[ Aug.2015 ] We went to a Sikh temple in London in England for a wedding.
As we learned before, in the temple, both men and women have to wear head scarves and take off our shoes.
For the bride’s side of the family, the scarf was purple and the groom’s side of the family wore scarves that were champagne-coloured.
First, there was a ceremony for both families to meet at the hall on the ground floor.
They exchanged garlands like the lei in Hawaii.
At this stage, the groom was there, but not the bride.
After a granthi’s speech, we all went to the dining room and ate the wedding breakfast.
Then we went up to the first floor to the main hall, where some music was played and we sat on the floor, which was divided for men and for women.
After a while, the groom came in with his family and he was ordered to sit in front of the altar.
Finally the bride, who is our colleague, in her gorgeous traditional outfit, came in with her family.
When the couple sat at the front, her father came up to them and picked up the end of the red cloth, which the groom was wearing on his shoulder, and let the bride hold it.
Apparently, this means that the father gave the daughter away to the groom.
At this moment, tears came to the bride’s eyes.
Then, there was a ceremony where the couple walked around the altar, slowly, four times.
Every round has a meaning, such as “duty to the family” and “love and trust for each other”.
After that, we all stood up and listened to the granthi.
I think that was the end of the main ceremony and the granthis distributed the food, which looked like clay and tasted buttery and sweet to everyone.
As I knew this one, I could eat it without any fear this time.
Then we went downstairs and took photos.
Each group went up to the couple and gave some money when they took photos.
After that, the lunch was served, which was the end of the event in the temple.
It was solemn, but at the same time, gorgeous and cheerful, visually and aurally.
I enjoyed it very much.
