Q: Do Sikhs lead a normal life, get married and have children, etc.?

A: Yes, Sikhs lead a normal life.

Sikhism instructs that you do not have to fast, abstain, go on renunciation or enter a monastery in order to meet God. All you have to do is have faith, recite the Name of God and remember Him for each possible moment. Guru Ji themselves got married and lived a family life and showed everyone that you can meet God while living a family life.

As a rule, every Sikh must follow three principles. First, he must earn his livelihood by honest means. Second, he must meditate and the third, he must share with others. It means you must work hard, earn your livelihood by an honest means and give away some of it to help others. That is a true way of a Sikh life. There is no restriction on marriage. Marriage is encouraged even for the priests. All Sikhs are encouraged to lead a family life, to have children and be a normal person in the world. Sikh family structure is very stable.


Q: Are marriages arranged in the Sikh tradition?

A: Arranged marriage has been a tradition but Sikhs do not object to non-arranged marriages. In case of arranged marriage, the parents look for a partner for their child. The arranged marriage is performed with the approval of both bride and bridegroom. There’s no restriction as far as our faith is concerned, as to whether one must choose this way or that way. Sikhs can choose their own partners. Mostly it is considered best, when the life partner is chosen with the consent of the parents. Most importantly, Sikhs are to choose a partner with similar belief system.

The people from other cultures do not always properly interpret the word ‘arranged’. An arranged marriage does not mean forcing a boy or a girl into wedlock of parents' choice only. It is agreeing to marriage proposed by mutual discussion between the boy and the girl on one side and his and her parents and relatives on the other. This is in fact selecting the right partner with the approval of all. Most importantly the boy and girl themselves must get to know each other to convey their consent to their parents.


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