So eventhough he is Sikh... You still think Caste is more important?
sigh, sarcasm is wasted on the young, no, Bhenji, I do not, allow me to answer your post less tongue in cheek
I'm sikh and my father wants me to marry a Jatt but I don't mind.
Being a Sikh is to see all as equal, there is no caste system in Sikhism, but some still follow it, as they do superstitions and rituals. Although I am all for complete rebellion, your father is still your father, if you can integrate what your heart feels with some element of respect for his wishes, I am sure that would make him happy. But strictly speaking, the mere mention of caste , I find annoying. My wife is Welsh, which in caste terms is probably second to last, with the last being Muslim.
I don't understand why caste is a problem.
Good for you! I hope you never understand why caste is a problem, when you get your own children married, hang on to that thought, its worth its weight in gold, it is how our Gurus thought, and in my opinion, is the absolute correct attitude.
Are there specific reasons for marrying into the same caste?
Yes, it is to ensure the family name is not shamed by marrying below yourself.
Does it matter if I marry a different caste?
It does not matter a hoot in the real world, but I imagine it matters hugely to your dad.
No, he is hugely wrong, but in the big scheme of things, seeing as we live in a world where Sikhs are famous for being hard drinkers, he is sort of right. As a Sikh, he is wrong, as a Punjabi, he is as right as his culture dictates.
Do parents just want us to carry on the caste system or is there a good reason behind marrying into the same caste.
It is mostly izzat, standing in the community, as well as a means of control, some people think if the young are allowed to do what they want, the world will end, the irony is, your father probably thought as you do when he was younger, but its a bit like the borg, the young get assimilated, and thurn into their parents, so there is no progress, things stay as they always have. It takes brave young people to stand up and scream out that the emperor has no clothes.
Do different castes practice differently?
I suppose they must, otherwise there would not be so many Gurdwaras in the same town for all the different castes to monopolise the commitees.
I'm jatt.. A guy I'm interested is Ramgharia. What do you guys think??
I could not care less if he was from the planet Bong, as long as he was a nice, gentle, kind understanding man, but your father may have something to say about it. Although, maybe he won't, only you know your fathers mind, maybe he will find it horrific, maybe he will not care less.
Does sikhism say anything about caste and marriage??
*
plenty, much of which is covered by the post from Soul Jyotji