Colour Red Gursikh Wedding

[Harkiran Kaur]

Is the colour red prohibited? I mean for like the bride's suit? Or the groom's turban? etc?

I remember reading somewhere that red is forbidden for some reason... but I just read the SRM and don't see anything about it.

This is the only line I see at all that mentions red... and it specifies red thread around the wrist (which I believe is a Hindu practice is it not?) Could it be that this line was extrapolated or taken out of context to mean no red clothes at all?

Because I see most Sikh brides in red, or red / green, or red / gold, etc. or some shade thereof like maroon.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

NO colour, no type of cloth, no metal, etc etc is prohibited....SGGS declares..WEAR whatever is COMFORTABLE...EAT whatever is GOOD...
The SIKH wears a KARRA..so the thread is prohibited not because its red/yellow/white/saffron/black ...whatever..but because its a ANMATEE (non-Gurmatt/non-Sikhi) ritual.

 

[Harkiran Kaur]

NO colour, no type of cloth, no metal, etc etc is prohibited....Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji declares..WEAR whatever is COMFORTABLE...EAT whatever is GOOD...
The SIKH wears a KARRA..so the thread is prohibited not because its red/yellow/white/saffron/black ...whatever..but because its a ANMATEE (non-Gurmatt/non-Sikhi) ritual.

I have been told that apparently, it is in the Gurmat Rehet Maryada followed by Damdami Taksal, and they believe it was a direct rehet from Guru Gobind Singh Ji for Amritdhari Sikhs to not wear red or green.

I did some more poking, and read the 52 hukams, and it's not in there... and it's not in SGGS either.

So I am not sure where DDT are getting it from??

 

[Harry Haller]

I have been told that apparently, it is in the Gurmat Rehet Maryada followed by Damdami Taksal, and they believe it was a direct rehet from Guru Gobind Singh Ji for Amritdhari Sikhs to not wear red or green.

oh well, explains why you don't see many leprechaun Sikhs.........

 

[linzer]

oh well, explains why you don't see many leprechaun Sikhs.........

When I wear red and green I look like a tall versión of the Travelocity gnome.

 

[Harry Haller]

When I wear red and green I look like a tall versión of the Travelocity gnome.

your going to hell now.....

 

[ActsOfGod]

I have been told that apparently, it is in the Gurmat Rehet Maryada followed by Damdami Taksal, and they believe it was a direct rehet from Guru Gobind Singh Ji for Amritdhari Sikhs to not wear red or green.

I did some more poking, and read the 52 hukams, and it's not in there... and it's not in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji either.

So I am not sure where DDT are getting it from??

There is some question about the authenticity of the 52 hukams. So take it with a grain of salt.

Things are bit more involved/complicated than being able to get a definitive answer by consulting a list of rules/regs. As far as color, there is no special color in Sikhi. However, in order to understand the answer to your question, some context and understanding of the background culture and history will be required.

In Punjabi culture, during weddings the bride will usually wear red and the groom also usually wears a red turban. This is more of a cultural norm, as red is the color of happiness/celebration.

Sikhs, however, generally associate with the colors navy blue and kesri. It is probable that 10th Guru Sahib gave his Sikhs the guidelines to avoid wearing the colors red and green because those colors were associated with Islam (green) and Hinduism (red). If I were to surmise, I would say that this was an additional way to assert the distinctiveness and uniqueness of Sikhs and Sikhi. It was very important in that time since the faith was just in it's infancy and it was imperative to build a strong foundation which demonstrated that this was a distinct and new path.

A note about Rehit. Rehit is a code of conduct. In my view, it encompasses a lot more than things like "wear this", "eat that", etc. Taking it as a literal set of rules/regs to follow without understanding why, or the background, can take us down a road which leads away from Sikhi. As an illustration, compare the following two statements:

1. "Do not tell a lie."

2. "Build a character of integrity."

Some might say that #1 is easy to understand and follow. People can take it literally. It's clear and there's no confusion. #2 poses more of a challenge. However, if a person focused his or her life on #2, it is apparent that #1 will be already taken care of, and so much more. At the end of the day, applying continual effort and improving oneself towards meeting #2 will yield immeasurably greater results than just following the literal command in #1 all our lives, sometimes not even knowing why it was important.

In Sikhi there is a reason behind everything we do. When we start becoming dogmatic and doing things without the understanding of why we're doing it, we'll be right back into the blind ritualism that Guru Sahib freed us from. So we must be very vigilant and we must educate ourselves.

Guru Sahib kirpa karan.

AoG

 

[ActsOfGod]

An additional note, to illustrate the relevance in modern times:

Ravi Singh (CEO of Khalsa Aid) recently traveled to Syria to provide aid for the persecuted minorities including the Yazidis, who were being mercilessly and cruelly murdered by ISIL/ISIS. In order to distinguish himself from their attackers, who wore black turbans, Ravi Singh wore a navy blue turban.

This was enough for people to recognize that he was different from their persecutors, and he could begin building a relationship with them and provide the help they needed.

So he did what was practical and he used his best judgement to accomplish his mission. He didn't sit around and agonize over red or green and just because black had never been mentioned in historical documents, he didn't get stuck in paralysis. (Sadly, this is what so many Sikhs today end up doing, and never accomplish anything of real value for themselves or others).

He took action using his intelligence and using the wisdom from Gurmat/Guru-inspired thinking. In the end, he helped so many people, and none of them knew what a Sikh was before they met him.

AoG

 

[Harry Haller]

Blue turban you see, not red
clearly a true sikh

 

[Harkiran Kaur]

So my question is... when I get married, can I wear a red suit? I have found one that I really like which is red, and has gold and blue embroidery on it. I figure I can tie a blue dastar with it. But the main colour is still red...

I don't wear red all the time... in fact I don't think I ever really wear red at all... pink I wear lots... but for wedding, I'd really like to wear red because it's a colour of love and happiness (as stated).

I have seen many Sikh brides in red... including turban wearing Amritdhari Sikhs... I do not follow damdami taksal and their GRM... so I am ok to wear this suit??

 

[Harry Haller]

I do not follow damdami taksal and their GRM... so I am ok to wear this suit??

even I am not sure anymore, why don't you write to them, tell them that you do not follow DDT, or their GRM, and just enquire if its ok?

better safe than sorry!

 

[Harry Haller]

In the interests of furthering my mind, I had a peek at the DDT maryada, on the subject of clothes:-

6. The Four Colours of the Khalsa
Blue, Black, White and Saffron

These four colours are to be worn, other colours excite the mind and lure it to vices, and are therefore prohibited. Amritdhari Singhs/Singhni’s are specifically not to wear red or green at anytime. One is to dress humbly, any simple colours can be worn. Amritdhari women are not to wear ear rings, nose-rings, rings, bangles, nail polish, lipstick, bindi, henna, keeping long nails, wearing a saree etc. Piercing of any kind is prohibited.

ਬੀਧੇ ਕਾਨ ਨ ਨਾਕ ਕੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮ੍ਰਿਜਾਦ ॥
"The Code of Conduct of Satguru Jee is that one is not to pierce their ears or nose."
Rehatnama Bhai Deya Singh Jee, p. 78
Singhs/Singhni’s are not to wear rings, ear-rings and other jewellery, Satguru Jee says:

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤਿ ਵਾਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਗਹਣਾ ॥
Guru Jee says your jewellery is Naam,
Which will be of assistance at your time of death."
SGGSJ Ang 375
In the next world only the jewellery of Naam is of assistance, worldly jewellery is of no avail. Amritdhari Singhs and Singhnia are to abstain from jooth (eating food that has already been eaten by others or is being shared). Food from restaurants is not to be consumed. Fruit should be eaten after it has been washed.

Degrading video films, television, cinema, dances are not to be watched. A Singh is not to wear a blanket around his waist in a traditional doti manner or a turla is not to be left out of the turban, (one strand left out of sequence).

 

[linzer]

your going to hell now.....

Amritdhari Singhs/Singhni’s are specifically not to wear red or green at anytime.

Harry ji
Is that any shade of red or green? If I wear teal or maroon do I just go to heck?

 

[Harry Haller]

your going to hell now.....

Amritdhari Singhs/Singhni’s are specifically not to wear red or green at anytime.

Harry ji
Is that any shade of red or green? If I wear teal or maroon do I just go to heck?

I am afraid it is any shade of red or green, or yellow, or pink. These colors excite people so they are a big no no, as are meat, fish and eggs.