Sikh wedding invitation video for the Anand Karaj

What happens at an Anand Karaj, and what time should the invite say?

The Anand Karaj is held in the gurdwara, in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, and most families hold it in the morning. Local practice varies, so confirm timings with your gurdwara first, then put them on the invite. The usual flow on the day:

1. Ardas and Milni. When the baraat arrives, an Ardas is said and the two families meet: the fathers, then the mamas, chachas and so on, each pair embracing and exchanging shawls or garlands. Expect someone to be lifted off the ground.
2. Tea and breakfast for everyone, usually pakoras and jalebis.
3. Kirtan in the darbar hall, then an Ardas, and the bride's father places one end of the groom's palla in the bride's hand.
4. The four laavan. Each lav is read from Guru Granth Sahib and then sung by the ragis while the couple walks around Guru Granth Sahib, the groom leading. Four rounds, and they are married.
5. Anand Sahib, the final Ardas, the Hukamnama and Karah Prashad, followed by langar.

Put the Milni or arrival time on the invite, not the laavan time. If the card says 10:00 AM and the laavan start at 10:45, half your guests walk in during the third lav. Many families add Milni as its own function so the time is clear.

Which functions go on a Sikh wedding invite?

You can add up to 8 functions, each with its own scene, date, time and venue. Anand Karaj and Reception are built in; everything else uses "Something else" with your own name, or "Call it something else" on a built-in function.

Most families send one invite with the bigger functions and keep the Chunni and Maiyan for close family. For party-heavy nights, see our sangeet invitation video page, and for the evening dinner, the reception invitation video page.

Is the invite in Gurmukhi?

Only the opening. The Ik Onkar blessing shows ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ in Gurmukhi with "By the Guru's grace" underneath. The rest of the invite (names, families, functions, venues) is in English or Hindi (Devanagari). We do not support Gurmukhi body text yet, so you cannot type the couple's names in Punjabi script.

• Most Sikh families in India and abroad already use English for the names and venue details, so English is the natural choice.
• Family names read well the traditional way: "Sardarni Jasleen Kaur & Sardar Gurpreet Singh Bains", or the shorter "S. Gurpreet Singh & Sdn. Jasleen Kaur Bains".
• If Biji reads only Gurmukhi, a printed card or a phone call will reach her better. Send her the video anyway; the ੴ at the start will tell her what it is.
• The Ik Onkar opening works with any of the 7 designs.

How do you word an Anand Karaj invitation?

The video handles the structure. Use these in the message you send with it, or on the e-card.

Friends who have never been to a gurdwara appreciate that last line. Heads covered, shoes off, no alcohol or tobacco, and everyone sits on the floor. More wordings for Jaggo and mehendi nights are in our haldi, mehendi and sangeet wording guide.

Which design suits a Sikh wedding?

The sample at the top uses Royal Maroon & Gold: deep maroon, gold arches and rose petals. It sits close to the reds and golds of a Punjabi wedding without trying too hard, and the ੴ looks right over the gold. That is why the button below starts you there.

• Midnight Sangeet for a separate Jaggo or cocktail night invite: indigo, fairy lights, rose gold.
• Pastel Floral for a chunni or roka invite that should feel lighter.
• Modern Minimal for a small Anand Karaj with just the gurdwara and a family lunch.

For music there are four instrumental recordings, no music, or a file from your own phone. If you are thinking of kirtan or a shabad, use a recording you have the right to use, and ask whether the elders are comfortable with Gurbani as background music. Many families keep the invite instrumental or silent for this reason.

How do you get a headcount for each function?

Langar at the gurdwara does not need a headcount. The reception caterer does, and so does whoever is ordering the Jaggo dhol. With the ₹999 Video + invite website, guests RSVP for each function separately, so you can see 80 for Jaggo and 350 for the reception, and download it as a CSV. The upgrade from the ₹499 video costs only the ₹500 difference. Tips on sending are on our WhatsApp invitation message guide.

Questions people ask