Though Sikhs follow several Panjabi marriage customs, their marriage rites are performed through Anand Karaj. According to popular tradition, the Anand form of marriage was popularized by Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru, who composed the hymns called lavan for the purpose of solemnizing Sikh wedding. The anand form of marriage got legal sanction through the passage of the Anand Marriage Bill in the Imperial Legislative Council in 1909. after fixing a suitable match negotiations are finalized through a simple ceremony called roka, which is performed in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Thereafter, a suitable date for marriage is fixed. Generally a day before the marriage, engagement and ring ceremonies are also performed. According to Sikh rehat maryada, the Anand Karaj is supposed to be performed during a simple ceremony in the ambrosial hours after kirtan of Asa di Var. In actual practice, however, most of the Anand Kara ceremonies are performed a little before lunch-time. After offering ardaas, the groom and the bride circumambulate the Guru Granth Sahib in a clockwise direction. This is done four times with the priest reading the lavan from the Guru Granth sahib and the ragi jatha repeating each lavan set to music. The wedding ceremony concludes with the singing of first five and last stanzas of Anand followed by ardaas. Hukam is then taken by the granthi from the Gurur Granth Sahib by opening it at random. Thereafter the congregation is served the karah prasad with which a Sikh wedding is concluded. Through text based on Gurbani and popular tradition, the book tries to capture the spirit of the Sikh wedding through colourful pictures of various ceremonies connected with the wedding.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh is a renowned climber and mountaineer award winner. Civil Engineer by professional and retired as Commandant (G.D.) after having served in ITBP for 35 years. Born on 12-03-1944 at village "Raj Pur Bhayan" in the foothill of shivalik ranges. Dist. Hoshiarpur (Punjab State) India. He has done extensive trekking in Indian Himalayas for continous 25 years and also climbed in Alps (Europe). He has the distinction of being successful leadership of the First every climb of "Mount Everest", 29028 ft. from the route of North-Col Tibet (Chine) side in the year 1996 (pre honoured with the covered title "Khan Grid" by government of Mongolia in 1995 under the Culture Exchange Programme between India & Mongolia. He has rendered commendable services many years in the mountain area of Leh-Ladakh (J & K), Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal & Kumaon), Himachal Pradesh extending from Karakoram to Kumaon Himalaya. Few of the mountain achievements and adventures are mentioned below: Special rock climbing course, 1966, Basic mountaineering course at H.M.I. Darjeeling, 1967, Leader of Gangotri / Badrinath trek-king expedition via Kalandikhal 19995 ft. high peak (Garhwal Himalaya) in 1968. Climb of ferry peak (Sikkim), Advance mountaineering guide and rescue course at Australia (Europe) and climbed 03 peaks on "Alps" (Europe) 1971, Dy. Leader of Neelkantha 1974. Set a world record by his first ascent tovirgin peak. “Saser-Kangri-I in 1973 on 7th June. Climb of Trishul peak (7120 mtrs.) in 1970, unnamed peak (6065 mtrs.) in Kakbhusand range (Garhwal) and Pancha-Chulli-I (6037 mtr.) both in 1972. He has been pioneer to establish mountaineering & Ski-ing Institute at ITBP Auli (Joshimath) and worked as Training Officer and later on as Principal / Commandant of this Institute. He has been with foreign joint expeditions such as: Tunni peak in 1975, Gangotri peak, 1976, Nanda Devi (Main) two times in 1978 and 1979, Bhagirathi-I 1980, Nandakot 1981, East-Nanda Devi-1982. Participated Seminars and International Mountaineering Camps, Administrative officer duty in IMF 1991, leader successful expedition to Mt. Bamba Dhura (6355 mtrs) 1991, leader of successful team to Mt. Un-named peaks 6172 mtrs. & 6075 mtrs. In (H.P.) State 1992, Liaison officer and member of Indo-Ukraine (Russia) expedition to Mt. "Kangchen Junga" April-June 1993, overall leader of joint successful expedition Indo-Mangolia to Mt. "Joanli" (21760 ft.) in November 1994, Summiteer of peak, "Mana, 23860 ft. in August 1995, Summiteer of three unnamed peaks, 6725 mtrs. 6489 mtrs. & 6449 mtrs. In Leh-Ladakh in November 1995. Mohinder Singh has been awarded more than fifteen Commendations / citation, appreciations different occasion of challenging / special assignments. He has carried out meticulously mountain rescue works many times. He has been decorated with Indian Police Medal (IPM) for meritorious services in 1997 and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Award by Punjab State Government in 1998.
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