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Sikhs can't tie the knot anymore in hotels, marriage palaces

Led by Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, the Sikh clergy on Monday issued a directive banning solemnisation of marriages in hotels and marriage palaces.

A decision to this effect was taken by the clergy which met inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.

The written directive, signed by Bhai Ranjit Singh, said the step was taken as it had been brought to the notice of the clergy that due religious respect was not being shown towards the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, while solemnising marriages in hotels and marriage palaces.

The clergy had received numerous letters from all over the globe demanding a ban on performing the anand karaj (solemnisation of the marriage) ceremony in hotels and marriage palaces, the directive said.

It appealed to the community, priests and ragis not to solemnise any marriage in such places. Any person, particularly priests and ragis, who violate this directive would be punished as per the rules of the Sikh maryada (tradition), it said.

The directive, the first of its kind, is significant as Sikh marriages are usually solemnised in hotels and marriage palaces.

With this, Sikh families are left with only two options -- either solemnise the marriage at home or in gurdwaras.

UNI

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