Bharaat

The bharaat is where the groom arrives at the ceremony accompanies by his family and friends.

Milni

The bride’s family welcomes the groom and his family, during this ceremony an Ardaas (prayer) is recited. The two families exchange garlands and gifts as a symbol of them joining. After this, everyone goes in for tea and food.

Anand Karaj

Once you have finished eating, take off your shoes and head up to the Darbar Sahib. This is the hall where the Anand Karaj will take place and where the Guru Granth Sahib will be.

The groom will enter and sit down, facing the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The bride will enter, escorted by her family, and will be seated next to the groom. After which the Kirtan (hymn) ‘Keeta Loree ai Kaam’ (whatever work you wish to accomplish, ask the Lord), will be sung. Another Ardaas (prayer) will then be recited just for the couple and their parents.

Palla Di Rasam

The bride’s father gives his blessing by symbolically joining the couple by placing one hand of the groom’s Palla (scarf) over his shoulders into the bride’s hand. The Palla is a symbol tether of physical and spiritual bond between the bride, groom and the divine.

Laavan

The bride and groom will walk around the Guru Granth Sahib Ji four times, each time they are making a commitment to each other and to God. They are also reminded that the Guru is their guide on this spiritual journey and so should be at the centre of their life. With each Laav (nuptial round), a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is read out and then sung as a kirtan; each verse describing a different spiritual stage of the journey.

First Laav

This law is set around the couple having a spiritual awakening and understanding that the real happiness comes from becoming the expert in their own mind, taking complete control of their thoughts by mediating on God’s name. The bride and groom start their journey by letting go and breaking their connections with the temporal things in life and embark on a new beginning together, guided by the path paved by the Gurus.

Second Laav

In the second laav, the Guru leads the couple on the path to meet God, by shining a light on the omnipresence of God, filling everyone and everything. The couple discover that God is within the person beside them and in understanding this, they can get rid of their fears and egos and truly be in awe and devoted to one another.

Third Laav

This laav highlights surrounding yourself with people on the same path as you. The couple have become detached from the world in each other’s company and have found a desire away from worldly pleasures. Their hearts and minds are filled with divine love for each other and God.

Fourth Laav

The final laav describes the couple as having found ultimate bliss and tranquillity through finding God. The bride and groom have become one soul in two bodies, a spiritual union of love and devotion where no feeling of separation is possible. When you took upon the other person as a part of you, then what difference can you see?

A song of bliss called Anand Sahib is then sung and this is the state the couple are in when they have found the true nature of themselves and their true connection with the universe.

Ardaas & Hukamnama

A final Ardaas (prayer) is performed with the entire congregation and Karah Prashad (sweet offering) is distributed to everyone. A Gianni Ji (priest) then reads a random verse from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, called a Hukamnama. This is considered by a Sikh as an order from their Guru and with this, the ceremony is finished.

Langaar & Sagan

Everyone will then proceed to make their way downstairs to share a meal together called Langar. The married couple will shortly follow where they will cut the cake and join everyone.

After eating, the congregation will partake in a custom called Sagan where everyone will have the opportunity to give the newly married couple their blessings. This is also an opportunity to take a photo with the wedded couple before departing from the Gurudwara.