Just like Punjabis, the Punjabi weddings are a fun-filled, warm and visual treat to eyes. Punjabis are known for fulfilling their traditions with sincerity and love. When we talk of Punjabi weddings, you can see an oldie enjoying the wedding fun, everyone dancing to the music to last minutes, a lot of gossiping and masti by youngsters. No matter a Punjabi is living abroad, you can never see a Punjabi wedding without incorporating significant religious wedding rituals. Read the article to know about the wedding day rituals of a Punjabi wedding.
Wedding day rituals
• Gana bandhna
On the morning of the wedding day, a puja is performed by a priest at respective homes of bride and groom where priest ties a sacred red thread or mauli with betel nut and a shell (kaudi) that has to be untied later by the couple post-wedding.
• Chooda and kalire ceremony
Chooda and kalire ceremony held at bride’s home either on the wedding day or a day prior to the wedding. Maternal uncle of bride gifts a set of 21 red and ivory bangles to bride which is the symbolism of fertility. Female elders of family touch the chooda to bless the bride. In kalire ceremony, sisters, bhabhi or friends tie kalires in chooda that are encrusted with coconut, dry fruits and dried betel nuts. It is believed that if a part of kalire falls on one’s head, she is the next one to get married.
• Vatna ceremony
Also known as haldi ceremony, four diyas are lit when a prepared paste of sandalwood, turmeric, mustard oil, rosewater. Traditionally, it’s a belief that radiance of the diyas imparts an everlasting glow on the bride’s face. Same ceremony takes place at groom’s home. It is fun to be a part of this ritual where each and everyone can be seen applying turmeric paste on one another.
• Ghara Ghadoli
Followed by haldi ceremony, the beautiful bride goes to temple accompanies by sisters and friends to take bath from a pitcher filled with holy water. She then prays to diety to seek blessings for a happy married life. This ritual is known as Ghara Ghadoli. After taking a proper shower on returning back from the temple, she heads to the parlor to look gorgeous on the wedding day.
The same ritual is performed at groom’s home as well but he doesn’t need to visit the temple to pour a water-filled pitcher on himself.
• Sehrabandi
When groom decks up in a sherwani, he offers prayer to family diety and a small puja of headgear (turban) is performed by the priest after which then wrapped around the head of the bridegroom by elders.
• Ghodi Sajna and Ghodi chadna
The ghodi is decked with beautiful cloth and a tikka is applied on its head. The mare is then fed chana dal and water by groom’s sister. This is called Ghodi Sajna. Sister of groom applies kajal on his eyes to ward off the evils from his way after which groom saddles upon the mare to reach the wedding venue along with friends, family, and relatives.
• Agwaani and Milni
The arrival of the groom with his procession at the wedding venue is called agwaani. The bride’s mother welcomed groom with arti and put tikka on his forehead.
The relatives of the groom are warmly welcomed by corresponding bride’s relative which is termed as milni according to Punjabi wedding ritual. Mama ji of the groom is greeted by Mama Ji of other party and so on.
• Varmala
The groom is led to the elevated stage for the varmala or jaimala ceremony. The couple exchange floral garlands in the gracious presence of everyone.
• Madhuperk
The bride and the groom are taken to canopy for mangal pheras. According to an old tradition, bride gives a small bowl of water to groom. The groom pours some water on his feets, on the body and drinks the leftover water. Proceeded to which, the groom is offered a sherbat or madhuperk made of Ghee, honey, curd, and some sacred essences to drink after sprinkling it in all directions.
• Kanyadaan
This is an emotional wedding ritual wherein the presence of sacred fire, father of the bride gives away his daughter to groom and asks him to take good care of her. The groom in return promises his father in law to nourish her with utmost care and love.
• Mangal phere
The end knots of couple’s dupattas are tied together. The couple take 4 rounds around the sacred fire or holy Agni kund. The bride is considered as an incarnation of Goddess Laxmi preceeded the groom in first three pheras. In last phere groom goes in the front followed by her.
• Lajahom
This significant ritual is repeated thrice where bride’s brother pours puffed rice into her cupped hands, the couple then offers puffed rice together to fire to seek the divine blessings.
• Sindoor daan
After lajahom, the groom fills the maang (hair parting) of the bride with sindoor and ties mangalsutra around her neck.
• Juta chupai
This is the last ritual of the wedding ceremony where sisters of the bride hide shoes of the groom when he was busy completing the wedding rituals. The groom asks for his shoes and bride’s sister asks for ransom in return.