What is an Anand Karaj and what happens during the Sikh wedding ceremony?

Short answer

An Anand Karaj is the Sikh wedding ceremony, meaning 'Blissful Union'. The couple sit together while four hymns are sung, and they walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times as they commit to each other.

An Anand Karaj is the traditional Sikh wedding ceremony, and it is a spiritual union rather than a legal contract on its own. The service takes place in a gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship. The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture, is treated as the living Guru and is present throughout.

The bride and groom sit together on a raised platform. Four hymns, called laavan, are sung. Each hymn marks a stage of the marriage, from first steps towards God to deepening love and devotion. As each hymn is sung, the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib once. These four circuits are why the ceremony is sometimes described as a four-round procession.

Family and guests join in the singing and sit quietly during the hymns. There may be readings, prayers and a blessing for the couple. The ceremony ends with the couple receiving a blessing and often a sweet treat shared with everyone.

If you want the marriage to be legally recognised in England and Wales, the Anand Karaj alone is not enough. You would usually need a separate civil ceremony at a register office or approved venue. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with the register office or your gurdwara beforehand.