INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

moment of the ceremony the granthi will decorate the couple with flower garlands
and thank the families for conducting a wedding in accordance with the Sikh way of
life and the Guru’s teaching.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE SIKH WEDDING CEREMONY
1. The groom enters the gurdwara and performs matha tekna before Guru Granth Sahib
2. The bride enters the gurdwara and performs matha tekna before Guru Granth Sahib
3. The granthi leads the congregration in an Ardas
4. The granthi takes a Hukam from Guru Granth Sahib
5. The granthi or the ragi instructs the couple on marriage life
6. The couple bow before Guru Granth Sahib
7. The bride’s father connects the bride and groom with a shawl
8. The granthi recites the first stanza of Suhi Chhant
9. The couple performs matha tekna, offers money and circumambulates the
Guru Granth Sahib to the ragis’ singing of the first lavan
10. The couple performs matha tekna and takes a seat
11. Point 7 to 9 is repeated in the same manner for the three remaining stanzas
until the four circumabulations have been completed
12. The ragis will perform the first five verses and the last verse of Anand Sahib
13. The granthi leads the congregration in an Ardas
14. The granthi repeats the Hukam from Guru Granth Sahib
13. Distribution of karah prashad
15. Speeches to the couple
16. The couple is garlanded by the granthi Figure 21.
DEPARTURE AND INCORPORATION
The ceremonies following a Sikh wedding are often charged with mixed emotions of
joy and sorrow. Jokingly, the bride’s sisters often play a game with the groom, in
which they hide his shoes, while his friends try to prevent the girls from doing this.
The sisters-in-law make sure they give the groom a hard time and negotiate over
monetary gifts in return for his shoes. After the wedding the two parties will again
move to a marriage palace which represents the native home of the bride. The newly
weds are seated on chairs like royalty to be adorned, congratulated, and given gifts.
Framed by sadder emotions is the bride’s final departure (vidai) and separation from
her family and parental home. In a symbolic gesture of the transition she retires to a
room and takes off the dress given by her maternal uncle before the wedding and
then dresses up in a suit offered to her by her in-laws. When the bride returns with
her sister, the granthi from the gurdwara will perform an Ardas in which he gives
thanks for the successful completion of the ceremony and seeks a blessing for the
newly weds. At the gate of the marriage palace the bride throws rice, barley or pulses
over her head, while wishing prosperity for the family and house she is leaving. The
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Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008