George Boyle
Sikh wedding ceremonies are not confined to a single day. They are about the process of two families coming together to celebrate the union of two people. The main ceremony, known as Anand Karaj, or 'Blissful Union', usually takes place at a gurdwara, a Sikh temple, in the morning or early afternoon. The wedding ceremony is centred around The Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book). The groom enters the ceremony hall first, and once the bride arrives, the couple sit next to each other on the floor in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time of day | Mid-morning or early afternoon |
| Venue | Gurdwara (Sikh temple) |
| Dress code | Modest, with covered head and no shoes |
| Duration | Ceremonies start 5-10 days before the main event, with the Jago evening taking place the night before |
| Food | Punjabi food, including spinach curries, chickpea curries with bread, tandoori chicken and karahi chicken |
| Alcohol | Available, but frowned upon in sacred or holy places |
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What You'll Learn
The groom arrives first
The groom's arrival at the Gurdwara is often done in style. Historically, the groom arrived riding a horse, but now they might arrive in modern forms of transport such as luxury cars or motorcycles. Before the wedding party departs from the groom's home, his turban is tied for him by his father. The groom is also handed a sword by his father to carry during the wedding ceremonies. The groom's sister-in-law puts a dot of kohl (surma) onto the side of his forehead to defend against any negative energy.
The bride is then taken to the Gurdwara by car and typically arrives after the groom. This is done with the intention of giving her enough time to get settled into a room and remain out of sight until the ceremony begins. The groom and his parents arrive behind their guests. The bride and groom then sit on the floor next to each other in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikh musicians, or Ragis, begin to recite and sing each verse of the laavan (marriage prayer), signifying the couple to walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times. This practice signifies the importance of a Guru-centred life and is a public promise that the couple intends to keep.
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The bride's family greet the groom
Sikh weddings are a joyous occasion, with the bride and groom's families coming together to celebrate the union of the couple. The bride's family greets the groom with an intense and exciting welcome known as the Baraat. The groom, accompanied by his family and friends, traditionally arrives at the wedding venue on a horse; however, in modern times, he may arrive in a luxury car or on a motorcycle.
The bride's family welcomes the groom with garlands and cultural traditions, such as teasing him and asking for coins or gifts in exchange for entering the gurdwara (Sikh temple). This tradition symbolises that the bride is considered "taken" by the groom, and so he must "earn" his way to her. The groom's supporters and sisters stand behind him, and they have the important task of removing his sehra and kalgi, which are golden ribbons, flowers, or strings of pearls tied around his turban.
The Milni, or formal introduction ceremony, follows the groom's arrival. This ceremony celebrates the merging of the two families. The male members of the bride's and groom's families greet and embrace each other as a sign of acceptance and union. The elders are introduced to each other and share a cup of warm masala tea. The bride's relatives offer cash and clothes to the groom's close relatives, from the oldest to the youngest.
After the groom and his party have been situated, the bride arrives at the gurdwara by car and remains out of sight until the ceremony. The groom enters the ceremony hall first and waits for his bride. Once she arrives, the couple sits on the floor next to each other, with the bride on the groom's left side, facing the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture). The father of the bride places a saffron-coloured scarf on the groom's shoulder, with the other end in the bride's hand, symbolising their eternal connection.
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The groom waits in front of the Guru Granth Sahib
The groom's supporters and sisters stand close behind him, ready to remove his sehra and kalgi. The sehra is made of golden ribbons, flowers, or a string of pearls, and is tied around his turban, covering his face. The groom's sisters demand gifts from him in return for allowing him to leave the house and attend his wedding. The groom also carries a sword during the wedding ceremonies, which was given to him by his father.
The wedding ceremony, Anand Karaj, or 'blissful union', takes place during the daytime at the Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship. The ceremony is centred around the Guru Granth Sahib, with the couple and their parents standing to offer Ardaas to 'Waheguru', followed by the singing of Shabads. The priest then tells the couple about the importance of their union and their responsibilities to each other, as well as the general idea of leading a spiritual life according to Sikh tenets.
The groom waits for the bride, who is taken to the Gurdwara by car and typically arrives first. This allows her enough time to get settled into a room and remain out of sight until the ceremony begins.
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The bride arrives and sits to the left of the groom
The arrival of the groom, known as the Baraat, includes an intense greeting by the bride's family at the gurdwara. Traditionally, the groom would arrive riding a horse, but now they may arrive in modern forms, such as luxury cars or motorcycles. The groom wears a traditional Kurta, generally white in colour, over which he dons an Achkan or long overcoat. The Achkan is often made of premium fabrics like silk or brocade, and is highly embellished with threadwork, beadwork, and precious stones. The groom is required to sport a beard as a symbol of adherence to the Sikh faith and is supposed to wear a turban, typically of pink cloth.
The bride is then taken to the Gurdwara by car and is typically the first to arrive, allowing her enough time to get settled into a room and remain out of sight until the ceremony. She wears a traditional Salwar Kameez, with the traditional wedding dress colour being red, although in modern times brides choose to wear many different colours. Her head must be covered with the dupatta. The bride's female relatives will dance with pots on their heads decorated with oil candles, and she will have henna applied to her hands and feet.
Once the groom is in position in front of the Guru Granth Sahib, the bride arrives and sits to his left. The couple sits on the floor together, facing the Guru Granth Sahib. The bride's father places a saffron-coloured scarf on the groom's shoulder, with the other end in the bride's hand. This symbolises that they are now joined and ready to take their wedding vows. The couple then bows down before the Guru Granth Sahib.
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Hymns are sung, and the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib
The Anand Karaj, or the "ceremony of joy", is the prescribed form of Sikh marriage. It signifies the spiritual union of two individuals, with the Guru at the centre of their lives. The ceremony takes place in a Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, during the daytime, usually in the morning or early afternoon.
Hymns are an integral part of the Anand Karaj ceremony. The Sikh wedding hymn, Laav, meaning "The Four Wedding Rounds", is a quartet of verses describing four stages of spiritual awakening, culminating in the union of the soul bride with the divine groom. The bride and groom walk around the scripture of Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book) four times, with the groom leading the bride. This is done during the Lavan portion of the ceremony, after each of the four hymns (Lavan) have been read aloud by a Granthi and then sung by Ragis (religious singers or Sikh musicians).
The act of walking around the Guru Granth Sahib symbolises that the Guru is at the centre of the couple's life, and they are making a public promise to lead a Guru-centred life together. Circling the Guru Granth Sahib also signifies the larger union of the human soul with the Supreme Being, moving beyond the physical world and individual egos towards a greater union, in which two become one.
After each circumambulation, the couple returns to their position in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and remains standing while the next stanza is read before the next round. These days, couples often choose to sit down after each circumambulation. After the four Lavan, the hymn of Anand Sahib is read by the Ragis, followed by an Ardaas (supplication) to mark the completion of the ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
Most Sikh weddings take place in the morning or early afternoon. The morning is spent at the Gurdwara, a Sikh temple, and is followed by a wedding reception at a different location.
There are several pre-wedding ceremonies and rituals that occur in the lead-up to a Sikh wedding. The engagement period can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months or even years. The Mehndi ceremony, which usually takes place a few days before the wedding, is when the bride has henna paste designs painted on her hands, arms, feet, and shins. The night before the wedding is the Jago evening, where the bride, groom, and their families gather in their separate homes and stay up late or all night, singing and dancing.
The wedding ceremony, called Anand Karaj or "Blissful Union", takes place at the Gurdwara during the day. The ceremony is centred around the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book). The groom enters the ceremony hall first, followed by the bride, who sits to his left. The couple sits on the floor together in front of the Guru Granth Sahib as the Ragis, or Sikh musicians, recite and sing the four lavan (marriage prayers). The couple then walks around the Guru Granth Sahib four times, and the father of the bride places a saffron-coloured scarf on the groom's shoulder, with the other end in the bride's hand.
