Aanand Kaaraj is the Sikh marriage ceremony. The exact date of its origin is not known, but references can be found indicating that the marriages of the children of Guru Sahib were performed through this ceremony. Guru Sahib made it obligatory for a Sikh not to marry except through the Aanand Kaaraj ceremony.
In the Sikh marriage system, the couple circumambulates the Guru Granth Sahib four times in a clockwise direction while hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib (at pp. 773–774) are read. The ceremony is completed after an Ardaas (the Sikh prayer).
Some Sikhs, however, do not perform nuptial rounds around the Guru Granth Sahib because they believe this practice is a copy of the Saptapadi, the Hindu marriage ceremony. They profess that a simple recitation of four hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by an Ardaas, completes the ceremony.
According to the Aanand marriage ceremony, both partners should be Sikh, or at least they should declare that they accept Sikhism as their religion and promise to undergo initiation as early as possible. An act, the Anand Marriage Act, was passed on October 22, 1909.
This does not mean that the Sikh marriage ceremony originated from this date. Bhai Daya Singh, in his Rahitnama (code of conduct), had already mentioned the Sikh wedding rites. The real Nirankaris, Baba Dayal and Baba Darbara Singh, resurrected these ceremonies in the early years of the nineteenth century.
More Information:
- Origins: The term Anand Karaj translates to “Blissful Event.” The ceremony was introduced by Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru, who composed the Anand Sahib, a hymn celebrating spiritual bliss. His successor, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, composed the Lavan (four hymns) that are central to the marriage ceremony.
- Early Practices: Initially, Sikh marriages were influenced by Hindu customs, including circumambulation around a sacred fire. Over time, the Sikh Gurus emphasized distinct practices, such as circumambulating the Guru Granth Sahib, to establish a unique Sikh identity.
- Reforms by Nirankaris and Singh Sabha Movement: In the 19th century, reform movements like the Nirankaris and Singh Sabha played a significant role in standardizing the Anand Karaj ceremony. They eliminated Brahmanical rituals and emphasized the centrality of the Guru Granth Sahib in the marriage rites.
- Legal Recognition: The Anand Marriage Act was passed in 1909, providing legal recognition to Sikh marriages. This act affirmed the distinct identity of the Sikh marriage ceremony.
- Modern Practices: Today, the Anand Karaj ceremony is governed by the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Sikh Code of Conduct). It typically takes place in a Gurdwara, with the couple circumambulating the Guru Granth Sahib four times while the Lavan hymns are recited.
