| Punjabis believe in doing everything larger than life | | | | more as a jest than a serious ceremony. |
| and a special occasion like marriage is celebrated | | | | |
| like a big carnival, exhibiting splendid glamour. Like, | | | | Then the grand wedding day arrives, which begins |
| all other communities in India, Punjabis have their | | | | with Chuda & Ghara Ghardoli: |
| own series of rituals and ceremonies to perform. | | | | During the Chuda ceremony, the oldest maternal |
| | | | | uncle and aunt have the most active role to |
| Punjabi matrimony involves the usual girl made to | | | | perform. People touch the chuda and give their |
| meet the boy or vice versa. Like all other Indian | | | | wishes to the girl for her married life. Then they |
| matrimonial services, they prefer getting their | | | | sprinkle flower petals on the to-be bride. After |
| children married in the same religion or caste. | | | | that, the girl’s uncle, aunt, friends and cousins |
| | | | | tie kaliras (silver, gold or gold plated traditional |
| The girl and the boy are made to meet each | | | | ornaments) to a bangle worn by the girl. |
| other in the usual arrange marriage kind of | | | | Thereafter, the bride and groom wear their |
| manner. After their mutual consent, the first | | | | wedding attire. As per the tradition, their wedding |
| ceremony is ‘Roka’ or ‘Thaka’, | | | | dress is presented to them by their respective |
| where the girl’s father accompanied with | | | | maternal uncles. |
| some relatives and friends visit the young | | | | The bride's family waits at the entrance to greet |
| man’s house along with some sweets and | | | | the baarat (the groom and his family), who reach |
| presents. Then a formal engagement ceremony | | | | singing and dancing. The father, brother, uncles |
| ‘mangani’ is organized when the | | | | and grandfathers of the groom embrace the |
| boy’s family returns the visit and in the | | | | corresponding members of the bride's family. |
| presence of friends and relatives the intended | | | | In the Hindu - Punjabi marriage, bride and |
| marriage is announced. Basically, the origin of this | | | | bridegroom along with their parents will sit around |
| ceremony lies in the arranged marriage norm | | | | the sacred fire while pandits chant the marriage |
| where the parents would let out the world that | | | | mantras. They are deemed to be married after |
| they are looking for a suitable match for their son | | | | they have walked around the sacred fire |
| or daughter. | | | | ‘lawan phere’. The scenario is different in |
| Though traditionally, this ceremony is performed | | | | Sikh marriages. The Sikh couple will sit before the |
| with ‘Ardas’, a prayer, these days it is | | | | holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, while prayers |
| celebrated with songs, dance and merriment. | | | | are said and they will walk around the Guru |
| | | | | Granth Sahib, while grnathi chants the extracts |
| After getting engaged, both the girl and the boy | | | | from the ‘granth sahib’. After that, finally |
| enjoy their courtship, the period when they get to | | | | when they are announced as the man and wife, |
| know more about each other. And then, the | | | | prasad, a buttery, a scrumptious wheat-flour |
| preparations for the grand Punjabi wedding begin. | | | | based sweet, is distributed to all present and |
| | | | | signals the completion of the ceremony. |
| Wedding begins with ‘Akhand Path’, which | | | | |
| ends with a ceremony called ‘Sagan’. It is | | | | As Punjabis love eating, both Sikh and Hindu |
| performed a day before the wedding, when the | | | | weddings are marked by more feasting. The |
| girl’s family along with their relatives and | | | | concluding item is doli, literally "palanquin", when the |
| friends visits the would- be son-in law’s house | | | | bride is given an emotional farewell by her family |
| with wedding gifts, sweets and sagan. | | | | and friends. Then comes the exciting part as |
| | | | | more ceremonies await the bride at her |
| Then in the evening, the most awaited | | | | husband’s home but the main extravaganza is |
| ‘Mehndi ki raat’ is celebrated. Popularly | | | | over. Interestingly, even now some brides sit in a |
| know as ‘Ladies Sangeet’, it is one of the | | | | doli, which takes her to the getaway car, where |
| most exciting rituals in Punjabi marriages. The | | | | the groom and a few members of his family are |
| soon-to-be bride and groom apply mehndi or | | | | waiting to escort her home. She gets in, and |
| henna on their hands. All other family members | | | | zooms off to her new home - and new life. |
| and relatives sing and dance to folk Punjabi songs. | | | | |
| These days, the focus has shifted to DJ system, | | | | But in the end, both Hindu and Sikhs believe that |
| which has become a rage in all Indian marriages. | | | | marriage is the most beautiful union and should be |
| | | | | celebrated with all the zest and enthusiasm. |
| Similarly the groom's relatives also apply batna, | | | | |
