Anand Karaj Ceremonies

[SarabhaPanjab]

http://sarabhapanjab.blogspot.com/2007/07/...t-gurdwara.html

Please read the comments posted on that link.

The correct conduct for Anand Karaj Ceremonies in UK Gurdwaras have not been reviewed, debated or discussed for the last few decades.

Some Gurdwaras now have totally commercialised this holy ceremony, and in one instance a Hindu married a Christian in front of Maharaaj just because they fancied the Gurdwara setting in their photo album.

Also a complete Anand Karaj ceremony should be followed with Guru-Ka-Langur which many Gurdwaras are now neglecting, encouraging the 'after Gurdwara rush' to wedding party in clubs, where in many cases meat and sharaab are consumed.

Questions:

1. Should a Sikh (by birth) have a minimum reht requirment? or a signed declaration of some kind before he/she is eligible for Anand Karaj.

2. Should a non-Sikh who practises another faith, and has no knowledge of Sikhi, or acceptance of Guru Granth Sahib be eligible for an Anand Karaj?

3. A non-Sikh (by birth) who has started to pursue Sikhi, but is not Amritdhari?

We have raised these points to Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. We await the response from Akal Takht regarding this issue.

Although the existing Sikh Reht Maryada is clear:

THE CODE OF SIKH CONDUCT AND CONVENTIONS

http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/anand-sanskar.asp

Anand Sanskar : (Sikh Matrimonial Ceremony and Conventions)

b. A Sikh's daughter must be married to a Sikh.

k. Persons professing faiths other than the Sikh faith cannot be joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony.

[Punjabi_Link]

There is nothing wrong about eating meat.

Anyway, you raise a good point. I like to hear what Sikh leaders and scholars have to say about this issue.

I personally don't support inter-faith marriages in gurdwara at all.

[SarabhaPanjab]

There is nothing wrong about eating meat.

Anyway, you raise a good point. I like to hear what Sikh leaders and scholars have to say about this issue.

I personally don't support inter-faith marriages in gurdwara at all.

I dont think "leaders" are interested untill they are given a polite kick up the backside by the youth

[Goli Da Vair Sada]

there is sumin wrong wiv eating meat, why u think there is no meat consumed at harmandir sahib? it aint acceptable to consume meat in a gurdwara

[Guest Dancing Warrior]

there is sumin wrong wiv eating meat, why u think there is no meat consumed at harmandir sahib? it aint acceptable to consume meat in a gurdwara

You’re going get your topic locked, why don’t you discuss the other issues instead.

[Sarbloh]

I have been told that up until the mid 1950s only brides and grooms who had taken Khande De Pahul and adopted a Sikh lifestyle were allowed to be involved in Anand Karaj, as it had been since the time of the first anand karaj. Speak to our Gursikh elders and they will probably relate their stories to you.

There are evolutionary stages in a Sikh life complemented by some ceremonies. The naam-karan (giving the worldly first Name), the amrit-sanchar, the anand-karaj (marriage), the antam-sanskar (death)

Amrit Sanchar and Anand Karaj, are two divine reminders for the union of the bride human soul with the husband God. Participating in the laavaa(n) is an exercise of faith. You are thinking about your commitments to Guru jee and you do parkarma (walk around Guru jee) therefore publically showing that your life is centered around Guru Ji. If you refuse to learn the akhars of the Gurmukhi alphabet or have no intentions of taking Amrit, do not carry out your nit-nem, do not wish to keep your kesh, won't follow rehat, do not make an atempt to know who the Sikh Gurus are etc. then participating in the Anand karaj and walking around Guru Jee as a mere ritualisatic act driven by cultural/family pressure.

Many people born in “Sikh” families drink alcohol, cut their hair, don't believe in God, and may even practice un-religious activities tie big red turbans, wear big long langa/suits and hold big swords. The men and women decorate themselves and spend thousands of pounds on decorations, but fail to decorate themselves in the love for Guru Ji.

Nobody should be forced or emotionally blackmailed to take Amrit. However Sikhi is a lifestyle, it is not a "sunday school", it can only be expereinced by living it. Amrit is one step and Anand Karaj is another they are both related.

[Bundha]

On a practical point, If we agree that only Amritdhari's can have Anand karaj then the vast majority of Sikhs are going to be left high and dry for a marraige ceremony. As bhaji has said, we shouldn't emotionally blackmail any one into Amrit, so what do we do with those people who are Sikhs but not amritdahri.

We cannot ignore them. and we should not turn them away, as this is a sure way of turning them away from sikhi. Sure some may already be away from sikhi and the Anand Karaj for them is just a showcase, but there will be many who genuinly have piyare of sikhi but not at that stage where they can take amrit.

We need to cater for them. do we have some sort of ceremony not in the presence of Guru sahib Ji? Do we just give them a civil ceremony?

[Sarbloh]

On a practical point, If we agree that only Amritdhari's can have Anand karaj then the vast majority of Sikhs are going to be left high and dry for a marraige ceremony. As bhaji has said, we shouldn't emotionally blackmail any one into Amrit, so what do we do with those people who are Sikhs but not amritdahri.

We cannot ignore them. and we should not turn them away, as this is a sure way of turning them away from sikhi. Sure some may already be away from sikhi and the Anand Karaj for them is just a showcase, but there will be many who genuinly have piyare of sikhi but not at that stage where they can take amrit.

We need to cater for them. do we have some sort of ceremony not in the presence of Guru sahib Ji? Do we just give them a civil ceremony?

Based on my family stories. When my Grandparents married back in Punjab in the late 1920’s they did phera around a havan (Hindu wedding) as at the time my Grandparents were not practicing Sikhs. They were born into familes where some members had adopted Sikhi and some had not. Those who were Sikh were strict on Rehat, Keshdhari etc and those who were not Sikh did not keep Singh/Kaur in their names. It seems apparent that at the time, the bride and groom were given Amrit at a Sanchar sometime before or after the Anand Karaj. From what my Grandmother told me, it was not the norm to commit to an Anand Karaj without taking Amrit within a certain time before or after the ceremony.

[WILDSINGH]

On a practical point, If we agree that only Amritdhari's can have Anand karaj then the vast majority of Sikhs are going to be left high and dry for a marraige ceremony. As bhaji has said, we shouldn't emotionally blackmail any one into Amrit, so what do we do with those people who are Sikhs but not amritdahri.

We cannot ignore them. and we should not turn them away, as this is a sure way of turning them away from sikhi. Sure some may already be away from sikhi and the Anand Karaj for them is just a showcase, but there will be many who genuinly have piyare of sikhi but not at that stage where they can take amrit.

We need to cater for them. do we have some sort of ceremony not in the presence of Guru sahib Ji? Do we just give them a civil ceremony?

Very true, we have enough problems at the moment with people moving away from Sikhi without people actually pushing people away. But the idea of people not having a ceromony in the presence of Guru ji in no a very good one, you might as well say if you are not Amritdhari you can't matha tek infront of Guru ji.

[gurmeetjodhey]

the folowing are my personal opinions, they have absolutely no reference from anywhere, they are personally experienced, due to faith in my mitr pyara shri guru granth sahib ji and attachment with the sikhi.

1. no inter faith, inter religion, or ceremonial weddings should be allowed in gurudwara / gurudwara complex / property owned in the name of gurughar / halls other than gurudwara or gurudwara property but in presence of my mitr pyara shri guru granth sahib ji . other than gurudwara, 'anand karaj' must not be allowed in first place.

2. both bride and groom must be gursikhs (keshadhari or sehajdhari does not matter).

3. foods only according to the sikh rahit maryada (lungar) must be served as a part of anand karaj ceremony.

4. no wine (or any other kind of intoxicants), meat, beaf, fish, dance, music other than shabad kirtan should be allowed as a part of the ceremony.

5. no fix amount should be collected from the parties (parents of bride or groom) as a fees (or "seva").

6. sikhiya (teachings) according to the gurmat must be delivered to the geathering after the "anand karaj" ceremony, specially to the bride and groom.

7. most of the time, i v seen "sehra" (garland) taken from the offerings to my mitr pyara shri guru granth sahib ji being given to the bride and groom, instead of that 5 K's should be given to them so as a inspiration that can motivate them to be amritdhari in future.

8. gurudwara committee must insist to have the 'anand karaj' ceremony performed mostly in amrit vela, if not possible, before 1200 noon atleast.

as i said earier, these are my personal opinions, no reference from anywhere, no offence aimed, peace.

bhul chuk maaf.