Punjabis are very warm and fun loving people who are known for expressing their emotions with fondness and pleasure, same reflect in their wedding ceremonies. Punjabi weddings are a loud and extravagant affair where you see everyone enjoying to the fullest, dancing to the beats of the music showing amazing dance steps, million dollar smiles on everyone’s face and melodious sound of laughter, and people munching their favorite delicacies. Punjabi people are very faithful when it comes to following their traditions, culture, and rituals even leaving abroad. Their marriages are the perfect blend of old age traditions and modern and conventional twist sometimes.

You may have seen many Punjabi movies where you have got a chance to be a part of the punjabi wedding either sitting at home or enjoying popcorn at the cinema hall. Read the article to have a glimpse on pre-wedding Punjabi traditions and rituals.

• Rokna

This ritual begins the pre-wedding traditions which mark the acceptance and togetherness of the would-be-couple in the presence of family members and close friends. This ritual starts with a small puja called ardaas to seek blessings of Almighty God for the commencement of new phase of life.

• Sagan

The ritual of sagan takes place at groom’s home. The bride’s family visit groom’s home to shower him with gifts, clothes, sweets, money, and blessings.

• Chunni Chadai

Chunni chadai rasam or ceremony is observed at bride’s home where groom’s family and relatives visit her home to mark the acceptance of her in their family by gifting him red saree or red chunni by groom’s mother or sister. She is then showered with gifts, cash, fruits, sweets, dry fruits, jewelry etc according to the status of the family. Henna (one among the solah shringaar items) is applied on her hand as a symbol of auspiciousness.

• Sangeet

Sangeet is a fun-filled ceremony usually arranged at bride’s home. Traditionally, the female relatives sing Punjabi folk songs to give blessings to the bride and tease her. Nowadays, Sangeet is performed together where dance performances are presented with the help of choreographers to make the day enjoyable for the couple.

• Mehandi

Mehandi ceremony is an indispensable part of the wedding which is held at respective homes of bride and groom. The hands and feets of the bride are decorated with the paste of henna. At groom’s home, henna is applied on groom’s palm. It is said that darker the color of mehndi, more love between the couple.

• Chooda ceremony

Taken place at bride’s home, Chooda ceremony is a significant pre-wedding ritual for a bride. The bride’s maternal uncle gifts her the set of 21 red and white (ivory) bangles. The chooda is purified with the mixture of raw milk and rose petals where priest chants mantras. The bride is restricted to watch chooda till the wedding that’s why it is covered with white cloth.

• Jago ceremony

The night before the wedding day is celebrated as jago ceremony which generally means staying awake at late night hours. The aunt of the bride and groom places earthen pot filled with candles on head and dances. The pot is then passed to other ladies to enjoy the celebration.