Exotic Indian Wedding

Punjabis are fun filled people. They love to party and are also excellent hosts. This 

nature of theirs reflects in their weddings and all the pre and post wedding functions. 

The main attractions of Punjabi weddings are delicious non-vegetarian feasts and 

delicacies, good music and lots of dancing. There are many pre-wedding functions of 

this regional wedding all of which are given as follows.

 

Pre-wedding traditions and rituals

Roka Ceremony: In this ceremony, the families of the bride and the groom commit the 

beginning of a new family relation with each other. They exchange gifts, fruits and dry 

fruits.

 

Sagan: In the Sagan ceremony, the groom’s family hosts a function in which the girl’s 

family gives gifts to the groom’s family. The bride’s father puts a tikka on the groom’s 

forehead.

 

Chunni Chadai: During either the Sagan ceremony or the Roka, the groom’s sister or 

mother puts a red or a pink chunni (veil) on the girl’s head and give her jewellery and 

traditional clothes.

 

Sagai: In the Sagai ceremony, the couple exchange rings and the bride’s family give 

gifts to the groom and his immediate family members. The groom’s family in return, 

gives their bride-to-be gifts and clothes.

 

Mehendi and Sangeet: Here, a function is organised at both the houses 

where Mehendi is applied on the bride’s hands and feet. A simple 'mehendi' ceremony 

is conducted for the groom at his home. The 'mehendi' is just smeared onto his palms 

and quickly washed off!

 

All the other ladies of both the houses also get Mehendi designs on their palms and 

then the celebrations of dance followed by dinner continue.

Wedding Traditions and Rituals

 

Kangan Bandhana: On the morning of the wedding day, the bride and the groom (each 

in their respective homes), has to have the sacred thread or 'mouli' tied to their right 

wrists. The 'mouli' is tied with 'supari' (betel nut) and 'kaudis' (shells). The thread has to have as many knots as possible in order to make it difficult to untie later.

 

Chuda Ceremony: The bride’s maternal uncle gives her red bangles known as the 

Chuda. She cannot see her bangles until she is ready for the wedding.

The Gharoli ritual: The bhabhis of the bride and the groom respectively, bring water in 

a ghada (earthen pitcher) from the gurdwara and the couple is expected to bathe with 

this water before the wedding.

 

Sehrabandi and Ghudchadai: A few hours before the wedding, the sister of the groom 

ties a sehra on his head and then he climbs the ghodi.

 

Varmala: The bride and the groom exchange flower garlands before the pheras (vows).

 

Kanyadaan: The father of the bride gives his daughter’s hand in matrimony to the 

groom. The couple then takes seven mangalpheras around the sacred fire.

After all this, the groom ties a Mangalsutra around the bride’s neck and 

applies sindoor  to her forehead. When this is going on, friends and family shower rose 

petals on the couple. The newly married couple now takes the blessings of all the 

elders.

 

The Juti Chupai: When the bride and groom are sitting at the mandap, the sisters of 

the bride hide the groom's jutis and return them in exchange for money.

 

Post-wedding Traditions and Rituals

 

Vidaai: The bride bids goodbye to her maternal family. She throws behind a handful of 

rice without looking back and her mother catches this in her pallu.

Fun games: After the bride and groom arrive at the groom’s house, his mother greets 

the couple with an aarti and the bride tosses a vessel of rice with her right foot to enter the house. After this, the entire family sits with the couple and makes them play some fun games.

 

Kangna Kholna: The bride and groom untie each other's bracelets in the presence of 

all the relatives. The bride is required to untie her husband's bracelet first.

The Reception party: The big fat and enjoyable Punjabi Wedding comes to an end with 

a grand reception party.