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Summary of Question:	Marriage Procedure
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 9/30/2003 11:47 PM MDT

Hi,

If you could please answer this question in the next two days, I'll greatly appreciate it.

I am getting married this Saturday and have just been given some contradictory information to what I was told before. My partner's parents live overseas and hence will not be at the wedding ceremony. Our understanding was that in this case, no one from his side would stand in for his parents at the beginning (for the Ardas) because it makes no sense for someone else do so. However, the Gurudwara has informed us today that they require somebody to stand instead of his parents. The only option is his friends which doesn't feel right. Could you please confirm whether it is compulsory to do so?

Thanks for your help.


<<<<< REPLY >>>>>

Sat Nam! It is your fiance's family and your family that is to stand for the initial Ardas. If his parents are not there, then someone else from his family may stand. Is no one at all from his family attending? Ardas is recited in order for the family to seek the blessings for the couple. For this Ardas, only the one reciting the Ardas, the couple and the parents or acting guardians stand. This is a special time for the family, giving their children to the Guru, and close friends, other family members and the Sangat should respect this.

.....G