Sikh Weddings
Sikh marriage is called Anand Karaj. Sikh weddings are a major past of Sikh religion because it is the unity of two people in front of the holy Guru Granth Sahib. People not of the Sikh faith cannot marry a Sikh and child marriage is strictly forbidden. Marriages can be assisted (arranged) byparents/guardians but it is not seen as necessary. Engagement parties are not a necessary part of the religion but many Sikh's have one. They
believe in monogamy. Wife
and husbands are in an equal marriage meaning there is no dominant partner they are equals. All
suspicions about good or bad days before during or after the wedding are
prohobited.
Ceremony The wedding usually takes place in the morning. The wedding starts with a meeting of the two families and holy shabads are sung. The marriage ceremony takes place at a congregational gathering in the holy presence of Guru Granth Sahib. Shabads (Sikh hymns) are sung and the man and women sit side by side facing Guru Granth Sahib. The women sits on the left side of the man. The couple and their parents stand up and an Ardaas is offered, seeking the Blessing of Waheguru (the Wondrous Giver of Knowledge) for the commencement of the Anand marriage. In the main part of the ceremony the man wears a sash over his shoulder. The end of the sash is placed by the brides parent in the hands of the bride. This is shown as the parent (usually the father) giving away their daughter. Any man or women who has completed Amrit initiation can conduct a wedding. Four hymns (Lavan) are read by the person performing the marriage and after each hymn the couple walk around Guru Granth Sahib· Holy Vaak is read out and then a holy sweet pudding called karah pasad is given to everyone that attended the wedding. Information sourced from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/ & http://www.sikhs.org/wedding/. |