Sikh Wedding in Tuscany Italy

Jeevan and Harmeet celebrated their Indian wedding with a Sikh rite at Villa Castelletti near Florence, in Tuscany.
The Sikh Community believes in the law of Karma and its members are required to keep, in addition to the turban, five distinctive signs, the five K’s: Kesh – uncut hair and beard; Kanga – a wooden comb in the hair; Kara – an iron bracelet; Kirpan – a dagger and Kachera – a special type of petticoat. For them the turban is sacred and is not considered just any hat or headdress. A Sikh’s turban is there to remind them of their connection to God.
There are many rites in a Sikh wedding. There is the Vatna, similar to the Hindu ceremony. A paste of turmeric powder and mustard oil is applied to the bride and groom before the wedding.
Before the wedding ceremony there is the Baraat rite. The groom, accompanied by his wedding  procession, goes to the wedding venue singing and dancing along the way. Arrived at the wedding location, there is the Milni rite: the bride’s family welcomes the groom offering him gifts, money and garlands. Finally there is the main rite during the Sikh ceremony: Anand Karaj. The families of the newlyweds enter the Gurudwara to attend the Kirtan – a set of religious songs. Finally, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or Adi Granth, the holy book of the Sikhs, is taken and the priest of the Gurudwara recites the Ardas, a series of prayers, while the bride and groom are seated.