What happens during an Anand Karaj
The Anand Karaj is the Sikh wedding ceremony. It is short by the standards of South Asian weddings, often under an hour once the four Lavaan begin — but every minute of it carries weight. This guide walks through what actually happens, in the order it happens, written for couples planning an Anand Karaj in Canada and for the family and guests who will be sitting in the sangat.
What the Anand Karaj is, in one sentence
The Anand Karaj is the Sikh wedding ceremony — held in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the Gurdwara, in which the couple is joined as one soul in two bodies through the reading and circumambulation of the four Lavaan composed by Guru Ram Das Ji. The Guru is the witness. The couple is married not by an officiant, not by signing a register inside the darbar, but by walking around the Guru four times while the Lavaan is sung.
Everything else in the Anand Karaj — the kirtan, the ardas, the hukamnama, the karah parshad — supports that central act.
Before the ceremony begins
Guests arrive at the Gurdwara, cover their heads, remove their shoes at the racks outside the darbar, and wash their hands. Many Gurdwaras keep a basket of rumals at the entrance for anyone who needs one. Phones are usually asked to be on silent inside the darbar.
Inside the darbar, the sangat enters by bowing in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and then sits on the floor — traditionally men on one side and women on the other, though many Canadian Gurdwaras have moved to mixed seating. The Ragi jatha is already on stage, performing shabad kirtan. This pre-ceremony kirtan can run for half an hour or more — guests trickle in throughout it.
The groom arrives first, sometimes after a brief baraat outside the Gurdwara, and walks into the darbar, bows before Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and takes his seat in front of the palki. The bride arrives shortly after, walks the same path, bows the same way, and sits next to the groom — traditionally to his left. Both face the Guru.
The palla ceremony
Before the four Lavaan begin, the bride's father — or another close male relative, depending on the family — is invited to the front. He takes one end of the palla, the saffron or gold scarf already draped across the groom's shoulder, and places it into the bride's hand. The couple now holds the palla between them.
This is the visible moment when the two families become one. From here through the end of the four Lavaan, the bride will follow the groom around Guru Granth Sahib Ji while holding the palla — a continuous physical connection through the entire vow.
A short shabad is often sung at this moment, and the Granthi may give a brief explanation of what the palla represents, in Punjabi and sometimes also in English for the benefit of non-Sikh guests in attendance.
The four Lavaan — what each one is about
The four Lavaan are four stanzas of a composition by Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru. They are read aloud by the Granthi, then sung by the Ragis as kirtan. After each Lavaan is sung, the couple stands and walks one circumambulation around Guru Granth Sahib Ji — the bride following the groom, holding the palla. Four Lavaan, four circumambulations.
We will not paraphrase the Gurbani itself — for the authoritative text and translation, your Granthi at the Gurdwara is the best source, and SikhRI and SikhiToTheMax.org are well-regarded public references. In broad interpretive terms, each Lavaan marks a stage:
- First Lavaan — the foundation: living by the Guru's instruction, turning the household toward naam and dharam.
- Second Lavaan — the meeting: the soul encounters the True Guru, and yearning for the Divine begins.
- Third Lavaan — the rising: love deepens, the heart immerses in remembrance of Waheguru, sustained by the company of the sangat.
- Fourth Lavaan — the union: the soul attains a state of sehaj, the equipoise of being inseparably joined with the Divine. The couple, walking the fourth circumambulation, is married.
These are themes, not translations. Sit with your Granthi before the wedding and ask them to walk you through the actual verses — most are happy to do this, and it makes the ceremony land entirely differently when the couple knows what is being sung over them.
Ardas, hukamnama and karah parshad
After the fourth Lavaan and the fourth circumambulation, the couple sits back down. The Granthi reads a closing shabad — most commonly a stanza of Anand Sahib by Guru Amar Das Ji — and then the sangat stands for ardas, the congregational prayer. The names of the couple are mentioned in ardas, asking for the Guru's blessing on the marriage.
The sangat then sits, and a hukamnama is taken — a random reading from Guru Granth Sahib Ji, given as guidance for the couple to take into the marriage. It is not a fortune. It is the Guru's instruction for the moment.
Karah parshad is then distributed. The couple receives it first, then immediate family, then the sangat. Each person receives a small portion in cupped hands. By the time karah parshad has gone through the room, the ceremony is complete.
After the ceremony — langar
Every Gurdwara serves langar — a free vegetarian meal open to anyone present. After the Anand Karaj, the couple, both families, and the entire sangat sit together on the floor and eat langar. This is part of the ceremony, not separate from it. Skipping langar to rush to the reception venue is poor form, and the elders will notice.
Allow at least 45 minutes after the ceremony for langar and family photos before leaving the Gurdwara. Photos inside the darbar are governed by the individual Gurdwara's rules — check before the day, not on it.
How long the whole morning takes
From the start of the four Lavaan to the closing ardas is typically 45 to 90 minutes. With the pre-ceremony kirtan, the palla, the post-ceremony ardas, hukamnama, parshad and langar, the full Gurdwara morning runs 2 to 3 hours.
Build the reception start time around that — not the other way around. The most common Anand Karaj timeline mistake we see is couples scheduling reception cocktails at 4pm when the Gurdwara doesn't wrap until 1pm in a city where the venue is 45 minutes away. Tight timelines steal the calm out of the day. Build the day around the ceremony.
“The Anand Karaj is not a performance. The Guru is the witness. The couple is sitting in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, not in front of the sangat — and the day works best when everyone in the room remembers that.”
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Anand Karaj take?
From the start of the Lavaan to the closing ardas is usually 45 to 90 minutes. If kirtan and shabads run before the Lavaan starts, the full Gurdwara morning can easily go 2 to 3 hours. Plan your reception start with at least an hour of buffer after Gurdwara wrap-up.
Can guests of other faiths attend an Anand Karaj?
Yes, in almost every Canadian Gurdwara. The four standard requirements are: head covered (a rumal or scarf is provided at the door), shoes off and stored in the racks, no tobacco or alcohol on you, and respectful conduct in the darbar. You can sit on the floor with everyone else. Photography rules vary — ask the Gurdwara, not the family.
What should I wear to an Anand Karaj as a guest?
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees. Shalwar kameez, suit, kurta pajama or a simple dress all work. A head covering is required inside the darbar — bring a chunni, dupatta or large scarf, or use what the Gurdwara provides. Avoid leather inside the darbar where possible. Black is generally fine; some elders prefer guests avoid all-black.
Where do the bride and groom sit during the Anand Karaj?
Together, side by side, in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The bride traditionally sits to the groom's left. They face the Guru — not the sangat, not each other — because the ceremony is centred on the Guru, not the couple.
What is the palla and when does it appear?
The palla is a scarf — usually saffron or gold — that the groom wears across his shoulder. Before the Lavaan begin, the bride's father (or another close family member, depending on the family) places one end of the palla into the bride's hand. The couple holds it through the four Lavaan. It is the visible symbol that the two families are now joined under the Guru.
Is there an exchange of rings or vows like a Western wedding?
No. There is no exchange of rings, no spoken vows, no officiant pronouncing the couple married. The four Lavaan are the vows. The Guru is the witness. The couple becoming one is completed by walking around Guru Granth Sahib Ji four times — once after each Lavaan is sung.
Now plan it
Understand the ceremony? Here's how to actually plan it: