Sikhism is a religion founded in Punjab during 15th Century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Sikh religion today has 20 million people spread across the world and is ranked as the 5th largest religion in the world.
Sikh marriages are usually arranged by the parents. According to Sikhism, when a girl attains maturity, it is her parents responsibility to look for a suitable match for her. As the Sikh community started spreading across the world, the matrimonial websites for Sikh are becoming a useful tool for the parents. It is neither desirable nor proper to marry a girl at tender age as per the Sikhism. Historically it is followed that the daughter of a Sikh should be given in marriage to a Sikh. The Sikh marriage ceremony is also known as Anand Karaj meaning 'blissful union'.
Once both families have agreed to the alliance, the groom, with his close relatives goes to the bride's family for the formal announcement. A respected member of the family offers the 'Ardaas' or prayer and both families share gifts and sweets as token of love.
The Sikh wedding is generally held in Gurudwara in the presence of the Guru, family and friends.In Sikh Indian wedding, the festive ambiance is set a week before the ceremony. Though the Sikh marriages are simple they are elegant occasion wherein various rituals are followed.
A formal pre wedding engagement is optional as for as the Sikh wedding is concerned. Mangni is the formal 'asking' of the bride's hand in marriage by the groom's family. During this ceremony the groom's female relatives go the bride's home with a fine clothes, accessories, jewellery and toiletries. The groom arrives with his family and close friends at the venue. After a Kirtan (singing of hymns) in the presence of the Sikh Holy Book - the Guru Granth Sahib, the bride and groom exchange their engagement ring.
A custom common to Sikh wedding ceremony is Maiya. After this ceremony the bride and groom are not encouraged to leave their homes. Mehandi, is mainly for the ladies in the family and the bride's friends. The professional henna artists (mehendiwallis) decorate the palms of the bride and her friends.
Gana is an auspicious ceremony in which a red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride. The morning of the wedding is marked by the Gharoli ceremony at the groom's house, in which water is brought by the groom's sister-in law which is later used to bath the bridegroom in the Khare Charna.
After the Choora ceremony, the bride start to dress up for the main wedding ceremony. On the morning of the wedding, the groom's mother sends the Kuvaar Dhoti to the bride. Bride will wear after the Vatnaan and bath.
Sehrabandi and Ghodi is to tie the traditional headdress on the groom.The women sing traditional songs appropriate to the ceremony. The groom is now ready to proceed to the bride's home for the wedding ceremony.
Wedding rituals starts with Milni Cermony in which the Baraat arrives at the venue and is greeted by the male relatives from the bride's family to the singing of 'Hum Ghar Saajan Aaye'. The bride's father and grooms father exchange garlands to greet each other. After the Milni, the couple exchange garlands. This ceremony is called Jaimala. The bride garlands the groom first accepting him as her husband.
The actual wedding 'Anand Karaj' in the early morning. In the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, a normal Morning Prayer service is conducted, after which the 'Asa di Vaar' (the morning hymn) is sung. The bride is escorted in by her father with her face covered and is seated on the left of the groom.
The wedding can be conducted either by a respected member of the community or gurudwara. The officiator of the ceremony asks the bride, groom and their parents to stand for the 'Ardaas', after which they all bow down to the Holy Book.
The bride's father places a corner of the bride's veil in the groom's hands symbolically giving his daughter to the marriage. The groom then leads the bride four times around the Holy Book. In each of the round a short hymn is sung containing blessings and advice to the couple.
The ceremony concludes with the 'Ardaas' and is followed by the Vak. This is reading out a verse randomly from Guru Granth Sahib. The ceremony is concluded with a distribution of Karah Parshaad.
Post wedding the event Doli is performed which is the bride send-off ceremony followed by Doli Dinner. The groom's parents usually host the wedding reception, presenting the newly wed couple to their extended family and friends. A military band is often played with classical tunes.
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