"Militant" Sikhs ruin wedding after barricading temple

Luckysingh · #19 (**permalink**) 06-Jul-2012, 06:57 AM

Vouthon ji, I agree and understand exactly what you are putting across.
I for one, have no objection with interfaith marriages. It just becomes a sensitive issue when they want a sikh ceremony but one party is not a sikh or a believer.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/united-states/38747-militant-sikhs-ruin-wedding-after-barricading.html

It's just in these cases one has to think thoroughly that they are not defacing the sacred ceremony as one party has no faith or belief.

We should not object to interfaith marriages but we shouldn't just bring in the 'anand karaj' ceremony just for the sake of it. There should be dignity,respect, understanding, belief and respect to the value of this ceremony for sikhs.

Issues occur if the non-sikh is known to be practicing another faith, as in this case. However, the non-sikh may have a complete understanding of the sikh ceremony after some effort and will be willing so, as to honour the respect of their sikh partner. They may be prepared to dedicate much more effort into sikhism. - These kind of cases have to be assessed individually. Infact, I have known of a non-sikh groom that before his marriage was atheist and then became dedicated to sikhism prior to the marriage to a sikh girl. This wedding ceremony was one of the most memorable as his behaviour and actions were noted by everyone to be MORE sikh like than most punjabi sikhs!

The sensitivity is about the 'show'and exploiting of anand karaj just to show yes, so and so got married in a gurdwara. Don't get me wrong there are also many people born into sikh families that have a sikh ceremony and the person may not have even an ounce of sikhism in them. This is also very disrespectful but goes through as it is camouflaged as one will be punjabi!!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38747

In this regard, I understand why someone in the article made the comment that this issue was about 'racism' -They have a valid point because if this black christian guy was just an ordnary punjabi looking indian, but with exactly the same amount of understanding and respect as the non sikh black guy- then it wouldn't have caused any issue!!!

So, I can understand the sensitivity and wrong message that this issue can portray, but in these situations we must 1stly uphold our honour and regard for sikhi and the Guru's ceremony, then base the remaining conduction of unity or marriage accordingly in order of priority without offending anything or anyone.
The priority should be of conducting the formal unity of the relationship without any insult to Guruji and like I said by not defacing the sacred element of anand karaj in any way.
NOTE- this rule should also be applied to not just interfaith marriages, but ALL marriages.