Hoam (Homa)

HOMA / HOAM

The word homa is from the root hu, which refers to “pouring into fire”, offer, sacrifice.A homa is “sacrifice ritual” because the fire destroys the offering, but a homa is more accurately a “votive ritual”.The fire is the agent, and the offerings include those that are material and symbolic such as grains, clarified butter, milk, incense and seed.

It is regarded as a ceremony of oblation by fire. According to this belief, all the oblations are thrown into fire, which form a ladder to the world of gods and spirits.

In modern times, a homa or havana tends to be a private ritual around a symbolic fire, such as those observed at a wedding.

Sikhism rejects all such ceremonies (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 265). A Sikh performing even a tiny part of any such ceremony is guilty of religious breach and must undergo religious punishment.

Sikhism rejects all such ceremonies (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 265).

A Sikh performing even a tiny part of any such ceremony is guilty of religious breach.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)