FAQs

Question

WHAT IS AN ANAND KARAJ?

Answer

An Anand Karaj is the Sikh wedding ceremony, which translates to "Blissful Union" or "Joyful Union" in English. It is a sacred and joyous occasion where two individuals commit to each other in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scripture of Sikhism. During the Anand Karaj, the couple sits together in front of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and hymns and verses from the scripture are recited, along with prayers and blessings by the Granthi (the Sikh priest) or the Raagis (musicians who sing hymns). The ceremony emphasizes the importance of love, equality, and mutual respect in marriage. Some key rituals and elements of the Anand Karaj include the Laavan, which are four hymns that symbolize the journey of the couple's union. The couple walks around the Guru Granth Sahib Ji four times, once for each hymn, symbolizing their spiritual union and commitment to each other. After the completion of the Laavan, the couple is considered married according to Sikh tradition.

Question

WHAT IS RECEPTION OF BHARAT?

Answer

In Sikh weddings, "Bharat" refers to the groom's procession or arrival at the wedding venue. The groom, accompanied by his family members, friends, and sometimes a live band or musicians, makes his way to the wedding venue. At the wedding venue, the bride's family is waiting to receive the Bharat. During the "Reception of Bharat", the bride's family welcomes the groom's family.

Question

WILL FOOD BE SERVED AT THE GURDWARA?

Answer

Yes! Breakfast with tea will be served before the guests will go inside of the Gurdwara for the "Anand Karaj". Lunch will be served after "Anand Karaj". The pre-wedding meal serves not only to nourish the guests but also to foster a sense of community and togetherness among family and friends who have gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion. It's an opportunity for guests to socialize, bond, and share in the excitement leading up to the wedding ceremony. Lunch after the wedding is called langar (community meal). Serving langar at weddings aligns with Sikh principles of equality, community, and selfless service. It allows all guests, regardless of their background or social status, to come together and share a meal in a spirit of unity and togetherness. The langar meal served at Sikh weddings is vegetarian and includes dishes such as dal (lentils), sabzi (vegetable curry), roti (flatbread), rice, and dessert.

Question

WHAT SHOULD ONE WEAR TO THE GURDWARA FOR THE WEDDING?

Answer

Indians love to dress up for weddings! The women wear their favorite colors, and the men wear either a formal shirt and trousers or kurta pajamas. At the Gurdwara, the main thing to keep in mind is to dress modestly. Since everyone will be seated on the floor during the Sikh wedding ceremony, it is advised if women are wearing dresses to wear a long dress (below the knee). Since weddings are a colorful event, please avoid wearing a black dress. Men can wear black.

Question

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ATTENDING A SIKH WEDDING?

Answer

Yes - everyone must cover the head, not wear shoes and sit on the ground during the Anand Karaj. Head Coverings: When entering the Gurdwara, everyone must cover their heads. You can use your dupatta, a scarf, or a head covering. If you do not have a head covering, there will be one provided for you at the entrance. Shoes: Everyone must remove your shoes before entering the Gurdwara. There will be a designated area to leave your shoes. Sitting: Everyone sits on the ground in the gurdwara. There is a special bench in the back for people that are unable to sit on the ground. Most people sit cross legged. If needed, you are more than welcomed to bring a pillow to sit on. I would suggest keeping the pillow in the car and grabbing it when it is time to go inside the gurdwara for the wedding.

Question

IS IT OKAY TO TAKE PICTURES DURING THE WEDDING?

Answer

Yes! Please take as many pictures as you want. Share your favorite ones with us.

Question

WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR TO THE RECEPTION?

Answer

We love dressing up for Indian weddings. Women usually wear Indian formal outfits, evening gowns or formal dresses. Men usually wear a suit and tie, formal kurta pajamas or trousers with a nice shirt. We want everyone to feel comfortable. On that note, feel free to wear whatever you want.

Question

CAN WE BRING OUR KIDS?

Answer

Yes! We look forward to seeing the little ones running around.

Question

CAN WE BRING GUESTS?

Answer

Due to limited space, we were not able to invite everyone that is near and dear to us. Due to this reason, we are not allowing any additional guest of guests. I hope you understand. It has been very hard for us since we ourselves could not invite everyone that we wanted to invite. There is one exception: If the additional guests are your children, then the answer is "YES". We want everyone to bring their little ones. We did not add children under 12 years old to the guest list in Zola. If your child is over 12 years old, please let us know so we can add them to our final wedding count. Thank you for understanding.