Sikh wedding is very simple and holds the religious practices. Sikh marriages are also quite grand and its take over a period of one week. Sikh weddings are not showy kind of marriages like Hindu. Sikh marriages held in ‘Gurudwara’ in front of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. Sikh community is known for harmony. Marriages are arranged by the parents. Sikh wedding is full of rituals and customs. There are many rituals followed in the Sikh wedding.

Pre-Wedding rituals

Engagement: Engagement ceremony is the first ritual of wedding. An engagement ceremony called the 'kurmai' which usually performed one week before the wedding. Engagement usually conducted in the Gurdwara or at the home of the groom. The families of bride and groom exchanges the gifts to confirm the engagement. It involves ‘Ardas’, ‘Kirtan’ and ‘Langar’ performed in the Gurudwara. On the engagement ceremony ‘Tilak’ applied on the forehead of the groom by the bride’s family. Father of the bride presents the gold bangle or ‘Kara’ to the groom. After the ceremony of engagement, groom’s female relatives visit the bride’s home with ‘chunni’. (Wedding veil)

Mehendi ceremony: Mehendi ceremony is an important ritual in Sikh wedding.
It’s a significant ritual which usually takes place one or two days before the real wedding. The dark reddish brown color of Mehendi stands for the wealth that bride is expected to bring to her new family. On the day of Mehendi first vatna a powder consist of barley, turmeric and mustard oil is applied on the body of bride and groom followed by sacrament bath. After taking a bath, bride’s hands and foot are decorated by Mehendi. The close relative member and friends took part in this ceremony. They sing and dance to make the event colorful.

Maiya: Maiya is the pre wedding custom, where groom and bride not allowed to leave their home before the wedding and not allowed to change their clothes.

Gharoli: Gharoli is another pre wedding ritual which is celebrated at the groom’s house in the morning of wedding day. On the day of wedding groom’s sister-in-law and some female relatives go to the near ‘Gurudwara’ to fill an earthen water jug (gharoli), which is used to take a bath of bride and groom.

Ghana: Gana is another ritual in which promising thread tied to the right wrist of the groom and left wrist of the bride. It considered as a good sign for the groom and bride to protect from the ill omen. This ritual just performed few days before marriage.

Chooda ceremony: chooda ceremony is an important ritual in sikh wedding. Bride’s maternal uncle plays a vital role in chooda ceremony. Bride’s parents and uncle and aunt usually fast through out the day. The ‘purohit’ performed a havan and after that puja, the chooda is touched by all the present members to signify their blessing and wishes for the bride. The bride must slip the chooda on her wrist followed by an iron bangle. The bride’s uncle and aunt tie the ‘kaliras’on her bangles.’Kaliras’ is an ornament of silver and gold which is tied to the chooda. This is believed of people that one who is tapped thus will be the next one to marry.

Wedding day ritual

Sikh wedding takes place in the’Gurudwara’ followed by only four pheras. Wedding day rituals are quite concise in Sikh wedding.

Baraat: Barrat is one of the most important and exciting ceremony. The arrival of the groom is enthuse occasion of the wedding at the wedding venue. The groom’s family, relatives and close friends are called ‘Baraatis’. They give the company to the groom at the wedding venue.

Lavaan phere: Lavaan phere is the ceremony where groom and bride sit together in front of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. It’s the marriage a hymn which is narrates by the bhaijji of the Gurudwara. A hymns sung by the bride, and groom encircles the ‘Granth sahib’. After completion of wedding, newly married couple is showered by the flowers. The ceremony considers after the ‘Ardaas’ and serving of ‘Kada prashaad’.

Post Wedding Rituals

Vidaai or Doli: Vidaai is the end of wedding ceremony. Vidaai is an emotional affair for bride. Its a situation of joy and sorrow. Vidaai is the critical situation when bride is going to be leaving her parent’s home forever. The bride is carried to her husband’s home in a Doli or car.

Mukh Dikaai: The bride and groom arrived together after wedding. Groom’s family welcomes the bride in her new home and gives her mukh dikaai. Bride’s back to her maternal home after the wedding. Bride’s parent welcomes the newly wedded couple. It’s a small dinner party for bride and groom.