INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

Between the year of 1999 and 2001 I got to know of at least four regular clubs in
the local areas of Cotton Mill, Anant Colony, Shish Mahal Colony and Nadeshar
respectively. In Cotton Mill, for instance, the women assembled every Thursday to
recite Sukhmani Sahib between 4 pm and 6 pm. In Shish Mahal Colony a group of
eight Sikh women took turns at arranging the program on a monthly basis. A popular
kind of gathering for Sukhmani Sahib readings is the so-called “kitty-party” arranged
among friends usually in the afternoon on the day of sangrand, the first day of the
solar Vikrami month. As one woman commented, “We do not play cards or games in
these kitty parties, but instead do readings of Sukhmani Sahib.” Prior to the party the
women collect money from all club members and on the day of the meeting draw lots
as to who will be awarded the money and organize the next party. As it is expected
from the winning hostess to serve refreshments to all participants the lottery system
is a method to organize recitations parties like a Dutch treat.
Sukhmani Sahib recitations
In connection with Sikh ceremonies women also put together several occasional
recitations clubs with friends and relatives. For forty days before the commemoration
of Guru Arjan’s martyrdom in the hot month of Jeth (June) a group of local women
did daily individual or collective readings of the text. At the time of the Hindu celebrations
of Krishna’s birthday (Krishna Janamashtami) in the month of Bhadron (August/September)
some women would combine the customary fast (vrat) with a gathering
for Sukhmani Sahib reading in line with Sikh praxis. After the event of birth and
death it is customary to invite all women in the circle of acquaintances for jointly
recitations. On the fortieth day after a delivery, for instance, a female reading club
will be summoned to the family house where the mother and baby are ritually purified
and will enter public life. Sometimes collective recitations of Sukhmani Sahib may
even substitute the costly and strenuous unbroken reading of Guru Granth Sahib
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Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008