What is Lava Phera in a Sikh Wedding Ritual?

Across the different wedding rituals in India, phera (circles) around the holy fire have always been common. The wedding pheras hold utmost significance because every phera speaks of lifelong companionship. However, when it comes to Sikh wedding rituals, Lava phera is deeply spiritual and is performed by taking circles around the holy Guru Granth Sahib.

If you are attending a Gurudwara wedding or planning your own Gurudwara marriage, understanding the Lava Phera will help you make the marriage more of a soulful ceremony.

What is Lava Phere?

It is the most meaningful part of the Gurudwara wedding rituals among the Sikh community. The bride and the groom walk around the holy book of Guru Granth Sahib while taking the four sacred rounds. These rounds are called Lavan. 

However, this ritual is different as, unlike other Indian weddings where the couples take seven pheras, Sikh wedding rituals only have four pheras. Each phera has a deep spiritual meaning.

Let’s dive into the meaning of each phera. 

First Lava Phera

The first Lava phera marks the beginning of the spiritual journey as it states the sacred and piousness of the marriage. The couple has to fulfil all the duties of their marriage and build a life that is centred around their love and respect. The couple embraces Waheguru as their sole protector, and they have to follow the right path. In the Sikh wedding rituals, the couple has to respect and honour each other completely. In short, the couple is walking towards a path of spiritual journey guided by Waheguru.                                                       

Second Lava Phera

The second Lava Phera talks about love and understanding between a couple. Here, the love not only grows for one another but also for Waheguru. Their bond deepens, and they grow emotionally in life. 

Thirda Lava Phera

The third Lava Phera highlights that the couple is now rising beyond worldly attachment. The couple focuses on building a spiritual life together. As per the Sikh marriage rules, this phera tells that the couple is now detaching themselves from the material world and finding contentment through shared values.

Fourth lava Phera

The last or the final phera represents the ultimate goal of the marriage. It is to attain peace, unity, and bliss with the divine god. This phera speaks of the possibility of the union with the divine Waheguru. After the fourth Lava Phera, the couple (bride and groom) is now considered as the Husband and Wife, as per the rituals in a Sikh wedding. 

Lava phera is more than just a ritual in Sikh wedding rituals. Through the four pheras of Sikh marriage rules, Waheguru reminds the couple of their ultimate goal in life and marriage. By understanding the meaning of each Lava phera, the couple pays respect towards their marriage to create a beautiful married life. 

Need Help in Finding a Sikh Bride or a Sikh Groom

Behind every simple, beautiful Gurudwara wedding ceremony, there lie some traditions and aspirations that require a lot of hard work and patience. Every relationship can be a perfect match if only one person understands the values, cultures, and traditions. That’s why matchmakers play an important role in finding a perfect match for loved ones. 

Matrimonial agency for families in the Sikh community, like Wedding Tales Matrimony, understands the needs and preferences of every individual before finding a match. The seasoned matchmakers look into the values, traditions, and goals of the families and the prospect before helping them find a partner. Every profile is carefully selected, and the details remain confidential, so that no one has to worry. 

So, if you are searching for the right life partner or dream of planning a Sikh wedding, remember to choose the right partner who stays with you forever. Let your trusted matchmakers, who have helped more than 5000 families, help you find the right match.