In a Sikh wedding ceremony, the couple traditionally walks around the Guru Granth Sahib while the four Laavan hymns are sung.
The Laavan are four compositions by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru. Each hymn describes a stage in the spiritual development of the couple and their relationship with the divine. During the Anand Karaj, the bride and groom walk clockwise around the scripture after each hymn.
The ceremony is therefore more than a legal exchange of vows. Its structure presents marriage as a partnership grounded in spiritual growth, equality, and shared responsibility. The Guru Granth Sahib remains central throughout the service.
Laavan is sometimes confused with Anand Sahib, another important Sikh composition. Anand Sahib may be recited during Sikh ceremonies, but the four wedding hymns specifically associated with the rounds are the Laavan.