Sikh weddings are joyful, festive events focused on family, yet they are not overly elaborate or ceremonious. A traditional Sikh wedding is known as Anand Karaj, meaning "Blissful Union." WeddingExpertz specializes in turning your dream wedding into reality. We handle every detail of your celebration, ensuring it aligns with your vision while offering affordable services compared to Western prices.
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Pre-Wedding Rituals
Kurmai (Engagement): While not mandatory, the engagement ceremony sometimes takes place a week before the wedding. It can be held at the Gurdwara or at the groom’s home. The ceremony includes Ardas (a Sikh prayer), Kirtan (hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib), and Langer (community meal) if it is at the Gurdwara. If performed at home, the bride’s family visits the groom’s house with gifts like kara, kirpan, sweets, coconut, dry dates, sugar, and money. The bride’s family also presents the bride with a traditional suit and sweets.
Maiya: A common pre-wedding ritual where both the bride and groom are confined to their homes for a few days before the wedding. During this time, they cannot change clothes or leave their homes.
Gana: A sacred red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride. Prosperous items such as cowrie shells, an iron key chain, pearls, and a small silken bunch of sugar are suspended from the bride’s gana.
Vatna and Mehndi: Two days before the wedding, vatna (a fragrant powder mixture of barley flour, turmeric, and mustard oil) is applied to the bride and groom in their homes. Afterward, they take a ceremonial bath. On the eve of the wedding, during the mehndi ki raat, henna is applied to the bride’s hands and feet.
Gharoli: On the morning of the wedding, the groom’s sister-in-law, along with other female relatives, goes to a nearby well or Gurudwara to fetch water in an earthen pitcher, which is then used for the groom’s bath.
Khare Charna: The groom sits on a stool for his bath, while four girls hold a cloth over his head during this ritual.
Chooda Ceremony: The bride’s maternal uncle escorts her to the ceremony, where she is made to wear a set of red and white bangles (ivory or plastic) dipped in buttermilk. Kaleeren (danglers) are tied to her wrists by close female relatives. The bride then dresses for the main ceremony.
Ghodhi Chadhna and Milni Ceremony: At the groom’s home, his sisters tie a sehera (floral veil) to his forehead. Relatives adorn him with garlands of currency notes. The groom then mounts a decorated mare, and his sisters-in-law apply collyrium to his eyes. Upon arriving at the bride’s home, the Milni ceremony takes place, where senior family members embrace each other. Shabads are sung, and Ardaas is performed as the procession enters the Gurdwara. Guests are then served breakfast.
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Wedding Rituals
A key feature of a Sikh wedding is that it takes place in the Gurdwara, with only four pheras (rounds) performed.
Lawan Phere: The wedding begins with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan. The bride and groom sit together while the bhaiji (priest) narrates the first lavan (hymn) from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is sung as the bride and groom encircle the holy scripture. The groom walks in front, holding a sword. After each round, the couple bows before continuing the next. The final lavan marks the completion of the wedding, and the couple is showered with flowers. Their duties and responsibilities as husband and wife, as well as towards their elders, are then recited. Relatives and friends garland the couple, and the ceremony ends with a grand feast.
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Post-Wedding Rituals
Doli: After the wedding, the bride wears new clothes given by the groom’s family. As she leaves her parents' house, she throws back grains of rice, symbolizing her wishes for prosperity and good fortune for the family she is leaving behind.