FAQs

Question

What should I know about the wedding day?

Answer

Anand Karaj is the wedding day as it is the Sikh marriage ceremony. This ceremony emphasizes the union of two souls in presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture. Dress code: Western and Indian attire must be respectful. This includes no cleavage, exposed backs, midriffs. Please keep in mind you will be sitting on the ground for majority of ceremony, so dress comfortably. Please also avoid wearing the color red! Behavior: This is an alcohol, smoke and meat free event. This is a strict requirement. All heads must be covered, and head coverings will be provided by both families. Everyone is to remove shoes to enter Darbar Hall.

Question

What is a Maiyan?

Answer

Maiyan is a traditional Punjabi wedding ceremony that takes place a few days before the wedding. The ceremony involves applying a turmeric-based paste to the bride and groom, and is meant to cleanse their skin. The paste is a mixture of flour, turmeric, and oil, called vatna. After the maiyan the mother steps over the rangoli seven times. She then will use the rangoli paste to leave an imprint of her hands on the front of the house to indicate to all this is a wedding house.

Question

What is a Jago?

Answer

Jago is a celebration by the maternal families of both the Bride and the Groom. The families arrive at the wedding venue singing and dancing. The female relatives take turns carrying a gagger (a decorated earthen pot lit with candles) while singing and dancing.

Question

What is a Choora?

Answer

The choora ceremony is a pre-wedding tradition in which the bride's maternal uncle and aunt place a set of wedding bangles, known as choora, on the bride's wrist. The bangles are dipped in a mixture of milk and water to symbolize purity and fertility. The choora symbolizes the start of a new life as a married woman. The color red is believed to strengthen the bond between the couple and bring them luck, fertility, and prosperity.