The Sikh marriage ceremony usually takes place in the gurudwara, the Sikh place of worship, or at the bride's home. The Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) must be present regardless of the place where the marriage ceremony is conducted.
The morning of the wedding day is marked by the gharoli ceremony at the groom's house. The groom's sister-in-law, accompanied by other female relatives, goes to a nearby well or Gurudwara to fill an earthen pitcher or gharoli with water, which is later used to bathe the bridegroom. Thereafter, khare charna is performed wherein the groom is made to sit on a stool for his bath, and four girls hold a cloth over his head. Following his bath, the groom puts on new clothes.
The groom drapes a coloured chunni, usually pink, red or orange around his neck and usually carries a sword by his side. Sehrabandi, putting of the floral veil and the kalgi on the groom's forehead by the his maternal uncle and applying of kajal (black kohl) in the eyes by his sister-in-law is done before the Baraat, the wedding procession leaves for the ceremony.
A similar bathing ritual is performed at the bride's house following which her maternal uncle takes her for choora ceremony. She wears a set of red and white ivory (since it is now banned, bone or plastic are alternatives) bangles that have been dipped in kachchi lassi or buttermilk. Kaleeren, ornaments with dangling golden metal plates, are tied to the bride's wrist by her close female relatives.
On reaching the bride's house, the milni (meeting) ceremony is held with the senior members of both families embracing and exchanging gifts with each other. Shabads (hymns) are sung and aardas (prayer) recited as the wedding procession enters the gurudwara or the place where the wedding is arranged to take place.
The Wedding Ceremony
A granthi or the holy man is usually in charge of the marriage ceremony. The ceremony begins with an explanation of the importance of marriage. The couple then show they agree to be married by bowing to the Guru Granth Sahib. Then the bride's father ties the bride's chunnito the groom's scarf to symbolise her departure from the bride's family to join the groom's family. A marriage hymn of four verses, the ‘Lavan', written by the Sikh teacher Guru Ram Das, is then sung. To symbolise their support, the relatives help the bridal couple to walk around the Guru Granth Sahib after each verse of the hymn has been sung. The couple is declared married at the completion of the fourth round. Throughout the ceremony, hymns are sung and prayers are said for the future happiness of the newly-weds. The hidaayat or niyams – their duties and responsibilities towards each other as man and wife, and also towards their elders – are now recited to the couple.
Final prayers are then said and sweets, Karah Parshad, made from flour and sugar, are distributed to the people present to seek God's blessings for the new couple. Relatives and friends garland the newly-wedded couple and present gifts. A meal follows, either at the Gurdwara if the ceremony has taken place there, or at the bride's house. Later the bride changes into new clothes that are presented to her by the groom's family. As she parts from her house, she throws back grains of rice, thereby wishing prosperity to the family she has left behind.
