Rules under Corona virus – Anand Karaj Bookings:

Upon receiving a request for a booking for an Anand Karaj, invite the couple to the Gurdwara (preferably together but individually where this is not possible).

The Gurdwara will assign trained individuals who are fluent in English and Panjabi to meet the couple to discuss about the Anand Karaj and the declaration. The couple will be asked to reflect on the discussion and will be provided with literature on the Anand Karaj and the Sikh faith.

The couple will be invited back to the Gurdwara after two or so weeks to discuss any issues or questions and satisfy themselves that they understand the meanings of what they are accepting and agreeing to.

If the couple are in agreement and willing to sign the declaration and the Gurdwara is satisfied of this, the Gurdwara representative will ask the couple to sign the declaration and in the case of individuals of formerly non Sikh origin to present the relevant identity documents. A Gurdwara representative should witness the declaration signatures.

At the Anand Karaj the couple will be reminded of their commitment before the ceremony

If a letter is required as evidence for this religious wedding taking place at the Gurdwara, please inform initially. This letter is only a confirmation that Anand Karaj took place and in no way approved by the government. You will need to arrange the legal court marriage directly with the Registrar office to be legally married in this country.

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Process Pre Wedding :

• A Signed Declaration from both parties received, must be received.
• Date of Wedding and time agreed.
• Cost of the Wedding for Anand Karaj = £450.00
• Giani Ji Bheta £51:00
• Building or Gurdwara Bheta
• Hire of equipment (kirpan, tables, chairs etc) cost will be dependent on requirement.
• Guests – 30 total guests which will include – cameramen, etc.
• There is No catering or food supplied by the Gurdwara under the current COVID-19 guidelines.

On arrival for the Wedding:

• As of 16th October 2020 wedding guests including bride and groom must be a maximum of 15, excluding gurdwara Sevadaars Please note breaching this number can incur fixed penalty fines for both Gurdwara and additional guests.
• You will need to bring your own Head and Face coverings as non available at Gurdwara under the guidelines.
• PPE (masks or face coverings must be worn).
• No Milini ceremony will be allowed to take place on site, Only the Ardaas by Giani Ji.. This is due to social distancing guidelines.
• Please arrive 15 minutes before allotted time for the Anand Karaj (this is to allow the Safety checks to be carried out on all before entering and the Track N Trace records and safety).
• Please note if a person is found to have a temperature, they will not be allowed in.
• Remove shoes and Sanitize hands before going up to Darbar Sahib.
• The bride will need to arrive ready and dressed as access to rooms is forbidden at present. She will be allowed to sit in the Langar Hall until called.
• On arrival in the Darbar Sahib you will be guided to sit in the relevant marked areas (mats) by sewadar/s.
• During the wedding ceremony, in front of the Guru Granth Sahib,NO KALGI or SEHRA should be tied or hanging upon the top of the turban.
• After the wedding ceremony,No Flower Petals or Garlands, etc.
• In front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. No “SEHRA” or “SIKHYA” by any member of any Ragi for the wedded couple.
• During the ceremony, NO person is allowed to stand around the Guru Granth Sahib Ji when the Phere takes place. As all the above is not guided in Maryada of Anand Karaj.
• Once the Anand Karaj ceremony completes, please do not go towards the couple and start doing the Sagan. This is not social distancing.
• The sewadar/s will request your group to leave one by one and collect your prashad on your way out, to avoid congestion.
• Once all the party has left, sewadar/s will need to Disinfect/sanitize the whole area affected by the party before allowing any other Sangat members in the Gurdwara.

No Register Wedding Ceremony will take place until the Wedding Letter has been issued by the Government Registrar office confirming legal status of the couple.

Both the family have to comply with the above rules.

Anand Kar Anand Karaj in Gurdwara Declaration

The Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct and Conventions) provides guidance and governs aspects of a Sikhs life and the running of Gurdwara. Specific guidance is provided within the Rehat Maryada regarding the Anand Karaj ceremony and a key aspect is the requirement that only Sikhs can have their marriage solemnised by the Anand Karaj ceremony.

The Rehat Maryada gives a definition of a Sikh as follows:

Any human being who faithfully believes in:

• One Immortal Being
• Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh
• The Guru Granth Sahib
• The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus
• The baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru,
• And who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.

Any person seeking to have their marriage solemnised by the Anand Karaj ceremony will be invited to a meeting to receive information, resources and guidance regarding Sikhi, Anand Karaj and Grist Jeevan. Following an opportunity to reflect, research and seek clarifications both partners will be invited to a further meeting and asked whether they understand the information and will be requested to sign a declaration confirming they are a Sikh in line with the above definition

Declaration

I (name) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Voluntarily declare and affirm that:

1. I am a Sikh that I believe in the tenets of the Sikh faith and owe no allegiance to any other faith.
2. The Anand Karaj ceremony is the only religious ceremony that I will take part in for marriage.
3. I will endeavour to bring up any children from my marriage as Sikhs, to include in their name Singh (for male) or Kaur (for female), to teach them Panjabi and the tenets of the Sikh faith.
4. I will adopt Singh (for male) or Kaur (for female) in my name and provide evidence to show this (for those of non-Sikh origin only).

Signed:                                                                                                                         Date:

Name:

Address:

Witness Signature:                                                                                           Date:

Witness Name:

Witness Address:

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is                                                                                                    Date:

ANAND KARAJ CONFIRMATION LETTER

This letter is confirmation that A Sikh Wedding ceremony called Anand Karaj took place as follows between the following people:

Anand Karaj Ceremony was performed by Giani:

• Date:
• Time:
• Groom Details:

• Bride Details:

• Witnessed by :

Total guests attended this ceremony were:

If you have any questions regarding the marriage ceremony, please feel free to contact me anytime, at the above address in writing.

Please note that this letter is given to the couple in good faith wishing them well in their future but is not a legal document and therefore cannot be used as proof of a civil registered marriage.

Yours Truly,

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