Sikh Weddings Explained

India is a diverse country with a population that comes from different cultures, religions, castes and beliefs. Every culture and every religion has its speciality in rituals and has another ode of conduct. These rituals and traditions are followed on special occasions as people of their respective faiths believe that following specific rules and customs will claim the auspiciousness of the event and receive blessings from heaven.

One of the occasions that are celebrated on a grand scale and are believed to be very important for a particular religion is the wedding ceremony. A wedding ceremony is considered an auspicious event in any culture in India so let us explore more about the customs and rituals that make a Sikh Wedding special in India.

A Sikh Wedding is like a great grand festival where multiple events and functions are conducted throughout the day and where the bond of love is tied after the completion of chaar laavan in the gurudwara sahib.

Sikhs have a big heart, and their weddings are as big as their heart. Here is all the information about the ritual ceremonies that are done at a Sikh Wedding:

Karma:

Let us start; karma marks are the beginning of a Sikh wedding. It is also termed s an engagement ceremony where the holy book of the Sikhs is read, and hence the dates are decided after that.

Chunni Chadai:

Next comes the ritual of presenting the token of love to the bride, where the groom’s mother visits the bride’s home and covers her head with an auspicious chunni to welcome her to the new house.

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Gharoli Ceremony:

The fun begins within a vent where the bride's sister carries the holy water in an earthen pot, and the groom has to bathe with that water. This tradition is enjoyed a lot by all the guests and family members as it involves the singing of folklore, old songs and dhol.

Chooda Ceremony:

On the bridal side, the traditions are followed by gifting a set of 21 bangles that are of red and white colour. The bride has to put them on her wrists on the wedding day. This is an auspicious ceremony as the bangles are first dipped and washed with the milk and then are covered with a pink cloth after putting them on the bride’s wrist. This is a symbol of blessing and is followed with great care

Baarat and Milni:

Now let’s come on the most-awaited, the wedding day. The bride and groom are asked to wake before the sunrise (Amrit-vela) on their wedding day and perform certain rituals for the blessings of the almighty. The baarat leaves the groom’s house with dhol and total excitement. The groom is all set on a white horse to look like a king who is on his way to get his queen. After the arrival of baarat at its destination, the Milni ceremony is done where the male members from both sides celebrate the union of two families by exchanging gifts and lifting each other.

Anand Karaj:

This ceremony called the Anand Karaj ta, kes place in the main dorm of the gurudwara sahib, where the religious books of the Sikhs are read, and the four prayers are recited in which the bride and the groom take chair here or the chair laavan, one for each prayer. After the completion of the caravan there, the couple is declared married. Followed by the Anand Karaj, the celebration is taken forward by taking the Karah prasad from the gurudwara sahib and the elders' blessings.

Doli:

As the event ends, there is a time to say goodbye to the bride and give her blessings for her future and happy married life with her partner. The doll ceremony is when the bride moves to her new home after the completion of the marriage ceremony, thereby beginning a new life ahead.

The Sikh Wedding holds and brings along some great values passed on from generations. It is an auspicious occasion under the Sikh religion and marks the presence and blessings from the guru sahib and the family members. In Sikh traditions, people celebrate the celebration by singing the local songs and also involve the bhangra dance to make the event grand and happening.

Frequently Asked Questions

The wedding ceremony in the Sikh religion is known as Anand Karaj in which the bride and the groom are tied in the bond of marriage after the four prayers are recited in the Gurudwara Sahib. In this ceremony the bride and the groom take chaar lavaan or the four walks together, one for each vow and complete the marriage ritual.
SIkh brides can choose to wear a Lehenga or a Salwar Kameez outfit but for sikh brides, it is important to cover their heads on the wedding day for the Anand Karaj ceremony. Brides also get to wear bangles, jewellery and payal along with their attire.
Kurumai is the official engagement ceremony in the Sikh Wedding. The bride and the groom exchange rings and the two families celebrate by exchanging gifts and dancing on Dhol.
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