Sikh weddings are not confined to a single day but symbolise the union of two individuals and their families, deeply rooted in spiritual and religious significance. It is more than a legal contract. It is a sacred sacrament where two souls come together, vowing to support each other in their spiritual journey to unite their souls (Atma) with God (Parmatma). This process may be more complex when one partner is not Sikh, blending Sikh traditions with another culture.
This guide is especially useful for those attending their first Sikh wedding, helping them understand the rich customs and deeper meanings behind the ceremony.
- Where does a Sikh Wedding Ceremony Take Place?Â
- What Happens Before a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?
- What Happens at a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?Â
- What Happens after a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?
Where does a Sikh Wedding Ceremony Take Place?Â
The Sikh Wedding rituals themselves often take place in a Gurudwara. The marriage hall is called The Darbar Sahib; it is where family and friends gather to watch the bride and groom officially join together as a married couple.
What Happens Before a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?Â
What is Akhand paath?
The families start off the Sikh wedding rituals and ceremonies by reading the whole Guru Granth Sahib. After this, the wedding date is fixed. Then both families present each other with gifts. The bride and groom exchange rings.
What is Chunni Chadai?
After the engagement, the groom's family visits the bride and his mother symbolically covers the bride's head with a chunni (scarf). She wears the chunni over her head as a symbol of acceptance into the groom's family. This ceremony represents the bride becoming part of her new family.
What are the Mehndi and Chooda Ceremonies?
Mehndi and chooda ceremonies are often done together. Mehndi is when the bride gets her hands and feet decorated in beautiful henna designs. Â
For the chooda ceremony, the bride's maternal uncle (mama) gifts the bride a set of red and white bangles that are to be dipped in milk before presenting. Golden ornaments called Kalires are tied to the bangles. It is said that whichever bridesmaid the bride showers with her Kalire will be the one to get married next.
What is Maiyan?
The Maiyan ceremony is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in Sikh weddings, typically held a day or two before the wedding. It involves the cleansing and beautification of the bride and groom, as family members apply a paste made of turmeric, sandalwood, and other ingredients to their skin, believed to bring good fortune and a radiant glow. Traditionally, it is said that the couple should not shower after the ceremony and are expected to remain indoors until the wedding day. The Maiyan is an intimate and joyful gathering, filled with music, blessings, and love, setting the tone for the upcoming celebration.
What Happens at a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?Â
What is Baraat?
Traditionally, after the groom is dressed in his wedding attire, he mounts a white horse - decorated with colourful adornments as well - to the Gurudwara. Many modern Sikh grooms only ride a short distance to the wedding hall, or arrive in a flower-decorated car instead. He is accompanied by close family and friends singing and dancing. After the groom dismounts, he is welcomed by the bride's family with prayers, sweets, and cheers.
What is Milni?
The milni is the official meeting of both families. After reading the prayers from the Ardas, the bride's father welcomes the groom. Key family members from both sides exchange garlands and greet each other, symbolizing the acceptance of two families into one.
What is Anand Karaj?
The officiating custodian brings out a Guru Granth Sahib decorated in beautiful cloth. All guests in the marriage hall remove their shoes and cover their heads. Guests will all bow to the Guru Granth Sahib, and some offer token money.
The bride's family guides both the groom and then the bride to a cushion, mattress, or raised platform where the ceremonies will begin. Traditionally, the bride has her face covered by a veil to protect her from the evil eye, but the groom removes his sehra at this point.
What is Lavan Pheras?
The officiator reads prayers and sings hymns to welcome the blessings of God for the marriage. The bride and groom will both bow to the Guru Granth Sahib at the beginning and end of each phera read from the holy book.
The bride's father helps her tie the groom's dupatta or free-flowing cloth to her pallu, as a symbol of unity. After the reading, the bride and groom walk around the Guru Granth Sahib, joined together by the tied cloth as the laavan is chanted. The four lavans explain the four stages of married life. The first verse is about the performance of duty towards family and community; the second verse acknowledges mutual love between the bride and groom; the third verse celebrates detachment together in the midst of hectic family life; and the fourth verse speaks of the final stage of harmony, where human love translates into love for God.
The couple may then exchange rings. The groom's father then puts a garland of flowers on the couple, followed by the groom's mother, and then the bride's parents. After this, the couple are considered married.Â
What is Anand Sahib?
The ceremony concludes with singing the Song of Bliss, Anand Sahib. It takes about an hour to complete, and kada prasad is eaten immediately afterwards.
What Happens after a Sikh Wedding Ceremony?
The post-wedding formalities vary by modernity and preference but generally begin after the official rituals are completed and the couple is legally wed.
What is Joota Chupai?
After the marriage ceremony, the bride's sisters may tease the groom by stealing his shoes and demand a bribe of money for their return. This ceremony can be done either before or after the wedding, but is usually done in jest after the formal rituals are complete.
What is Bhangra?
Sikh weddings are all about close-knit communities and having fun. Everyone eats, drinks and dances to bhangra (a genre of Punjabi music) together. Sikh weddings are also very large and average around 600 to 1,000 guests.