The marriage process can be a long and formal one, with up to two weeks of daily activities leading to the wedding ceremony.  The Sikh wedding ceremony is called Anand Karaj meaning "Blissful Union". 

The ceremony usually takes place in the morning at a Sikh temple (Gurdwara) or in the bride or groom's home or in a banquet facility transformed into a temple for the occasion.

The ceremony can be officiated by a Granthi (priest) or any good Sikh. The bride is dressed in traditional shalwar and kameez or langa (a red blouse and trousers or skirt).

A heavy gold-embroidered shawl (chunni or dupatta) covers her head.  The groom is dressed in traditional shirt and trousers and he wears a red or dark pink turban and carries a coloured scarf (pulla).

Typical indian wedding dress The wedding day has many stages and ceremonies.  The milni (meeting) is the first event.  The bride and groom's families greet each other and embrace.  The groom distributes karah prashad (scrared food, ceremonial sweets) to his family.

The groom leads the party into the darbar sahib, a congregation hall.  As guests enter the gurdwara kirtan is performed, a singing of hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (holy book).  Women and men sit on opposite sides of the hall.  The Guru Granth Sahib is the focal point of the Gurdwara.

Guests may walk up to the Guru Granth Sahib, bow in front of it and leave a monetary offering.  Note, all guests are required to covered their heads with a scarf and remove shoes indicating respect for the Guru Granth Sahib prior to entering the hall.  The bride enters the hall, escorted by one or more close relatives/friends.  She sits down next to the groom (on his left) in silence.

Throughout the ceremony, neither the groom nor bride speak. The couple and their family and guests stand up for Ardas (prayer).  After Ardas the couple sits down and the officiate explains the significance and obligations of marriage.  The couple accept by bowing to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The father of the bride places one end of the groom's scarf, the pulla, passing it over the shoulder and placing it in his daughter's hand - symbolizes giving her away and the start of a new life with her husband. The officate reads the Lavan (a Sanskrit word literally meaning 'break away') hymn composed of four verses.  The officiate reads each verse from the Guru Granth Sahib.

The same verse is then sung by the musicians (ragies) as the couple slowly encircle the Guru Granth Sahib.  The groom leads these encirclements in a clock-wise direction, the bride follows, holding the scarf.  At the end of each encirclement, the couple bow together and take their respective seats and repeat.  The stanzas signify the progression of the marriage ceremony and union with the Lord as follows:

   1. The Lord sets out His Instructions for performing the daily duties of married life.
   2. The Lord leads you to meet the True Guru, the Primal Being.
   3. The mind is filled with Divine Love.
   4. We have found Eternal love with the Lord.

Upon the completion of the fourth lav, verse, the bride and groom are married.  Flower petals are traditionally showered upon the couple. The ceremony is concluded with the customary signing of the six stanzas of the Anand Sahib, a song of bliss, followed by ardas, and Vak, a random reading of a verse from Guru Granth Sahib.

The cermony, which takes about an hour, ends with the serving of karah parshad,  a buttery wheat-flour based sweet, to the congreation and signals the completion of the ceremony.  Relatives and friends then flock around the couple and bless and congraulate them.