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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. |
