Anand Karaj Ceremony is for Sikh Couples Only.
However, Gurdwaras have a Sikhi educational and welcoming role regarding couples when one partner is not of Sikh origin
The relevant brief mention in the Sikh Council UK guidance of 2013 for such couples is:
4.3 Where a couple chooses to undertake a civil marriage in a Registry Office they should be offered the opportunity to hold an Ardas, Sukhmani Sahib Path, Akhand Path or other service to celebrate their union as husband and wife in the presence of their family, relatives and friends. (Guidelines: Development of a consistent approach towards marriages in Gurdwaras where one partner is not of Sikh origin. See footnotes).
Such couples should be received with Sikhi warmth and given an educational opportunity to know more about the Sikh way of life whatever their long term decision about embracing Sikhi. Their children should have the same opportunity to remain in touch with the local Sangat.
Sikhi does not seek converts but welcomes all to the Gurdwaras with access to Jagat Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Egalitarian, non-discriminatory Sikh institutions of Sangat, Pangat, Sewa and Simran attract all communities regardless of diverse socio-religious backgrounds.
And so, even though the sacred ceremony of Anand Karaj is only available to Sikh couples with total belief in One Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib and none other, Gurdwaras and the Sangat should remain welcoming and accessible to newly married mixed couples. Open arms social acceptability of such couples is important. The topic needs extended discussion as a continuation of Sri Akal Takht Sahib ruling about Anand Karaj ceremony for Sikh couples only. The point, I am raising this week is more a continuation of where the Sikh Council UK left off regarding guidance about marriages when one partner is not of Sikh origin.
On 6 November 2013, as mandated by the Sikh Council UK, I met Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji. Among other issues which were discussed, I also tabled the Council draft Guidelines in Panjabi and English: Development of a consistent approach towards marriages in Gurdwaras where one partner is not of Sikh origin. Otherwise, the main aim of the meeting was to agree regular (routine level) consultation process between Akal Takht Sahib and the Sikh Council UK, and also extension of the same process to representative organisations in the Sikh diaspora countries.
For UK, one outcome was an historic Akal Takht Adesh of 27 January 2014 authorising Sikh Council UK to continue with UK nationwide consultations regarding such issues. (I received a call from Akal Takht about this Adesh while still in Panjab.)
Although, not the topic this week, I regard developments such as one nationwide Sikh Council UK to deal with current issues, and a Sikh issues based political Sikh Agenda as most constructive in the second decade of the 21st century. The biggest loss later were the internal divisions and non-inclusion of a dedicated SIKH tick box under the compulsory ethnicity (qaumi) heading in the Census form despite full backing by Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
We learn from past mistakes and continue to seek issues based direction from Guide Eternal, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Further reading:
Website Sikh Missionary Society UK: https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/
Scroll down to: Articles on Sikh Ideology and Identity and click on lonks:
Mixed-marriages : Professing Non-Sikh Faith But Married in Gurdwara
Sikh Council UK Guidelines: Marriages in Gurdwaras where one partner is not of Sikh origin ![]()
https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smsarticles/advisorypanel/gurmukhsinghsewauk/sikhcouncilukandsikhissues/
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd. (UK)