Indian culture is a blend of different cultures and religions which varies from community to community, region to region and state to state. Each religion incorporates in numerous rituals and customs whether it’s a wedding or a festival. Weddings in India are solemnized by following different rituals and traditions which change in accordance with the religion.
A wedding is the lifetime’s biggest moment for bride and groom. Both of them, beautiful bride and handsome groom wants to start a new phase of life together by soliciting the elder’s blessings and good wishes. One such ceremony which is an indispensable part of Punjabi’s wedding is chooda and kalire ceremony especially held for the bride-to-be to seek elder’s blessings.
The Traditional Chooda Ceremony
Chooda ceremony followed by Kalire ceremony holds a special significance for the bride to be. It is performed on the morning of the wedding day at bride’s house.
Traditionally, chooda (chuda) is a set of 21 bangles of red and white (ivory). The chooda is gifted by oldest maternal’s uncle (Mama ji) to the bride-to-be. Havan or fire is organized prior to the ceremony. Pandit ji chants holy mantra and washes or purifies the chooda with the mixture of raw milk and rose petals. The maternal uncle of bride puts chuda on her wrist. A bride is prohibited to watch chuda till the wedding ceremony as it is termed inauspicious and therefore is covered by white cloth. Chuda is touched by all the elder’s of the family as a token of their blessings to live a happy married life ahead before it is put on bride’s wrist by mama ji.
The red color is of great significance in Hindu culture as it strengthens the bond between a couple. Chuda is believed to bring good fortune in bride’s life and is the symbolism of newly married women.It is also affiliated with the symbol of fertility and prosperity for the bride. It is mandatory of a bride to wear sacred chooda for the period of minimum 40 days to 1.5 years according to respective family’s custom. If a bride gets pregnant within the time period, the chooda is removed by bride’s sister in law and get flowed in holy Ganga after offering prayers. Right after chooda, a sacred thread called gaana is tied at bride’s wrist by family members which are believed to ward off the evil and is opened by her husband after the completion of wedding rituals. At some parts, maternal uncle also gives lehenga along with the chooda.
Now, bangles of chuda come in different color (pink, orange, blue, green) to match bridal lehenga. For bride’s convenience, plastic choodas are also available in the market.
The beautiful kalire
Kalire is the beautiful ornaments that are tied to chooda of the beautiful bride which signifies happiness and never ending love between the couple. These are umbrella shaped hangings and mostly length varies up to 3 tiers of the umbrella. These are tied at bride’s chooda by her lovely sisters and close friends and are golden and silver in color. Today, kalire comes in different colors as well and can be chosen in accordance with outfit’s color. The importance of kalire is to provide good wishes to the bride and reminds her of her friends and sisters which she is going to leave behind after getting married.
Earlier kalire were made by friends and family members of bride encrusted with dried beetle nuts, shells, dry fruits and coconuts. Coconut holds a special significance that she will never run out of food in her new house where metal indicates wealth and prosperity.
After attaching kalire to the chooda, all unmarried girls are said to sit or stand in a row. The beautiful bride shakes her hands and kalire over the heads of unmarried girl and it is believed that if a part or piece is kalire falls off on any girl, she would be the first one to get married (or next number will be hers). Kalires are kept by the bride as the remembrance of her parent’s home after the wedding rituals are over.
If you are among the one who wants to adorn the beautiful chooda and attractive kalire, then follow the ritual same as performed in Punjabi’s wedding as the traditional chooda and kalire ceremony holds a special importance in Punjabi culture and traditions as it is the symbolism of good fortune and good luck in bride’s life.