Anand Karaj (meaning ceremony of happiness is the Sikh marriage ceremony and like all other Sikh ceremonies, this one too is performed in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib and normally takes place at a Gurdwara or any place where the Guru Granth Sahib maybe present. Most Sikh weddings are 'arranged'. The families are always involved in the long and hard process. The bride must be (at youngest) 18, and the marriage cannot take place if the bride and groom don't see eye to eye. Members from both families, and friends, appear at the ceremony. Before the official ceremony begins, hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib are sung for some time (usually a couple of hours). Eventually the groom comes and sits in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and is later joined by the bride ready for the Lava to take place.
The ceremony may be conducted by a Sikh official, who may either be a man or a woman however, in most cases the Giani Ji (the head priest) of the Gurdwara conducts the ceremony. Marriage is considered by the Sikhs to be an irreversible spiritual bond,
and is seen as a spiritual union. Anand Karaj can take place without waiting for an auspicious day. At the time of wedding, the couple occupy seats in front of Guru Granth Sahib in the presence of Sangat (congregation) with the bridegroom sitting to the right of the bride. The bride and groom bow towards the Holy Granth and walk around it 4 times, while the bride holds one end of the grooms scarf. The Giani reads the first Lava from the Guru Granth Sahib, then the Bride and Groom walk around the Guru Granth Sahib whilst the other Giani's sing the same Lava as a hymn. This ceremony is then repeated a further three times with a different prayer said at each Lava.
After the main ceremony, a big party takes place (known as a reception), usually in a hall, where close relatives would normally give speeches, and lots of traditional food is given out. This is very similar to the Hindu and Muslim traditions their weddings also takes place in a hall. The strengths for walking around the Guru Granth Sahib at a wedding is that it conveys the mutual and spiritual bond that the couple have.
DIVORCE
Traditionally, divorce was extremely rare within the growing Sikh community. Among those that live in westernized countries, it is a little more common, though still very rare in society on a mass scale. If the marriage is a 'shambles', divorce is permitted, and either person may marry again in the holy place of worship; Gurdwara.
The ceremony may be conducted by a Sikh official, who may either be a man or a woman however, in most cases the Giani Ji (the head priest) of the Gurdwara conducts the ceremony. Marriage is considered by the Sikhs to be an irreversible spiritual bond,
and is seen as a spiritual union. Anand Karaj can take place without waiting for an auspicious day. At the time of wedding, the couple occupy seats in front of Guru Granth Sahib in the presence of Sangat (congregation) with the bridegroom sitting to the right of the bride. The bride and groom bow towards the Holy Granth and walk around it 4 times, while the bride holds one end of the grooms scarf. The Giani reads the first Lava from the Guru Granth Sahib, then the Bride and Groom walk around the Guru Granth Sahib whilst the other Giani's sing the same Lava as a hymn. This ceremony is then repeated a further three times with a different prayer said at each Lava.
After the main ceremony, a big party takes place (known as a reception), usually in a hall, where close relatives would normally give speeches, and lots of traditional food is given out. This is very similar to the Hindu and Muslim traditions their weddings also takes place in a hall. The strengths for walking around the Guru Granth Sahib at a wedding is that it conveys the mutual and spiritual bond that the couple have.
DIVORCE
Traditionally, divorce was extremely rare within the growing Sikh community. Among those that live in westernized countries, it is a little more common, though still very rare in society on a mass scale. If the marriage is a 'shambles', divorce is permitted, and either person may marry again in the holy place of worship; Gurdwara.