Usually, Sikh weddings are confused with Hindu or Muslim wedding traditions due to the overlapping of some of the cultural events. Amir Haq, an expert at Asian wedding photography in this blog, clears this misconception and introduces you to the beautiful Sikh wedding traditions that you didn’t know of before.
Sikh wedding celebration honours both heritage and personal choices, focusing on the interpersonal moments between friends, family, and the couple to truly reflect what matters most in life. The distinctive religious traditions too play out in the wedding ceremony that the Sikh wedding photographer must capture to photograph the essence of the wedding.
The Pre-Wedding Rituals
Rokka (Pre-Engagement)
It is the very first ceremony that takes place and is the most important one, too, since it signifies the start of the Sikh wedding rituals. The Rokka is not only for the bride and groom but also symbolises the unity of the two families and friends as well as the couples.
Kurmai or Engagement
Before the wedding, an engagement ceremony or Kurmai takes place where the bhaji of the gurdwara applies tilak on the groom’s forehead, reciting religious rhymes all the while. The families of the couple then exchange gifts and the bride and groom exchange the rings.
The Chunni Chaddai
After the engagement, the groom’s family visits the bride’s house. The mother-in-law of the bride covers the head of the future daughter-in-law’s head with a chunni and gives her gifts. She also applies a little mehndi to the bride’s palms. As your Asian wedding photographer in Birmingham, Amir Haq Photography covers all these events to create a perfect wedding story for you.
The Chooda Ceremony
Chooda ceremony is one of the most profound and most awaited for all the Sikh and Punjabi girls. Here the bride’s maternal uncle gets her red and white bangles to which a golden-coloured kalire is tied.
Maiya
Maiya is a tradition where both the bride and the groom are not allowed to leave their homes before the wedding takes place.
Gaana Ritual
In the gaana ritual, a sacred red thread in tied to the bride’s left and the groom’s right hand a few days before the wedding. It is believed that the thread protects the couple from evil eyes and bad omen.
Vatna Ceremony
Vatna ceremony is known as the haldi ceremony that is part of most Asian weddings. Turmeric paste, powdered barley, and mustard oil are applied to the bride and the groom.
Gharoli Ritual
In the gharoli ritual, holy water is brought from the gurdwara, which is used for bathing the bride and the groom. It is brought by the sisters-in-law of the bride and groom in earthen pots.
Milni Ceremony
The milni ceremony is where the bride’s family welcomes the groom’s family with gifts or sagan. Also, the relatives from both families exchange garlands.
Anandkaraj
Anand Karaj or the actual wedding ceremony is not too elaborate. The families of both bride and groom go to the gurdwara and attend the main kirtan (hymn-singing). A granthi in the gurdwara recites the ardaas and the couple takes four pheras around the Guru Granth Sahib. The groom leads the pherascarring a kirpan (sword) in his hand. Both are then pronounced married and take the blessings of all elders. After this, karahprasad (a sacramental sweet pudding) among the guests present in the Gurudwara.
These are a few of the beautiful and intense rituals that a Sikh wedding photographer captures, relaying the events of each day in the most amazing photographs.
