laava: Let go of the past and look forward to a new beginning. By worshiping Waheguru Ji all your sins will be forgiven.

Second Laava: Waheguru Ji is the centre of the marriage and the couple should advance towards him.

Third Laava: Fill your mind with ‘Divine Love’ through worshipping together. It is through this worship that you will know your destiny.

Fourth Laava: You will be a peace once you’re married life is combined with love for Waheguru. The couple become one soul in two bodies.

Glossary

Anand Karaj	“Blissful Union”
Ardas	A prayer.
Gurdwara	A Sikh place of worship.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji Guru Amar Das Ji	The holy scriptures of Sikhism. The third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism.
Guru Ram Das Ji	The fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism.
Hukam	Meaning command or order. Hukam is commonly used to refer to a hymn that is read after the Ardas.
Karah Parshad	Is a holy offering that is given as a blessing from the Guru.
Laava Pauri	The marriage hymns written by Guru Ram Das Ji which are recited during the Anand Karaj. Paragraph or verse from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Waheguru Ji	Is the term used by Sikhs to refer to God.

An Introduction - Indian Wedding Raves #1

Want a peak into the glamour of an Indian wedding? With the guests often stealing the show, it’s not just the bride and groom who look dashing. Stay tuned for my Indian Wedding Raves and let me take you on my journey. All will be revealed shortly.