The Jaggo ceremony, a vibrant pre-wedding tradition in Punjabi and Sikh weddings, translates to "wake-up" and is a loud, joyous celebration with singing, dancing, and the carrying of decorated vessels with oil lamps, traditionally serving as an invitation to the wedding.
The word “Jaggo” means “wake up”, and the ceremony embodies this spirit by energizing the family and preparing them for the wedding festivities. Traditionally, Punjabi families held Jaggo ceremonies to spread the news of a wedding in the days before modern communication. It was a way for the bride’s and groom’s families to invite their relatives and neighbors to join in the wedding celebrations. In modern times, while formal invitations have taken over the task of announcing a wedding, the Jago ceremony continues to be an essential part of Punjabi and Sikh weddings, retaining its cultural significance and joy-filled atmosphere. The families arrive at the wedding venue with much fanfare. They sing and dance carrying a gagger (a decorated earthen pot lit with candles). Along with the earthen pot, people dance with a decorated stick with Bells attached.
1. The Traditional Clay Pot (Jaggo) and Oil Lamps One of the most iconic aspects of the Jaggo ceremony is the use of a decorated clay pot or brass vessel (called Jago), adorned with bright colors, mirrors, beads, and lit candles or oil lamps. The pot is carried on the head of an elder woman from the family, usually the bride’s or groom’s aunt (bua or massi), as she dances and leads the celebration. This symbolizes light, joy, and prosperity entering the family. 2. Dancing and Bhangra Beats The Jaggo ceremony is incomplete without energetic Punjabi music and traditional folk dances. The night begins with relatives gathering, dressed in vibrant Punjabi attire, ready to dance to the beats of the dhol (a traditional drum). Everyone participates in Bhangra and Gidda, expressing their happiness and excitement. 3. The Procession (Jaggo Night Parade) A unique feature of the Jaggo is the procession that takes place in some families. Holding the decorated Jaggo pot, family members and friends dance through the streets of their neighborhood, knocking on doors and inviting people to join the celebration. This practice represents the traditional way of announcing a wedding and spreading joy throughout the community. 4. Jaggo Songs and Call-and-Response Singing Punjabi weddings are known for their lively folk songs (Boliyan), and the Jaggo ceremony is no exception. Women, especially elder female relatives, sing traditional Jaggo songs in a call-and-response style. These songs often include humorous verses and playful teasing directed at the bride, groom, and their families, making it a fun-filled event full of laughter. 5. Refreshments and Festive Feasts After hours of dancing and singing, guests are treated to delicious Punjabi cuisine, including snacks, sweets, and beverages. Popular items include chaat, samosas, pakoras, jalebis, and lassi, while some families also serve traditional Punjabi dishes and naan.
Anand Karaj, meaning "blissful act" or "ceremony of joy," is the Sikh marriage ceremony, a sacred and significant event in Sikh culture that takes place in a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) and revolves around the Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture)
n Sikhi, the Anand Karaj is the intertwining of two souls in a bond that will help them unite with God. The Anand Karaj has no mention of the material union of the couple at all. Yes, once you are married you share assets, and you are intimate with one another, but the bigger picture is that you are setting forward on a journey to help one another unite your souls with the Creator. The main hymns that are sung for the Anand Karaj fall under Raag Suhi. Raags are musical measurements that has a set mood and time of day. The time set out for Raag Suhi is the third prahar/pehar of the day, which falls between 9am and 12pm. Therefore, the Anand Karaj should take place within that 3 hour window. ORDER OF THE DAY: 1. Singing of Keeta Lorhiye Kamm 2. Arambhta Ardaas 3. Arambhta Hukamnama 4. Palle Di Rasam 5. The Laavan 6. Anand Sahib and Celebratory Shabads 7. Ardaas 8. Hukamnama and Degh 9. Langar
The actual Anand Karaj that Guru Sahib has given to us begins with the singing of Keeta Lorhiye Kamm. At this time, all the guests have arrived in the Darbar and the couple have made their entrance and have been seated in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the centre of religious and political authority in Sikhi. When they pay they respects, both the bride and the groom present a rumalla- a robe of honour- to Guru Granth Sahib as a symbol of respect. The raagis (singers) then sing the hymn Keeta Lorhiye Kamm This serves to remind everyone that before any task is to be performed the very first thing we must do is supplicate and ask our Creator for guidance and help. Marriage is a giant undertaking, so this shabad revealed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji is of great importance. Once this shabad has begun being recited, the ceremony has officially begun.
Before undertaking any task, it is the commandment from Guru Gobind Singh Ji that we do Ardaas (the Sikh prayer for supplication). Therefore, before the Laavan begin, an Ardaas is performed.
Hukamnama basically translates to “address of commandments,” and it takes place after every Ardaas that happens in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Ji’s Saroop is opened up at a random page and the very first shabad on the top left hand corner of the left-most Ang is read aloud as a message to the soon-to-be wed couple. In Sikhi we believe that this is the LITERAL hukam of the Guru and therefore it should be treated with respect and reverence. The contents of the shabad provide personalized guidance to the couple surrounding the Anand Karaj.
After the Arambhta Hukamnama, the Palle Di Rasam begins. The raagis sing the shabad Palle Tende Laagi. The shabad narrates the soul’s longing to unite with the Lord, and the way the soul forsakes all worldly attachments to attach itself to the Lord. This serves as a reminder that the couple is to help one another make that connection with their Lord. While the shabad is being sung, the bride’s father, or another figure from the household, takes the end of the groom’s palla- stole that he has draped over his right shoulder- and hands it to the bride. This is similar to a tying-the-knot or gatth-bandan ceremony, and it signifies that these two physical beings are now becoming one spiritually.
The “main attraction” of the wedding now begins. The Granthi begins reading the first Laav, and, depending on the tradition, the couple either sits or stands to listen to the recitation. The Laavan are hymns written by Guru Ram Das Ji and provide a guideline as to how the soul unites with God. Each Laav is first read from Guru Granth Sahib Ji by the Granthi, and then the Raagis sing the Laav in Raag Suhi while the couple first prostrates in submission to God, then circumambulates around Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a clockwise motion. Once the couple has circumambulated for the Laav, they wait until the Laav has been sung, and then prostrate to accept the truth behind the Laav. The couple then stays standing or sits down, depending on the tradition, and they listen to the Granthi recite the second Laav, they then prostrate and circumambulate while the Raagis sing the second Laav. This is repeated for all four Laavs. This is the gist behind them: -First Laav: Renounce duality and falsehood and worship the One Lord alone. -Second Laav: Fear God and feel the Presence of the Creator everywhere. -Third Laav: Surround yourself with good company and feel the Lord’s Love. -Fourth Laav: Surrender your very being and become one with the Creator. Once the fourth laav is recited, the couple is officially married!
According to Sikh tradition, at the end of ever religious service the first five and last stanza of Anand Sahib must be recited. Anand means bliss, and the shabad symbolizes the bliss someone feels when they feel closer to God, which is the ultimate goal of any Gurdwara service. At this moment, the Granthi puts both the rumallas the bride and groom presented on Guru Granth Sahib as a symbol of the Guru intertwining the two souls. Other shabads recited at this time are Viahu Hoa Mere Babula and Puri Asaa Ji, which have an air of joy to them.
Once the final shabads are recited, everyone stands for the main Ardaas, where we pray that the couple has a happily married life together.
A hukamnama is then received, and this hukamnama is Guru Ji’s hukam for the newly wed couple on how to conduct their marriage. Degh, a communal wheat pudding, is then distributed amongst everyone to signify our unity as a congregation and our willingness to accept God’s graces.
What wedding is complete without a feast? However, the langar holds deeper meaning than just a regular meal. It is a symbol of equality and unity, where we all eat from the same kitchen, on the same floor as everyone else.