Anand Karaj

Sikh teaching treats married life as the norm and rejects celibacy as a spiritual ideal. The Sikh Rehat Maryada says marriage should be without regard to caste or descent, and between Sikhs. It forbids child marriage and marriage for money, and rejects horoscopes for choosing the day. Widows and widowers may marry again.

The Lavan are by Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, in Raag Suhi on angs 773 and 774. Sri Guru Amar Das Ji composed Anand Sahib. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism traces the history of the ceremony to these two Gurus. It says the rite fell into partial disuse in the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and was revived by the Nirankari and Singh Sabha reformers.[EoS][Src][EoS]

The wedding is held before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in a gurdwara or elsewhere, and begins with kirtan. The couple sit facing the scripture, with the bride on the groom's left. The officiant may be a man or a woman.

After a first Ardas, the officiant explains the duties of married life in light of the Lavan, describing the couple as one soul in two bodies. The couple bow to accept this. The bride's father or a close relative gives her the end of the groom's sash. Each verse of the Lavan is read and then sung as the couple walk around the scripture, the groom leading. They bow after each round.

After the fourth round, the first five stanzas and the last of Anand Sahib are recited. Ardas follows, and kara prashad is shared. The Rehat Maryada says the ceremony cannot join those of other faiths. Families often add customs such as milni, the meeting of the two families.[Src][EoS]

Reform-minded Sikhs wanted the rite recognised in law. Some opposed it, including Brahmin priests who performed the older rites, and the Arya Samaj, which held that Sikhs came under Hindu law. Tikka Ripudaman Singh of Nabha introduced the bill in the Imperial Legislative Council in 1908, and Sundar Singh Majithia moved it in 1909. It became law on 22 October 1909.

The Act is short. It declares Anand marriages valid from the date they took place. It does not apply to those not professing Sikhism, and leaves other customary Sikh marriages valid. Wikipedia reports that a 2012 amendment in India added registration of Anand marriages, with presidential assent on 7 June 2012, and that Sikhs in Pakistani Punjab can now also register them. These later points have not been confirmed against the statutes.[EoS][EoS][Web]