Visual visitation report

VISITATION REPORT I met a good friend named Savraj Lota, who is from Kenya and belonged to Sikh religion. To be a guest at a Sikh wedding is to experience many splendour rituals unfold before you. As Raj's elder brother was getting married, I too got a chance to gain some insight into the Sikh culture. I must agree, it was a wonderful first hand experience which has left many vivid memories that will last a lifetime. He explained to me that Anand Karaj is a prescribed form of Sikh marriage. The word literally translates as "Blissful Union". A Sikh marriage is a special celebration in which two individuals, as well as families, are joined together in equal partnership. An ideal husband and wife will be spiritually inseparable, their individual pasts and presents combining to form one. The spiritual goal of any Sikh is to merge his or her soul or atman with God (Parmatma) and in marriage, the couple will help each other towards this goal. The whole affair is a joyous and festive event, which is very family orientated and informal in atmosphere. A Sikh marriage can be performed in any Gurdwara- the holy place of worship of Sikhism, or any other home where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, has been respectfully installed. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is representative of the presence of the 'gurus'. Hence, the presence of this holy book is the considered

  • Word count: 2728
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Life Style Practices of Sikhs during the 18th and 19th centuries based on their ethics and values

McGill University RELG 254 Introduction to Sikhism Presented to: Professor Manjit Singh Life Style Practices of Sikhs during the 8th and 19th centuries based on their ethics and values Paper Written By: Hasmitaben Patel (260114948) Word count: 2759 words Date: December 19, 2006 According to the history of Punjab, the 18th Century was full of battles, foreign invasions and internal conflict. The Sikhs were put to the test to see if they could act according to the Guru's teachings. This period of history is marked by incomparable sacrifice, courage and the power of endurance. (Course Pack, pg. 393) The great qualities of humble service, forgiveness, spiritual values and regard for women, all according to the Guru's teachings, were demonstrated by the Sikhs. The Sikh chiefs pointed to the Khalsa ideals as a beacon light and attributed their success to the Guru, because they believed that he was the real master and founder of their commonwealth. The Sikhs considered the Khalsa Commonwealth as a sacred creation by the Gurus. All the Sikhs considered themselves equal. The Sikh chiefs declared themselves as humble servants of the Khalsa Panth, working for the welfare and pleasure of the Khalsa Commonwealth. (Course Pack, pg. 407) This time tested the Sikhs to the utmost, and they showed their true character. The 19th Century historical reports mostly describe the reign

  • Word count: 3901
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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