Sikh Funeral Guide

Sikh beliefs about death

Sikhs worship a single God, Waheguru. They believe in transmigration, where only the physical body dies. A person’s soul lives on, reincarnated time and time again until they break the cycle and return to Waheguru. Known as Antam Sanskaar (final rite or last rite of passage), rather than being focused on loss and grief, a Sikh funeral celebrates the opportunity of the soul returning to Waheguru. The service does not focus on the pain or grief of losing a loved one, but treats it as a celebration of the soul. For this reason, a Sikh funeral service is usually fairly simple.

Sikh funeral traditions

Cremation is usually preferred, as Sikhs believe the physical body only houses the soul. Burial is also accepted, but no headstone or monument is allowed. The coffin may be opened briefly during a Sikh funeral if the body is taken home, or at the Gurdwara before going for cremation, but mainly it remains closed. It is interesting to note that organ donations and donating of the body to medical science are both permitted.

Sikh funeral rites

• Are traditional religious ceremonies that occur around and during a Sikh funeral
• Sikh rules should be followed when a person is dying – these include not removing the person from their bed before death, or washing their clothes
• Preparation of the body includes bathing and changing clothes
• Sikh cremation service to include prayers and chants
• Religious readings after the funeral

Before the funeral

Funeral arrangements usually begin immediately after death with a Sikh funeral taking place ideally within three days of the person dying. If the funeral cannot happen within this timeframe due to perhaps the death going before a coroner, it should take place as soon as possible.

On the day before the funeral, the deceased person is washed and dressed at the funeral home. Those involved would typically be older members of the family or friends and will be people of the same gender.

The body and hair are first washed with yoghurt, for softening and purifying the body, followed by soap and warm water. After bathing, the body of the deceased person is redressed in clean clothes. At CPJ Field our funeral directors are well-respected members of the local communities and as such are trusted in the local Sikh communities. We sometimes find that the rituals can be quite traumatic to younger generations and so we are there to support you throughout, helping with washing and dressing if requested.

If the deceased person has been baptised, they are dressed in their Karkars, the five articles of the Sikh faith, worn by a Sikh in life, which will remain with the body in death. The body then remains at the funeral home overnight. Additionally, the body of the deceased person is often surrounded by flowers, usually orange and white chrysanthemums, the mourning flowers in many parts of Asia.

What are the Karkars?

• Kesh (uncut hair)
• Kangha (a small wooden comb)
• Kachha/Kachhehra (an undergarment, usually shorts)
• Karha (an iron bracelet)
• Kirpan (a sword/dagger)

What happens on the day of the funeral?

On the day of the funeral the body may be taken home for a short period of time, just 15-20 minutes, during which time prayers are said. A priest can lead this, although this is not mandatory, and anyone may stand-in.

Traditionally, a Sikh funeral will include a community prayer, ‘Ardas’, which is read at the start of ceremonies. There are also two prayers, ‘Japji’, a daily prayer, which is the first verse of the Sikh holy book and ‘Kirtan Sohila’, the night-time prayer. It is a very religious ceremony so long or emotional eulogies from the bereaved family are discouraged; they believe this goes against the belief that the physical body is merely a vessel for the soul.

The Sikh funeral service and etiquette

A Sikh funeral service takes typically between 30 minutes and an hour and can take many formats. After the prayers at the house, the body may be taken to the Gurdwara, again for about 20 minutes. 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. Sohila is always said at the crematorium; these are night-time prayers, which Sikhs say before sleep every day. All then stand for final prayers, asking God to relieve the deceased person from the circle of birth and death.

Non-Sikh guests are not expected to join in with prayers and readings, instead, they are encouraged to sit quietly and follow the movements of the rest of the congregation. The body is then cremated. Often it is just the closest family members observing the cremation and they can be both men and women.

After the funeral

The family then returns to the Gurdwara for more prayers, lasting about 45 minutes and the serving of vegetarian food to guests. Traditionally food might not be served following the death of a young person, but this distinction is becoming less common in the UK.

There are no specific mourning periods or rituals observed by Sikhs. The return to the Gurdwara may be timed to coincide with the completion of the recitation of Guru Granth Sahib. This can take up to 48 hours and will be read often by members of the priestly class leading up to this time. Ashes are usually scattered in running water. There is a more significant trend now for this to be done in the UK, although it may still happen in holy places overseas.

The period of mourning lasts between two and five weeks. On the first anniversary of the person's death, the family gather and undertake 'Barsi', prayer. They then partake of a meal. This is not a sad occasion, but is seen as a way of remembering the deceased person and celebrating their life.

What to wear and bring to a Sikh funeral

The funeral etiquette when it comes to what to wear is smart, modest clothing, with white being the traditional colour of mourning in most Asian cultures. However, with a funeral in a western country, it’s usual for mourners to wear black, navy or grey. It is usual for heads to be covered with men wearing a hat or a cap and women a headscarf. Shoes must be removed upon entering gurdwara, or Sikh homes. If you are unsure of what to wear to a Sikh funeral, it is best to ask the family of the deceased person.

Non-Sikh mourners

Wearing Western funeral attire is usual and you are not expected to wear white, but best to avoid wearing flashy jewellery and bright colours. Bring a head covering just in case, although the family may provide this. Flowers are not expected, as the family will arrange the traditional orange and white chrysanthemums around the body. Gifts are not expected either, although you can bring food, typically vegetarian

How can CPJ Field help with your Sikh funeral?

At CPJ Field, our funeral directors can help you to arrange your Sikh funeral for your loved one. Our funeral teams know Sikh rituals and can offer a flexible and personalised funeral, which reflects the wishes of your family. We are there to guide you and help you through this often, traumatic time. Our flexible approach allows you to choose where you say your prayers, whether it is at the Chapel of Rest or in your own home and we can accommodate your wishes irrespective of the numbers of mourners involved.

With thanks to Rajinder Singh Bhasin, Education Secretary, Central Gurdwara, London