How Should I Behave at a Sikh Funeral? (2024)

FAQs

How Should I Behave at a Sikh Funeral? ›

If you are not a practicing Sikh or Punjab speaker, you can attend the service, but you are not expected to participate. When you arrive at a Sikh funeral, greet the eldest family member first as a gesture of respect. Sikhs greet each other by folding their hands in prayer and offering a small bow.

The Sikh funeral service and etiquette

The body does not enter the main prayer hall and prayers are said over the body in another room or corridor. All mourners must remove shoes, wash their hands and cover their heads at the Gurdwara. After prayers at the Gurdwara, the coffin is taken to the crematorium.

At a Sikh's death-bed, relatives and friends should read Sukhmani Sahib, the Prayer of Peace, composed by the fifth Guru Arjan Dev, or simply recite "Waheguru" to console themselves and the dying person. When a death occurs, they should exclaim "Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru" (the Wonderful Lord).

Before the cremation service happens, the body is taken to a place of worship where hymns are sung and Sikh funeral prayers are recited. The length of a Sikh funeral is usually between thirty minutes and an hour, to allow for Sikh funeral prayers read from the religious scripture Guru Granth Sahib.

What Should I Wear? When choosing your attire for the funeral, you should avoid the color black. According to Hindu traditions, the customary color to wear at a Hindu funeral is white. Dress for men can be casual, but women's attire should cover the arms and knees.

You aren't expected to bring gifts to a Sikh funeral. Check with the family before sending flowers. If you wish to bring food to the grieving family, choose a vegetarian dish. Avoid gifts of alcohol as most Sikhs don't drink.

The color of mourning tends to be white, but black, grey, navy or charcoal are also acceptable. However, you should try to avoid bright colors and patterns. Sikh culture considers brightly colored attire disrespectful at funerals.

Worthless talk: Bragging, gossip, lying, slander, "backstabbing," et cetera, are not permitted. The Guru Granth Sahib tells the Sikh, "your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others.

Sikhism – Food is an appropriate gift to express condolences, but not if it contains alcohol, eggs, fish, or meat. Flowers are also appreciated.

That's why instead of using RIP we should say, “Om Shanti” or “Aatma Ko Sadgati Prapt Ho” (May the Soul attain Moksha), or simply "Om Sadgati". Sadgati means salvation or liberation. We always pray that may the soul get liberated from the cycle of life and death.

Do Sikhs believe in heaven? ›

Sikh scripture repudiates a belief in a physical place called Heaven or Hell. Similarly, Sikhism rejects the notion of a Judgment Day. ➢ Why don't Sikhs cut or shave their hair? Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, started the practice of keeping hair unshorn.

Yes, well there is no embargo on the colour and type of dress a person wears in Sikhism. The religion however preach simplicity for show off. Colours in North India, traditionally had been associated with moods and emotions of people wearing them . Black colour symbolises protest against something.

In the U.S., funerals typically happen within three to seven days after a loved one's death. One week generally gives family and friends time to gather to say goodbye to the decedent. However, these numbers are based on an embalmed or refrigerated decedent.

A Hindu funeral typically takes place within one day and sometimes two days after the time of death. No gifts or flowers should be brought to the funeral, although flowers may be sent or brought ahead of time.

Hindus are told to avoid any unnecessary touching of the deceased, as it seen as impure. Traditionally, the funeral should take place as soon as possible.

It is customary for guests and family member to wear white, and no head covering is required for either sex. Women should dress conservatively, covering arms and knees. Open-toe shoes are acceptable, as is jewelry… but keep a light touch with the jewelry, nothing flashy.

Women and men are permitted to sit together and no head covering is required. It is considered appropriate to send flowers or cards. Attendees should dress respectfully, according to their culture. Mourners would usually wear dark colours and no makeup.

What do Sikhs do with ashes after cremation? Sikhs will usually travel to Punjab to scatter the ashes of the deceased in Kiratpur Sahib Gurdwara in Rupnagar District, Punjab. Kiratpur is a sacred place to the Sikhs as its foundation was laid and established by the Gurus.