Sikh Wedding

Sikh community is known for their solidarity. It is said that Sikh should marry a Sikh to evade conflict in religion and raising children. The Sikh wedding is generally held in Gurudwara. In Sikh wedding, the festive ambiance is set a week before the ceremony. The groom's sister and the bride's father play most important role during the wedding ceremony, apart from the family members. The Sikh marriage is a simple and elegant occasion wherein various rituals are followed before, during and after it.

Shagun or engagement is the ceremony that marks the beginning of the Sikh wedding celebrations. The Preacher of the Gurudwara reads hymns and then applies a tilak on the groom's forehead, to mark the engagement ceremony.. As a part of the shagun, a thali containing coconut, dry dates, mithai, jewelry and money are sent to the groom's family by the bride's family. Choora or the bangle ceremony is another important Sikh pre-wedding ritual. The occasion is organized at the bride's home, wherein the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride adorn her wrist with white and red bangles.

Gharoli is observed on the wedding day, at the groom's home. During the occasion, females go to a nearby well or Gurudwara to fill an earther pitcher (gharoli) with water, which is later, used to bathe the groom. This is followed by the wedding ceremony, which is called 'milni'. The Groom is tied a sehera (floral veil) to his forehead. They adorn his neck with a garland of currency notes. The Barat then heads towards the bride's house, to perform milni ceremony. After the culmination of the milni ceremony, the bride and the groom sit together to attend the Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan. Thereafter, the Priest of the Gurudwara recites hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which are then sung and the bride and groom, who encircle the Guru Granth Sahib. While walking around the Guru Granth Sahib, the groom leads the bride, with a sword in his hand. The marriage ceremony culminates here. This is followed by a grand feast.