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Kirtan carries the anand karaj. The laavan are sung, and the quality of the jatha shapes how the whole morning feels for everyone in the hall.
The first thing to establish is whether you are booking this at all, because at many gurdwaras you are not.
Often yes. Many gurdwaras have their own ragi jatha, and the kirtan for an anand karaj held there is arranged through the committee rather than hired separately.
Ask early, and ask who to speak to — the person who books the hall is frequently not the person who arranges kirtan. If you want a specific jatha brought in, ask whether that is permitted before approaching them.
Usually, within what is appropriate for the ceremony. Families often have shabads that matter to them, and asking well in advance is normal and welcomed.
Make the request in writing and to the right person. A request passed verbally on the morning has a poor success rate.
Heads covered, shoes removed, seated on the floor, and no turning your back on the Guru Granth Sahib. Guests unfamiliar with a gurdwara appreciate being told this in advance rather than discovering it at the door.
The same rules bind your photographer and videographer, and some gurdwaras restrict where they may stand or forbid photography from the front entirely. Get that in writing and pass it on.
Where the gurdwara provides the jatha, this is usually handled as a donation rather than a fee, and the amount is a question for the committee. Published figures do not exist and inventing one would be worse than saying so.
For a jatha brought in independently, what sets it: number of ragis, how long they sing, travel, and whether they are performing at more than one event.
Sometimes, and it depends entirely on the gurdwara. Many have their own jatha and prefer or require that it be used. Ask the committee before approaching anyone, so you are not withdrawing an invitation later.
The ceremony including kirtan commonly runs an hour to ninety minutes, with the laavan at its centre. Ask the gurdwara for their typical timing and give that number to your caterer and photographer rather than an optimistic guess.
Yes — many families hold a Sukhmani Sahib path or a kirtan programme in the days before the wedding, often at home or at the gurdwara. That is a separate arrangement from the anand karaj and is usually booked separately.