Sikh Wedding, Fremont, CA, 1987
During the mehndi, Paramjit, her hands and feet, stained with a henna lacework design, sits on a bed while the bridegroom's family adorns her with some of the jewelry they have brought. The room is crowded with family members and friends.
Katrina Thomas's notes: Sikh culture is based on a distinctive religion, founded more than 500 years ago by a mystic in the Punjab, a region of the northwest Indian subcontinent. It is a monotheistic creed which bridges the gap between Hinduism and Islam. In the 19th century many Sikhs emigrated, specifically to California, looking for work in lumbering and railroad construction. Their temples, known as gurdwaras, are centers of religious, communal, and political activities. Many couples are matched. They have faith in the wisdom of their families, who match them, and tend to stay together because of the parental support they receive in times of marital trouble. I photograph first in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY, where many Sikhs reside, and later in Yuba City, CA, where there are three gurdwaras. The course of a wedding includes the arrival of the barat/the groom's party, the milni/the greeting of the two families, the anand karaj/the nuptial rite which is followed by lunch and dancing in the bride's home or rented hall, and the doli, being the sad departure of the bride, leaving her family for her husband's home.
Thomas, Katrina (photographer)
1987
1 photograph : black-and-white
reformatted digital
North and Central America--United States--California--Fremont
BMC-M59
Photographer's categories: Prenuptial rite , Henna , Bride , Parents , Gifts , Bridal jewelry
BMC-M59_57-02