Ceremony

An Anand Karaj — a Sikh wedding ceremony celebrating equality, love, and spiritual unity.

Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

When

Saturday, November 14

  • Guests arrive and settle in before the ceremony begins. Upon arrival, guests should head to the tent behind the Gurdwara, where breakfast and chai will be served before the ceremony.

    There’s no need to enter the Gurdwara right away - make your way to the tent first and enjoy some breakfast and chai while everyone gathers.

  • Before the ceremony, our families will formally greet one another during the Milni — a joyful Sikh wedding tradition symbolizing the joining of two families.

    Following the Milni, guests can continue enjoying breakfast and chai before making their way inside for the ceremony.

  • Our Sikh wedding ceremony, known as the Anand Karaj (“Blissful Union”), celebrates equality, love, and the journey of marriage. The ceremony includes traditional hymns, prayers, and four symbolic walks around the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture), each representing a stage of married life.

    What to Know Before You Arrive:

    • Shoes: Please remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall. A designated area will be available to store them.

    • Head Coverings: Everyone is required to cover their head as a sign of respect. Head coverings will be provided, or you may bring your own scarf or handkerchief.

    • Seating: Guests traditionally sit on the floor, with men on the right and women on the left when facing the front. Benches are available at the back for anyone who needs them.

    • Phones & Photos: Please keep phones on silent and avoid taking photos during the ceremony so everyone can enjoy the moment.

    Whether this is your first Sikh wedding or you've attended many, we're excited to share this special tradition with you!

  • Following the ceremony, everyone will make their way to the tent behind the Gurdwara for lunch, Shagun, and photos with the couple.

    Shagun is a wedding tradition where guests offer their congratulations and blessings to the newlyweds, often with a card or monetary gift. It’s completely optional — simply stopping by to congratulate and take a photo is more than enough.

    Guests are welcome to line up for Shagun and a photo with us, or begin enjoying lunch while they wait. If you have a card or gift, you’re welcome to give it to us here, or at the reception if you’ll be joining us later that evening.

    Lunch will be a traditional vegetarian meal shared together — a reflection of community, equality, and hospitality in Sikh tradition.

  • The Doli is a meaningful and emotional moment that marks the bride’s departure from her family home and the beginning of a new chapter with her partner. Traditionally, it symbolizes the transition from one family to another, filled with love, gratitude, and reflection.

    This moment can be emotional, especially for the bride and her family, as it represents both a farewell and a celebration of what’s ahead. You may see tears alongside smiles — this is a natural and important part of the tradition.

    Guests are welcome to observe respectfully. There’s nothing you need to do — simply being present and sharing in the moment means a lot.

Where

Sikh Society of Calgary

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sikh Centre, 739 81 St SW

Our wedding ceremony is called an Anand Karaj, a Sikh marriage ceremony that celebrates equality, partnership, and spiritual unity.

The ceremony takes place in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture) and includes hymns, prayers, and four symbolic rounds taken together. Each round represents a stage of marriage - commitment, balance, love, and shared growth.

Family and community are central to the celebration. You may see traditions like Milni, where our families formally greet one another before the ceremony begins.

You don’t need to know what to do - just come, observe, and celebrate with us. We’re so grateful to share this meaningful moment with you.

What to Wear

When visiting a Sikh temple (Gurdwara), you must dress modestly, covering your head, shoulders, and knees as a sign of respect. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing suitable for sitting on the floor, such as long pants or long skirts. Remove your shoes, wash your hands, and cover your head with a scarf, bandana, or provided cloth.

The Gurdwara will have a box of scarves, but you could bring your own headscarf for this purpose. Sikh ladies usually wear a “Chunni”, which is normally a long, flowing cloth with a decorated, veiled edging.

For our ceremony, we kindly ask that ladies avoid wearing red, as the bride will be wearing red in keeping with Sikh wedding traditions. We appreciate your help in making this colour special for the occasion.

Ladies, you’re more than welcome to wear non-Indian attire to both the Ceremony and Reception. If you’d like to wear Indian clothing, we’ve included a few suggestions below on where to find an outfit!

For the men, a suit works perfectly for both events. For the Ceremony, just make sure you’re comfortable sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Items to look for:

Women:

  • Anarkali Suit

  • Salwar Kameez / Punjabi Suit

  • Kurta Sets

  • Lehenga Sets

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Traditional Indian attire is welcome but not required! Formal or semi-formal Western clothing is perfectly fine. We kindly ask that guests dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, out of respect for the Gurdwara (Sikh temple). Please reference that what to wear section.

  • Guests traditionally sit on the carpeted floor during the Anand Karaj, which typically lasts approximately 45–60 minutes. We understand that sitting cross-legged for an extended period may be uncomfortable. Benches are available at the back and sides of the prayer hall for anyone who needs them, so please feel free to use them!

  • Yes! Everyone is required to cover their head and remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall. Head coverings will be provided, or you can bring your own scarf or handkerchief. A designated area will be available for shoes.

    If unsure what to do, we will have family to help you with any details.

  • Not at all! Whether this is your first Sikh wedding or you've attended many, you're welcome to simply observe and enjoy. Just follow along with the other guests when standing or sitting during the ceremony.

  • Please head to the tent behind the Gurdwara, where breakfast and chai (Indian tea) will be served before the ceremony. From there, guests will be guided into the prayer hall.

  • Yes! Chai (tea) and breakfast will be served in the tent behind the Gurdwara before the ceremony. After the ceremony, a traditional vegetarian lunch will be served in the same tent. Everyone is welcome to stay and enjoy a meal with us!

  • Shagun is a Punjabi wedding tradition where guests offer their blessings and congratulations to the newlyweds, often with a monetary gift or card.

    After the ceremony, we'll head to the tent behind the Gurdwara, where guests can line up to greet us, take a photo together, and offer Shagun if they wish. Lunch will also be served, so feel free to grab some food while you wait!

    Giving a gift is completely optional. You're more than welcome to simply come say hello, take a photo, and celebrate with us!

  • Your presence is more than enough! If you'd like to give a gift, cash or a card is customary and appreciated. You can give it during Shagun following the ceremony, but there is absolutely no obligation.

  • We kindly ask that guests limit photos during the ceremony and keep phones on silent. Our photographers will be capturing the special moments, so you can be fully present and enjoy the experience!