Sikh Wedding PhotoSikh Weddings

Sikh Weddings are by their nature very vibrant and exciting. There are many rituals and ceremonies that mark the traditional Sikh Wedding and pre-wedding celebrations and there are also post wedding celebrations too. Your dedicated Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer will be highly skilled and will have a great deal of knowledge and experience in Sikh Weddings, pre-wedding and post Sikh Wedding celebrations, rituals and ceremonies.

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Pre-Sikh Wedding

KURMAI or Engagement – This is usually performed around a week before the Sikh Wedding and the ceremony may be performed at the Gurdwara, the engagement consists of:

Your dedicated Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer will remove his shoes and cover his head as is obligatory in the Gurdwara. If the Kurmai is to be performed at the Groom’s home then the Bride’s family will visit and present Kara, Kirpan and /or traditional sweets and other auspicious items such as coconut, dried dates, sugar and money. The Groom’s family will give the Bride’s family a traditional asian suit and sweets for the Bride. Your dedicated Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer will be aware of all the expected rituals above and will capture them for you as a lasting memory.

MEHNDI, MAIYA & JAGO – is very colourful and exciting, firstly starting with the bride and groom being confined to their home for the last few days prior to the Sikh Wedding. The Bride and Groom are not allowed to leave home or change their clothes. A yellow paste consisting of flour, turmeric , water and mustard oil is rubbed over the Bride and Groom in their respective homes, Afterwards there is singing and dancing and the Jago that is decorated with lights is rested upon the head of the dancers as they bang brightly decorated poles on the floor.

GHAND - This red thread, thought to be auspicious, is tied to the left wrist of the Bride and the right wrist of the Groom.

KHARE CHARNA - As is customary the Groom sits on a stool for his bath and four girls will hold a cloth over his head. You will usually see this incorporated at the Maiya ceremony.

CHOORA CEREMONY – The Bride’s maternal uncle places the wedding bangles which are red and white, into a bowl of milk before placing it on the Bride’s wrists. The Bride’s close female relatives tie on her Kaleeren – a very decorative, dangling ornament that hangs from the wrist and was traditionally made from dried and polished coconut shell and other accessories.

GHODNI CHADNA & SEHRABANDANI – On the morning of the wedding ceremony, at the Groom’s home, a Sehra/Turban is ceremonially placed on the Groom’s head, a puja is performed where the turban is blessed while the Mukut or crown is placed on the turban. The Mukut will be removed at the Gurdwara because whilst he wears it he is classed as a prince but once in the Gurdwara he is humbled as he is in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib and holy men. The sister-in-laws put khol on his eyes, a decorative veil is tied around the Groom’s forehead covering his face from view, the Groom is then blessed and is ready for the wedding.

MILNI – The Milni takes place either at the Bride’s home or at the Gurdwara, when members of both families exchange garlands and greet and embrace each other. Once this ritual is complete both families go onto the Gurdwara where they are served breakfast and tea before the Sikh Wedding ceremony starts.

These are just a handful of ceremonies and rituals that mark the traditional essence of the events prior to the Sikh Wedding. These are all important and it is a must that your Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer knows of all these traditional rituals so that they can be fully captured for a lasting memory.

ANAND KARAJ / LAWAN PHERE – The Sikh Wedding.

All Sikh Weddings take place in the Gurdwara. Once all families are seated the Groom makes his entrance along with his family, a short ritual and prayers are sung before the Bride enters and takes her position next to the Groom. A puja is performed with the Bride and Groom and the Bride is given away in a ceremony called KANYADAAN. The Bride’s Saree is tied to the Groom’s PAGDI. More prayers are sung before the first circling of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Groom walks in front of the Bride with his sword in his hand. Between each circling of the Guru Granth Sahib, both the Bride and Groom sit down, bow and wait for the next Phere. On the fourth and last circling, the Bride and Groom, now newlyweds are showered with flowers and petals. HIDAAYAT or NIYAMS -their duties and responsibilities to each other as man and wife and also towards their In-laws and Elders are recited to them. Family and friends then Garland the Bride and Groom, give them money and feed them sweets before they leave the Gurdwara ,to head to the next venue where they will celebrate with a grand feast, music and much dancing. Your Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer will have knowledge of all these rituals and it is important that these rituals are captured for a lasting memory.

Post Wedding

DOLI - This is the Bride’s official departure from their family home. Sometimes this is done from the rec eption venue. The close relatives of the Bride and Groom will go to her parent’s home, where there are some traditional rituals, one of which is the Bride’s throwing of handfuls of rice to the left and right of her and behind her. This is symbolic of her wishes of prosperity for the family she leaves behind. Your Sikh Wedding Photographer and Sikh Wedding Videographer will capture this bitter- sweet occasion fully. They know how important and significant this moment is since the Bride is now married and a new chapter in her life and her family’s life begins. She left in the morning as a single woman and leaves in the evening as a newlywed.

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