WeddingSikh wedding (Anand Karaj): rituals in order
The Sikh wedding ceremony is the Anand Karaj, which means "blissful union". It is held in the morning in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, usually in a gurdwara, and is simple and short. The functions around it are full of Punjabi music and colour.
| Ritual | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Roka or thaka, and kurmai | Before the wedding | The families confirm the match. At the kurmai (engagement), gifts and often rings are exchanged. |
| Chunni ceremony | Before the wedding | The groom's family presents the bride with a red chunni and gifts. |
| Maiyan or vatna | A day or two before | A turmeric paste is applied to the bride and the groom at their own homes. |
| Mehndi and sangeet | A day or two before | Henna, folk songs with the dholki, giddha and bhangra. |
| Jaggo | The night before | Relatives carry decorated pots with lamps on their heads and go singing through the neighbourhood. |
| Chooda and kalire | Wedding morning | The bride's maternal uncle gives her the red and white bangles (chooda). Golden kalire are tied to them. |
| Sehra bandi, baraat and milni | Wedding morning | The groom is dressed, the baraat reaches the gurdwara, and the families greet each other. |
| Anand Karaj and the laavan | In the gurdwara | The couple sit before the Guru Granth Sahib. The four laavan, hymns composed by Guru Ram Das, are read and sung one by one, and the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib once during each. |
| Ardas, hukamnama and karah prashad | End of the ceremony | The congregation stands for the prayer, a verse is read from the Guru Granth Sahib, and karah prashad is shared. |
| Langar and doli | After the ceremony | Everyone eats together in the langar. The bride then leaves her parents' home. |
Customs differ from family to family and from place to place. This is a general guide for guests and for couples learning about each other's traditions, not a rule book. Reviewed on 11 November 2026.
If you are a guest
- Cover your head inside the gurdwara, men and women alike. Scarves are usually kept at the entrance.
- Remove shoes and wash hands before entering the hall.
- Sit on the floor facing the Guru Granth Sahib. Do not point your feet towards it.
- The ceremony is in the morning. Arrive on time, because it is not long.
Questions people ask
How many laavan are there?
Four. The couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib once during each laav.
What does Anand Karaj mean?
It means "blissful union" or "ceremony of joy". Sikh marriages can be registered under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, where the state has made rules for it.
Other traditions
Hindu wedding (North India)Muslim wedding (Nikah)Christian weddingSouth Indian Hindu weddingBengali weddingMarathi weddingGujarati wedding
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- Wedding wordingSave-the-date, announcement and thank-you messages to copy.