Indian weddings are celebrated with great pomp and vigor. There are numerous kinds of weddings in India and Sikh weddings are one of them. For Sikhs, marriage is not only a physical and legal union but also a fusion or the holy union of two souls. Followed by the Sikh community, the ceremonies of Sikh weddings are similar to Hindu marriages.

Under Sikh matrimony orAnand Karajas known among Sikhs, more preference is given to arranged marriages over love marriages. The parents of a Sikh boy or a Sikh girl look for a suitable match in their community and as soon as it is found, they fix the wedding and begin preparations.

The pre wedding and wedding rituals in Sikh matrimony are:

Pre wedding ceremonies includeKurmai(engagement),Chunni(wedding veil),VatnaandMehendi. And on the day of the wedding, after theChuraceremony, the Sikh bride and the Sikh groom are married in thegurudwara.

PRE WEDDING RITUALS

Engagement orKurmaiCeremony:

The engagement ceremony marks the beginning of the wedding of the soon to be bride and groom.Kurmai, also known asmangniin Hindus is generally a family affair with only close friends and family relatives present. It is either performed at thegurudwaraor the groom’s house.Ardas,Kirtanand evenlangarsometimes are conducted with exchange of gifts like sweets, clothes and jewelry between the two families.

Wedding Veil orChunniCeremony:

After the engagement, groom’s family visits the bride’s house forchunniceremony. The mother and aunts of the groom present aphulkaridupattawith traditional embroidery to the bride. During the ceremony, groom’s mother applies henna ormehndion the palms of the bride.

GanaCeremony:

Underganaceremony, an auspicious red colored thread is tied on the left and right wrists of the bride and groom respectively. Theganaworn by the bride hangs auspicious items like pearls, iron key chain, cowrie shells, etc.

MaiyaCeremony:

The custom ofMaiyaconfines the bride and groom to their homes for few days before marriage. This ritual does not allow either of them to leave the house or to wear bright and colorful clothes.

VatnaCeremony:

Vatnais conducted with both the bride and the groom in their houses by their relatives. The female relatives applyubatanmade of turmeric, sandal, cream and rosewater on the bride and the bridegroom’s body.

JaggoCeremony:

This ceremony is performed in the late hours of night before the wedding by maternal relatives of the bride. They adorngaffar, a copper vessel withattamadediyaslighted with mustard oil wicks. The ladies carry this vessel to the relatives and are welcomed with sweets. All of them sing and dance their traditional dance,giddha.

MehndiCeremony:

MehendiandSangeetceremonies are generally carried out together after theJaggoceremony. Henna ormehendiis applied on the hands and feet of the bride between lots of celebration and feasting. The aunts, cousins and friends of the bride also apply mehndi on their hands singing and dancing throughout the ceremony.

THE WEDDING DAY:

GharoliCeremony:

On the morning of the wedding day, the groom’s sister-in-law along with other female relatives fill the decoratedgharoli, earthen pitcher with water from the gurdwara. The groom is supposed to take bath from this water.

ChoodaCeremony:

The bride’s maternal uncle makes her wear a set of 21 red and white bangles that have been cleansed in buttermilk.Kaleerenare also tied to her wrist by the female relatives.

GhodiChadna:

Sehrais tied to the bridegroom’s head by his sisters while garlands of currency notes adorn his neck. He mounts a decorated horse (ghodi) and leave for the wedding venue.

Lawan Phere:

The bride and the groom circle theGuru Granth Sahibfour times withlavansor hymns recited by the priest. Flowers are showered on the couple and a grand feast takes place.

POST WEDDING RITUAL

DoliCeremony:

The bride dons new clothes and throws back grains of rice while parting from her family.

Unlike Hindu marriages, Sikh weddings take place in the noon. Sikh marriages are family oriented and full of merrymaking like all marriages in India.