The Sikh Wedding Ceremony

Anand Karaj is the most common form of a Sikh wedding ceremony. Anand Karaj means ‘Blissful Union.” The Sikh marriage is the union of two souls joined in an equal partnership. Sikh weddings are also a colourful and joyous occasion, which is very family inclusive and can last for three days but due to time constraints has been pared down to two days.

Like the Hindu’s, the Sikh’s also have arranged marriages. The choosing of a partner is done with the help of both families. The families are usually the vessel for an introduction, but often the couple has already chosen each other and seeks the advice and blessings of their elders. The couple meets before the ceremony but are chaperoned.

Customs and traditions may differ in Sikh weddings due to geography and like all families some traditions can vary also.

Before the actual day of the wedding, there are parties at both the bride and the groom’s residences and gifts are exchanged. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book) must be present.

The only requirement of marriage is that both partners are of the Sikh faith. No other faith may be intermingled by the Anand Karaj ceremony. The ceremony must take place in the Gurdawa or at the bride’s home.

At The Gurdwara

An old Sikh tradition is the groom arriving at the Gurdwara (temple) on horseback. Music is performed by the ragis as the two families meet. Ardas (Sikh most common prayer) is performed at the beginning and end of every Sikh event. A simple ceremony called the Milni takes place before entering the Gurdwara. This is where the two families exchange good wishes on meeting each other. Designated family members may exchange garlands and hugs. The groom hands out Kavah Prashad (a ceremonial sacramental pudding) to his family. Light tea and snacks are served before the religious wedding ceremony starts in a tent next to the Gurdwara.

The groom enters the Gurdwara first, stopping to place a cash offering or a rumala (a new silk covering for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which is covered by a cloth when not being read). The bride and her family come into the Gurdwara, sitting next to her groom, where they wait for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Lavans

The officiate begins the ceremony by asking the bride and groom if they are Sikh. The couple and their parents stand for the Ardas. Every time the couple stand or sit down during the ceremony, they will bow down, touching their foreheads to the ground, to show respect to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

After the Ardas, the officiate speaks to the couple about the importance of marriage, their obligations and duties to each other as equal partners. The couple shows they understand by bowing to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The father of the bride takes one end of a scarf or sash, which the groom wears over his shoulder and places it in his daughter’s hand. This signifies that she is leaving her family to join her husband’s.

The officiate will read the Lavan hymn of Guru Ram Das. This hymn explains the progression of love between the husband and wife. The hymn is in four stanzas and at the end of each stanza the couple walk around the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in a clockwise direction, with the groom leading and the bride following holding the sash. Family members may help the bride complete her rounds with her husband. This tradition shows their support of the bride as she leaves her family.

After the Lavan, the Arand hymn by Guru Amar Das is read; lectures and music on the kirtan are done. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is opened and whatever page falls open, the hymn is read as the order of the day, symbolizing God’s blessing. Hymn and prayers are sung throughout the ceremony for the future happiness of the couple.

Kavah Prashad, the ceremonial sacramental pudding, which is made from flour and sugar, is passed out to everyone to indicate the end of the ceremony.

After The Ceremony

The parents are the first to give congratulations to the newlywed couple, followed by guests with gifts of money. Everyone leaves the Gurdwara to go into the langer (a community kitchen) and sit on the floor to enjoy a meal cooked by the bride’s female members of her family. Sometimes the meal may take place at the bride’s home.

The cutting of the cake may be done the next day, with the couple exchanging rings and having their first dance together.