Pre-Wedding and Wedding Events
MAIYA
Food, Music and Henna
Be ready for a fun-filled afternoon of delicious food, lively music, and dancing when you go to a mehendi ceremony. Henna sometimes called as ‘mehndi’ is a dye made from the Lawsonia inermis henna plant. It is used to make designs of flowers on the hands and arms of the bride. Mehndi celebrations are just as they are shown in South Asian movies, with everyone dressed in colourful attire and sweets such as gulab jamun, laddu or rass gula being served to people invited at the event. But the most important thing in a mehndi function is the music and dance. Cousins and friends of the bride and groom prepare dance routines on the beat of dholki or sometimes on desi party songs. In some cases, women sing and play the Dholak, a kind of drum, while seated and surrounded by colorful throw pillows and colorful décor.
Jaggo
Singing, Dancing and Food
What does the Jago or Jaggo ceremony mean? It means “wake up”. It is a celebration by the maternal families of both the Bride and the Groom. It will be a loud ceremony, filled with joy, dancing, singing, and food. The female relatives take turns carrying a gagger (a decorated earthen pot lit with candles) while singing and dancing. Along with the earthen pot, people will do Gidda (the traditional folk dance of Punjab) and bhangra with a decorated stick with Bells attached.
The Baraat
Arriving to the Gurdwara
After the bride and groom finish their preparations at their respective homes, they head over to the Gurdwara. Once both reach the outside of the Gurdwara, there is a grand procession referred to as the Baraat. The procession will consist of the bride and groom’s families walking toward each other. The groom's side will be accompanied by Dholi(s), along with friends and family who are dancing along to the drum’s beat.
The Milni
At the front of the Gurdwara
The Bharaat will conclude with both families meeting in the middle, where the bride’s side will accept and welcome the groom's family. This marks the beginning of the Milni event, which typically happens right in front of the Gurdwara. For context, Milni roughly translates into the word, “Introductions”. Therefore, the event is meant to be a formal and loving introduction of family members from both sides. The event is kicked off with a collective Ardaas (a Sikh prayer). Following the prayer, there is a lot of fun happening here where each respective member of the family from both sides will put a garland on each other, hug it out and try to lift each other to see who would come out on top. The baraat is then led into the langar hall where they would have breakfast and then head into the darbar (main hall)
Anand Karaj
Wedding Cermony (at the Gurdwara)
Anand Karaj – The ‘Blissful Union’ Takes Place At The Gurdwara During The Day Time. The Wedding Ceremony Is Centred Around The Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book). The Groom Enters The Ceremony Hall First Once The Bride Arrives The Couple Sit Next To Each Other On The Floor With The Bride Sitting To The Left Side Of The Groom, Facing The Guru Granth Sahib. The Marriage Is Conducted By A Amritdhari (Amrit Initiation In Sikhism) Sikh. The Couple And Their Respective Parents Stand To Offer Ardaas To ‘Waheguru’, Followed By Singing Of Shabads. The Priest Tells The Couple About The Importance Of The Marriage And Their Union Their Responsibilities To Each Other The General Idea Of Leading A Spiritual Life According To Sikh Tenets. The Couple Then Bows Down Before The Guru Granth Sahib. The Father Of The Bride Places A Saffron Coloured Scarf On The Groom’s Shoulder And The Other End In Bride’s Hand. This Symbol They Now Joined And Ready To Take The Lavaas (Wedding Vows)
Lavan Pheras
Wedding Cermony (at the Gurdwara)
The Priest Conducting The Marriage Performs The Four Lavan Or Stanzas From The Guru Granth Sahib. Upon Completing The Reading Of The First Stanza, The Couple Walk Slowly Around The Guru Granth Sahib In Clockwise Direction, With The Groom Leading The Bride. At The Completion Of The Round The Couple Return To Their Positions Yet Remain Standing For The Remaining Three Hymns. The Process Of Circumambulation Is Repeated Three More Times After Each Lavan. The Raagis Sing The Lavans In The Background While The Couple Performs The Pheras. Followed by Anand Sahib - The Raagis Sing Hymns Of Anand Sahib. An Ardaas Is Offered As An Indication That The Wedding Ceremony Is Complete. Then everyone will leave to Hazlewood Castle