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Palla
Then the father
of the bride will place one end of a scarf (called the Palla) over the right
shoulder of the groom and place the other end into his daughter’s hand
signifying that she is now leaving his care to join her husband.
Lavan - Wedding
hymns
The officiate
now reads the Lavan hymn of Guru Ram Das which is composed of four Lavans (or
stanzas). This hymn describes the progression of love between a husband and
wife, which is analogous to that between the soul and God. After the conclusion
of the recitation of each Lavan, the groom and bride walk around the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib in a clockwise direction, while the ragis sing out the recited
Lavan stanza. The bride will continue to hold the end of the scarf in her hand
throughout the ceremony.
After each round, the couple bow down before the holy book, symbolizing their
acceptance of the verse. The officiate then reads the next lavan. This
process is repeated four times in total, once for each Lavan, after which the
couple sit down.
Significance of the four Lavans:
First Lavan:
The first stanza of the hymn begins with the |
Lord’s order
showing the way for leading a happy wedded life. It sets the stage for the
union of the bride (the couple) with the groom (God). The emphasis is on
the bride immersing herself in the Divine Name and committing to family and
community.
Second Lavan:
In the second stanza, the couple is told to face problems and hardships together
with a feeling of mutual love, devotion, sacrifice, and self-discipline
necessary to achieve the ideal of one spirit in two bodies. Fear and ego
depart and the Lord’s presence is felt everywhere.
Third Lavan:
The third stanza advises the bride to cultivate love for the Lord and detach
herself from the mundane world.
Fourth Lavan:
The concluding stanza is that of harmony and complete oneness. The union
of soul (bride) and Lord (groom) is complete. While the religious ceremony
began with the couple’s quest for God, it concludes with the attainment of this
ideal. |
