Inter- Religious Marriages And Rehat Maryada

[Singh, Mahan]

Inter-religious marriages are not allowed for catholics and muslims. In both of these religion .both the marriage parteners have to convert to the religion (or deemed to have converted to the religion) in order to have the religious marriage ceremony

However, in the west, for many years the Sikh parents of the girls felt O.K (infact some felt proud) to have two ceremonies, one in Gurdwara and other afterwards in Church or Mosque. This they approve to save the face. Please, note that the Church or Islamic ceremonies are conducted after the Gurdwara ceremony ( usually without much fanfare in such cases) . To have that ceremony the girl usually converts to the religion of the husband in a very private ceremony then the marriage ceremony afterwords. The parents feel quit happy to be invited to the marriage ceremony. Some even boast of their broadmindedness, knowing little that their child has already converted. The daughter occasionally goes to the Gurdwara with their parents pretending that she is still a Sikh. It is nice to see that even the Gurdwaras have started to ask the question (This is already in the Sikh Rehat Maryada, but in the west it is seldom mentioned)

Please, read the news below.

Source:

http://timesofindia....how/6482615.cms

CHANDIGARH: In a first, inter-religion live-in partners have got security from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after religious heads refused to solemnize their marriage unless they converted to one religion.

That left them with the only option of marrying under the Special Marriage Act, which requires their parents to be informed.

This has posed danger to their lives as their families are opposed to their marriage. Jagroop Ali and Kulwant Kaur of Moga district in Punjab sought protection from the high court.

The couple, who decided to settle into a live-in relationship after refusing to convert, was granted legal protection from the girl's enraged parents.

Kulwant, who belongs to Jat Sikh community, and Jagroop Ali left their village on June 22 because Kulwant's parents were unwilling to allow their marriage.

Both of them approached gurdwaras and mosques to solemnize their marriage, but both refused as they belonged to different religions. Kulwant and Ali then pledged to live together for life.

Apprehending threat from Kulwant's family, the couple moved a petition before the high court on Wednesday. Hearing the couple's plight, Justice Daya Chaudhary asked the SSP, Moga and other respondents to ensure their life and liberty.

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Admin Note: Already posted - http://www.sikhsanga..._1entry471481