A Look at Sikh Weddings
Sikh weddings are colorful and lavish affairs.
But all Sikh weddings must be before the Holy Granth Sahib the holy book of the Sikhs.
The tenth Guru Gobind Singh had decreed that after his death there would be no further Guru and all Sikhs were to treat the Granth Sahib (a compilation of writings of various saints) as the guru.
Hence in all Sikh weddings the Granth Sahib is the pivot around which these weddings are conducted.
Christian weddings are normally solemnised in the Church while Hindu weddings are around a sacred flame.
Sikh weddings by contrast need not be held in a Gurudwara, but can be conducted in a large hall where the sacred book of the Sikhs is brought.
Normally the holy book is carried with great reverence from a Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) to the hall where the wedding is to take place.
The Book is enshrined in a palanquin with a canopy on a raised platform.
An Akhand path (Master Prayer) is then conducted by the Sikh priests normally referred to as a granthis.
The Akhand path is so conducted that it is finalized on the day of the wedding.
On completion of the prayers the bride and groom are taken to the sacred book.
The bride is dressed in a stalwart kameez and appropriate jewelry for the occasion.
Normally the wedding dress is red in color and may be embroidered with gold thread.
Some of the wedding dresses could cost anything up to $ 4000.
The bride is also decked with ornate jewelry including gold bangles, a Kara, gold necklaces and earrings.
Jewelry of the bride could cost anything up to $10,000.
There have been cases where the brides dress and jewelry may well cost $100,000.
The groom is dressed in more sedate manner and may wear a kurta pajama or a western style suit.
It is customary for the groom to carry a sword as a mark of his acceptance of the martial tradition of the Sikhs.
He is also expected to come to the venue riding a horse which is led by a band that plays popular tunes.
It is thus a festive occasion.
As the wedding party approaches the venue it is greeted by the brides party with great fanfare.
The chuni (a dupatta) is tied with a knot to both the groom and the bride symbolizing a union of two souls.
After this while the priest reads from the scriptures the couple takes 4 rounds of the holy book.
As the couple takes rounds around the holy book well wishers will shower flower and petals on them.
The priest will enjoin all to join in the Ardas the end prayer as laid down by Guru Gobind.
After the ardas which is heard by all standing up the priest will bless the couple and pronounce the couple as man and wife.
The entire congregation then partakes the sacred Prasad which is distributed by the priest.
Sikh weddings are colorful affairs and after the ceremony all the people present will be entertained to a lavish lunch.
Sikh weddings take place only in the mornings and at no other time unlike Hindu weddings which are usually at night and dependent on astrological considerations.
In this respect Sikh weddings are more progressive and astrology plays no part.
It may be noted that Sikh weddings are not a contract like a Muslim wedding(Nikah) but a sacrament.
Sikh weddings can also be conducted in a gurudwara when the cost is considerably reduced.
But in the present day Sikh weddings have become lavish affairs where there is naked show of wealth.
This is a far cry from the austerity preached by the Sikh Gurus right from Nanak.
But all Sikh weddings must be before the Holy Granth Sahib the holy book of the Sikhs.
The tenth Guru Gobind Singh had decreed that after his death there would be no further Guru and all Sikhs were to treat the Granth Sahib (a compilation of writings of various saints) as the guru.
Hence in all Sikh weddings the Granth Sahib is the pivot around which these weddings are conducted.
Christian weddings are normally solemnised in the Church while Hindu weddings are around a sacred flame.
Sikh weddings by contrast need not be held in a Gurudwara, but can be conducted in a large hall where the sacred book of the Sikhs is brought.
Normally the holy book is carried with great reverence from a Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) to the hall where the wedding is to take place.
The Book is enshrined in a palanquin with a canopy on a raised platform.
An Akhand path (Master Prayer) is then conducted by the Sikh priests normally referred to as a granthis.
The Akhand path is so conducted that it is finalized on the day of the wedding.
On completion of the prayers the bride and groom are taken to the sacred book.
The bride is dressed in a stalwart kameez and appropriate jewelry for the occasion.
Normally the wedding dress is red in color and may be embroidered with gold thread.
Some of the wedding dresses could cost anything up to $ 4000.
The bride is also decked with ornate jewelry including gold bangles, a Kara, gold necklaces and earrings.
Jewelry of the bride could cost anything up to $10,000.
There have been cases where the brides dress and jewelry may well cost $100,000.
The groom is dressed in more sedate manner and may wear a kurta pajama or a western style suit.
It is customary for the groom to carry a sword as a mark of his acceptance of the martial tradition of the Sikhs.
He is also expected to come to the venue riding a horse which is led by a band that plays popular tunes.
It is thus a festive occasion.
As the wedding party approaches the venue it is greeted by the brides party with great fanfare.
The chuni (a dupatta) is tied with a knot to both the groom and the bride symbolizing a union of two souls.
After this while the priest reads from the scriptures the couple takes 4 rounds of the holy book.
As the couple takes rounds around the holy book well wishers will shower flower and petals on them.
The priest will enjoin all to join in the Ardas the end prayer as laid down by Guru Gobind.
After the ardas which is heard by all standing up the priest will bless the couple and pronounce the couple as man and wife.
The entire congregation then partakes the sacred Prasad which is distributed by the priest.
Sikh weddings are colorful affairs and after the ceremony all the people present will be entertained to a lavish lunch.
Sikh weddings take place only in the mornings and at no other time unlike Hindu weddings which are usually at night and dependent on astrological considerations.
In this respect Sikh weddings are more progressive and astrology plays no part.
It may be noted that Sikh weddings are not a contract like a Muslim wedding(Nikah) but a sacrament.
Sikh weddings can also be conducted in a gurudwara when the cost is considerably reduced.
But in the present day Sikh weddings have become lavish affairs where there is naked show of wealth.
This is a far cry from the austerity preached by the Sikh Gurus right from Nanak.
