In a controversial act against Anand Karaj Maryada, a couple from west has recently wedded by taking the four walks (parkarma) side-by-side during the lavan (Each laavan involves walking around Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji).

As per Kaurlife website, the couple decided to do their Anand Karaj this way to embody the Sikh spirit of equality more visibly.  They thought about standing during the lavan and not walking, they thought about alternating who walked in front, and they thought about sitting during the wedding. Ultimately, Shawn and Bally decided they would walk around the Guru Granth Sahib together, side-by-side.

In 2006 too, there was a minor uproar surrounding a Sikh wedding ceremony in India where the bride was asked to walk ahead of the groom for two of the four laavan.

Here are some pictures from the wedding:

[one_half] [/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

 As per Sikh Rehat Maryada of Anand Karaj, Article XVIII states

[highlight]The boy and girl should bow before the Guru Granth Sahib to betoken their        acceptance of these instructions. Thereafter, the girl’s father or the principal relation        should make the girl grasp one end of the sash which the boy is wearing over his        shoulders and the person in attendance of the Guru Granth Sahib should recite the        matrimonial circumambulation stanzas {Lavan of the fourth Guru in the Suhi musical        measure section of the Guru Granth Sahib } (Pp. 773-4). After the conclusion of the        recitation  of each of the stanzas, the boy, followed by the girl holding the end of the       sash, should go    round the Guru Granth Sahib while the ragis or the congregation sing       out the recited stanza.
            The boy and girl, after every circumambulation, should bow before the Guru Granth       Sahib in genuflexion, lowering their forehead to touch the ground and then stand up to       listen to the recitation of the next stanza.There being four matrimonial circumambulation       stanzas in the concerned hymn, the  proceeding will comprise four circumambulations       with the incidental singing of the stanza.After the fourth circumabulation, the boy and girl       should, after bowing before the Guru Granth Sahib, sit down at the appointed place and       the Ragis or the person who has conducted the ceremony should recite the first five and       the last stanza of the Anand Sahib. Thereafter, the Ardas should he offered to mark the       conclusion of the Anand marriage ceremony and the sacred pudding, distributed’.[/highlight]

This act also raises question onto the Ragis, Granthis and Gurdwara parbandhik Committee who let this happen. Now the onus comes onto Akal Takhat Sahib whether they take any note of this or not.

SHARE YOUR VIEWS – What do you think about this?