Anand Karaj ~ ceremony of joy

Centered around the Guru Granth Sahib Anand Karaj celebrates the blissful union. The groom enters first, followed by the bride who sits on his left side. The sister of the groom removes the kalgi and holds it in her duppata cupped within her palms never letting it touch the ground. The couple and their parents stand for Ardaas. The Granthi (priest) offers katha sharing the importance of marriage and union by leading a spiritual life.

Lavaan pehli lavaan

The father of the bride places a pink cloth palla on the groom’s shoulder and the other end in the bride’s hand while blessing them, as a symbol that they may now take their vows. Bowing before the Granth sahib, the couple take the pheres on verses sung by the Ragis. The verses are sung in Raag Suhi was composed by Guru Ram Das Ji. There are four verses.

~ first verse

“Har pahl di lav par virti karam dridaya Bal Ram jio”

The first verse tells the bride and the groom to stay on the path of dharma. The real happiness is in finding the truth and following what the real guru says. Meditate god’s name and know your true identity.

Dooji Lavaan

~ second verse

“Har dooj di lav Satgur purukh milaya Bal Ram jio”

The second verse tells the couple to put aside the ego and other materialistic things and search for the true guru. The guru who is omnipresent. He is the supreme soul and is the master of the universe. Prophet Nanak proclaims that the music of the spheres resounds with the second phera.

Teeji Lavaan

~ third verse

“Har teej di lav man chao bhiya bairagiya Bal Ram jio” chauthi lavaan

The third phera is the representation of true love for god. The bride accepts that she has met the divine saint who made her love the absolute being. She narrates that I have found the almighty and I sing his praise.

~ fourth verse

“Har chouth di lav man sahaj bhiya Harpaiya Bal Ram jio”

The fourth phera explains that the couple has found the peace and equilibrium of their mind because they have reached the god with great ease. The god blends with the heart of the bride and now it blossoms with his name.

On the completion of the final lavaan, family and friends shower the newly weds with flowers. Then proceeding to sit before the granth sahib for Ardaas and Kirtan.

Ardaas & Kirtan ~ wedding ceremony

On conclusion of the four lavaan, the ragis sing hymns from the Granth Sahib celebrating the blissful union.

The most prominant kirtans are:

- celebrates the marriage of the couple and their union with God.

- describes the happiness at having found the perfect partner.

The entire congregation then sings “Anand Sahib” ~ “Song of Bliss”. The hymn is a devotional composition which lays emphasis on spiritual regeneration. It is a discourse on God’s glory and grandeur.

Ardas is the congregational prayer, everyone stands together to reflect on their inner values. There is one Ardaas at the beginning and one at the end.

A random verse called a hukam from the Guru Granth Sahib is chosen to be recited while kada prasad is distributed amongst the congregation. The granthi shares the hukam or the waaq for the day.

Money is waved around the bride and groom’s head in a clockwise motion and dropped on the couple by the family elders on both sides. The money is then donated to charity. This ritual is done to cast away any evil energy.

The bride and groom then proceed to seek blessing from their parents.

Guru Da Langar Doli

~ lunch ~ bidayi

The practice of Guru da langar was started by the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Sahibji, in 15th century Punjab. It represents the principle of equality among all people regardless of religion, caste, color, creed, age, gender, or social status.

The guests are served lunch while the bride and groom share a meal.

Traditionally a wooden palaquin to carry women around on their travels, the doli marks the bride’s departure from her parent’s home. She throws grains of rice over her head into her mother’s outstretched hands wishing her parents eternal prosperity.

The newly weds along with the groom’s family visit the gurudwara for blessings.