For Sikh weddings
Anand Karaj wedding website
The Anand Karaj is a morning ceremony in the gurdwara with its own customs and courtesies. Duva builds a site that walks every guest through the milni, the four laavan, and langar — and the simple etiquette that helps them attend respectfully.
- Morning
- gurdwara ceremony
- 4
- laavan
- Langar
- for all
- Free
- to publish
The Anand Karaj — "blissful union" — is the Sikh marriage ceremony, held in the morning at a gurdwara in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. It centers on the four laavan, four hymns during which the couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib once for each, and is followed by langar, the communal meal. Guests cover their heads, remove their shoes, and sit on the floor, and the ceremony is alcohol-free. A Sikh wedding website should explain all of this so every guest can attend with confidence — Duva builds it from the events you name, adds guest etiquette guidance, and collects a separate RSVP for the ceremony and the evening reception. It is free to publish.
What the Anand Karaj is
The Anand Karaj, meaning "blissful union," is the Sikh wedding ceremony. It takes place in the morning at a gurdwara, in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib — the Sikh holy scripture, honored as the living Guru. The ceremony is spiritual and relatively brief compared with the celebrations around it, and it is conducted before the sangat, the congregation.
Because so much of its meaning is unfamiliar to guests from other backgrounds, a website that simply lists "ceremony, 10 a.m." leaves most attendees unsure of what they are witnessing or how to behave. Explaining the Anand Karaj — what it is, what happens, and what is expected of guests — is the single most useful thing a Sikh wedding site can do.
- A blissful union. The Sikh marriage ceremony, conducted in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.
- A morning ceremony. Held early at the gurdwara, ahead of the day’s celebrations — note the true start time for guests.
- Before the congregation. The ceremony takes place before the sangat, the assembled community.
The milni and the start of the day
The morning often begins with the milni, where the two families formally meet and greet one another, frequently with garlands, followed by tea and breakfast at the gurdwara before the ceremony itself. Publishing this on your schedule helps guests understand that the day starts earlier than the ceremony time and that the milni is a warm, communal opening rather than a private family affair.
A clear schedule here prevents the most common guest mistake — arriving right at the ceremony time and missing the gathering that sets the tone for the whole day.
- Milni. The two families meet and greet, often with garlands, to open the day.
- Tea and breakfast. A communal breakfast at the gurdwara typically precedes the ceremony — note it so guests come early.
The four laavan
The core of the Anand Karaj is the laavan — four hymns composed by Guru Ram Das, read and sung one at a time. After each laav is read, the couple walks slowly around the Guru Granth Sahib, the bride following the groom, while the sangat sings that hymn. The four rounds together represent the stages of love and union in married life, and completing the fourth laav seals the marriage.
A short explanation of the laavan on your site lets guests follow the most sacred part of the ceremony with understanding — why the couple circles the scripture, what each round means — rather than watching a ritual whose significance is lost on them. It is a small note that transforms how meaningfully your guests experience the morning.
- Four hymns. The laavan, composed by Guru Ram Das, are read and sung one at a time.
- Four rounds. The couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib once per laav, representing the stages of married union.
- The union sealed. Completing the fourth laav completes the marriage — the heart of the ceremony.
Langar: the meal for everyone
After the ceremony comes langar, the free communal meal served in the gurdwara to all present, regardless of who they are — a cornerstone of Sikh values of equality and seva (selfless service). Guests sit together on the floor and are served the same vegetarian meal, a moment of shared community that many find deeply moving.
Letting guests know langar follows the ceremony — and that it is vegetarian and open to all — helps them plan the morning and understand that the hospitality is part of the wedding’s meaning, not an afterthought.
- A meal for all. Langar is served free to everyone present, a cornerstone of Sikh equality and service.
- Seated together. Guests sit together and share the same vegetarian meal — note it so they know what to expect.
Etiquette guests will thank you for explaining
Attending a gurdwara for the first time can make non-Sikh guests anxious about doing the wrong thing, and a short etiquette note on your site puts everyone at ease. The essentials: cover your head (a scarf, rumal, or the coverings often provided at the door), remove your shoes before entering the darbar hall, and sit on the floor in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The religious portion is alcohol-free and the meal is vegetarian, so guests should not bring alcohol or meat into the gurdwara.
None of this is meant to intimidate — it is simply how respect is shown, and a couple who explains it kindly on their website sends guests in confident rather than uncertain. You write the guidance in your own words; Duva gives it a clear home alongside the schedule.
- Cover your head. All guests cover their heads in the gurdwara — a scarf or rumal, often provided at the door.
- Shoes off, seated low. Remove shoes before the darbar hall and sit on the floor before the Guru Granth Sahib.
- Alcohol-free, vegetarian. The ceremony is alcohol-free and the meal vegetarian — guests bring neither alcohol nor meat.
The reception, and RSVP for both
The Anand Karaj is a religious ceremony; the celebration with dinner, drinks, and dancing is typically a separate evening reception at another venue. Guests need to understand they are two distinct events — different places, different dress, different tone — and your site can present each with its own time, location, and details so no one turns up to the gurdwara expecting a party or to the reception in the wrong attire.
Duva collects a separate RSVP and headcount for each event, so the guests attending the morning ceremony and the (often larger) evening reception are counted independently. Guests respond by looking up their name on the site or over SMS and WhatsApp, with no app to install. The website, guest list, and per-event RSVP are free; only the extra day-of announcements you broadcast yourself use credits — unlocking messaging once for $10 includes 100 of them.
- Two distinct events. The morning gurdwara ceremony and the evening reception, each with its own place and tone.
- A count for each. Separate RSVPs and headcounts for the Anand Karaj and the reception.
- SMS + WhatsApp RSVP. Guests reply by text, WhatsApp, or on the site — no app, no login.
A site that honors the Anand Karaj
The ceremony explained, the etiquette clear, the reception counted.
The ceremony explained
Milni, the four laavan, and langar, in your own words.
Guest etiquette
Head covering, shoes, seating, and the alcohol-free gurdwara.
Langar noted
Guests know the communal vegetarian meal follows the ceremony.
Ceremony + reception
Two distinct events, each with its own time and venue.
Per-event RSVP
Separate headcounts for the morning and the evening.
Free to publish
Website, guest list, and RSVP cost nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anand Karaj?
The Anand Karaj, meaning "blissful union," is the Sikh marriage ceremony, held in the morning at a gurdwara in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Its heart is the four laavan, four hymns during which the couple circles the scripture once for each. It is followed by langar, the communal meal. A wedding site should explain all of this so guests attend with understanding.
What should guests know before attending a gurdwara wedding?
Cover your head (a scarf or rumal, often provided at the door), remove your shoes before entering the darbar hall, and sit on the floor in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The ceremony is alcohol-free and the meal is vegetarian, so guests should not bring alcohol or meat. A short etiquette note on your site puts first-time guests at ease.
What are the four laavan?
The laavan are four hymns composed by Guru Ram Das, read one at a time. After each is read, the couple walks slowly around the Guru Granth Sahib while the congregation sings, and the four rounds represent the stages of married union. Completing the fourth laav seals the marriage. Explaining them on your site lets guests follow the most sacred part of the ceremony.
Is the reception separate from the Anand Karaj?
Usually, yes. The Anand Karaj is the religious morning ceremony at the gurdwara; the reception with dinner and dancing is typically a separate evening event at another venue. Duva presents each with its own time, location, and details, and collects a separate RSVP and headcount for both.
Can guests RSVP to the ceremony and reception separately?
Yes. Duva tracks a separate RSVP and headcount for each event, so the guests attending the morning ceremony and the evening reception are counted independently. Guests respond by name lookup on the site or over SMS and WhatsApp, with nothing to install.
Is a Sikh wedding website free on Duva?
Yes. The website, guest list, and per-event RSVP are free, with no subscription. A one-time $10 unlock covers the SMS and WhatsApp invitations and reminders you send — they never use credits — and includes 100 credits for the extra announcements you broadcast yourself.
Keep exploring
Build your Anand Karaj website free
Explain the ceremony and its courtesies, welcome guests to langar, and collect a separate RSVP for the gurdwara and the reception — free to publish.
Last updated August 1, 2026