The wedding ceremony traditionally takes place inside a Sikh temple, or Gurdwara. We will replicate many elements of the Gurdwara during our ceremony. The focus of the Gurdwara is the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book or scripture). The Granthi (a person, female or male, of the Sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader) sits at the front of the ceremony area in a slightly elevated position. Before entering the premises, you must take off your shoes and cover your head.
Once you enter the area, everyone must walk up to the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book), kneel down and bow their head in respect to the Granth. This is called matha tek. You may offer a small monetary token of support for the upkeep of the Gurdwara (usually about one dollar). To matha tek, you walk up to the scripture in two lines, one for men and one for women with your palms pressed together as you would to pray. When you reach the front, you will matha tek, touching your forehead slightly to the ground. Afterward, you will walk back a couple of steps facing the scripture and then turn around to be seated. In the ceremony area, all persons are asked to sit on the floor as a sign of equality. We ask that you sit cross-legged because sitting with your feet in the direction of the Granth is considered disrespectful.
In order to respect the principles of modesty, men and women generally sit on opposite sides of the prayer hall; women on the left and men on the right side of the Guru Granth Sahib. If you are elderly, handicapped, or injured and cannot sit on the floor, there will be some seating in the back. This seating is limited as anyone who is able to sit with the rest of the Sangat (congregation) on the floor is asked to do so. Also, keep in mind you are welcome to get up and move around if you need to.
All the guests joining us at the wedding ceremony area should dress appropriately so that you can comfortably and with decency sit on the carpeted floor. It is recommended that all the guests wear loose-fitting, modest clothing which covers most of your legs. Low-hanging or tight-fitting pants may not be suitable. Please try sitting on the carpeted floor at home for a short period to see if the clothing is suitable.
NO! Guests cannot enter the ceremony premises while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including tobacco and marijuana) and must not take cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, or any other substances with you onto the premises.
All guests MUST cover their heads and remove their shoes while in the main ceremony area. Head coverings for men who do not wear a turban will be provided at the entrance of the ceremony premises - we have chosen the colors to match our ceremony theme. For ladies, we recommend you bring a scarf to match your outfit - this can be any scarf simply worn over your head. Indian clothing for women usually includes a “chunni” or scarf. If your head covering comes off, a member of the Sangat (congregation) may ask you to cover your head. Please do not be offended when asked, as it is seen as a normal gesture in our Gurdwara to do so. Please do not clap or cheer during the ceremony or at any point in the ceremony area as it is considered disrespectful. You may hear someone call out a Jakara "Bole So Nihal!" - the Sikh shout of victory, triumph, or jubilation. When a member of the Sangat calls out "Bole So Nihal" the remainder of the Sangat calls back "Sat Sri Akal" in response.
Anand Karaj (Punjabi: ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ) is the name given to the Sikh wedding ceremony, literally translated as "Blissful Event". Sikhs regard marriage as a sacred bond of mutual dependence between a man and a woman; a true partnership of equals in marriage is made between those who are united in spirit as well as in mind and body. Marriage is regarded as a strong lifetime bond between the bride and groom, and a union between both the families of the bride and groom. Ordinarily, an Anand Karaj takes place in a Gurudwara (Sikh place of worship), but we will have a designated ceremony area instead.
Lavan, or the four hymns of “Laav” are the essential part of the Sikh marriage ceremony. They are sung as the bride and groom make the four wedding rounds, walking around the Guru Granth Sahib. The rounds are a sign of making a commitment with the Guru as a witness. In addition, the four rounds signify that the Guru is the center of the couple’s life. In the marriage ceremony, Guru Granth Sahib represents the heart and core, while the congregation represents the support. Upon completion of the fourth round, the bride and groom are considered to be husband and wife.