Sikh weddings are very colorful and enthusiastic but have few rituals to carry out on the wedding day. Sikh weddings are known as “Anand Karaj”. Wedding ceremonies are carried out in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Sikh pre-wedding rituals begin with the Roka that is the formal announcement of the engagement. The bride and the groom are presented gifts by their respective families. The next to follow is the engagement or kudmai. It is not mandatory but is followed nowadays in all Sikh weddings. It is performed a week before the wedding. The ceremony is carried out in the Gurudwara or at the groom’s house. It involves the Ardas, Kirtan and the Langar. The groom and the bride then exchange rings with each other. A common custom in the sikh weddings is the Maiya. According to this ritual, the bride and the groom are not allowed to leave their home before the marriage. An auspicious thread called the Gana is tied on the wrist of the couple to keep them away from evil spirits.

The mehendi and vatna is carried out few days before the wedding. On the wedding day, the groom sister along with other female relatives go to the nearby Gurudwara to fill water. They bring it in an earthen pot which is used to bath the groom. The chuda ceremony is carried out at the bride’s house where her maternal uncle helps her to wear the bangles. They are a set of red and white ivory bangles that are considered auspicious for the wedding. Kaleeren or golden metal danglers are tied to the bride’s chuda by her relatives.

The groom is adorned with a turban and sehra. The sehra is tied on the groom’s turban by his sisters. The groom then receives blessings from his family members. Sometimes the groom even wears a garland of currency note. This symbolizes his status. The groom reaches the Gurudwara riding a beautifully decorated horse. He is welcome by the bride’s family with great respect. Both the families greet each other. Shabads are sung when the procession reaches the Gurudwara.

All the rituals are carried out in the Gurudwara. The bride and the groom sit together and attend the Kirtan of Guru Granth Sahib. The bride’s father places a corner of the bride’s veil in the groom’s hands and the other end in the bride’s hands, symbolically connecting them and giving his daughter away in marriage. The Bhaiji of the Gurudwara recites the first hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib and the couple is asked to take their first phera around the Guru Granth Sahib. After the completion of the first phera the couple takes a bow and waits for the second Lavan to start. During the fourth and final Lavan, flowers are showered on the couple. The hidaayat is then recited to them. Karah parshaad is distributed and the couple is garlanded.  The wedding ceremony comes to an end with a grand feast.

The bride is then leaves her maternal home to begin her new journey. The groom’s mother welcomes the couple by pouring little oil outside the doorstep and then takes them in. A grand reception is then arranged by the groom’s family.