Punjab and Haryana, two culturally rich regions in northern India, are known for their vibrant and unique wedding traditions. Here are some beautiful and significant customs of both areas.
The Colorful Punjabi Wedding Rituals!
Bollywood may have given you an idea of a Punjabi wedding, but that’s never foolproof. So, we will help you with one that will help you to understand the deep-rooted culture and beauty of Punjabi and Sikh weddings. So, why wait? Let’s dig in!
Pre-Wedding Rituals
Here are the pre-wedding rituals for you. Let’s have a look:
Roka/Thaka
Roka is an engagement ceremony where the families officially announce the relationship and exchange gifts.
Sagan/Tikka
The groom’s family visits the bride’s house with gifts and sweets. The bride’s father applies a tilak (a mark on the forehead) to the groom.
Chunni Ceremony
The groom’s family presents the bride with a red or pink chunni (veil), symbolizing acceptance into the groom’s family. The bride gets ready while herself adorning herself with beautiful jewelry and clothes.
Sangeet
It is a musical night where both families sing and dance. It’s a lively event with traditional Punjabi music and dance like Bhangra and Gidda.
Mehndi
On this day, the bride adorns her hands and feet with intricate henna designs, symbolizing beauty and joy. The family also participates in this pre-wedding ceremony to celebrate the day with song, dance, and laughter.
Wedding Day Rituals
The D-Day is here finally. So, are you ready to have a glance at the Punjabi wedding day rituals? Why wait? Let’s have a look:
Sehra Bandi
The groom’s turban is tied, and a sehra (veil) is placed over his face. A ceremonial departure from his home follows this.
Milni
The families meet at the wedding venue, and the male members exchange garlands.
Anand Karaj
The Sikh wedding ceremony, performed in a Gurdwara, involves the couple circumambulating the Guru Granth Sahib four times, with each round signifying a vow of the marriage.
Post-Wedding Rituals
The wedding has ended, but not the rituals. Let’s have a look at the Punjabi post-wedding rituals.
Doli/Vidai
The bride leaves her parental home to start a new life at her in-laws’ place. It is an emotional and significant part of the wedding.
Phera Dalna
The bride returns to her parental home after a few days for a short stay, symbolizing the completion of marriage rituals.
Haryana
From Kapil Dev to Geeta Phogat, the Northern state of India has given us many well-renowned athletes. But do you know this state has a rich culture, and you can glance at that through their wedding rituals? No? Then, you must read the blog until the end!
Pre-Wedding Rituals
First, let’s learn about the Haryanvi Pre-Wedding rituals. A nutshell is here below:
Roka
This ritual is similar to Punjabi Roka. It’s an engagement ceremony where the families formalize the relationship.
Bhat Nyotna
It is a Haryanvi ritual where the maternal uncle of the bride or groom invites relatives to the wedding.
Ban Baihna
The bride and groom are anointed with turmeric paste by their relatives, believed to bring good luck and enhance beauty.
Wedding Day Rituals
So, are you ready for the wedding day rituals? Let’s have a look at it then:
Ghodi Chadna
The groom mounts a horse and heads toward the bride’s home or venue in a procession known as the Barat.
Chak Pujan
At the entrance of the wedding venue, the bride’s family welcomes the groom while performing traditional rituals to ward off evil.
Kanyadaan
The bride’s father gives her hand to the groom, signifying the giving away of the daughter to the groom’s family.
Pheras
The couple takes seven rounds around the sacred fire, each signifying a vow of the marriage.
Post-Wedding Rituals
So, now the wedding has ended. But some rituals are still there. What are those? Let’s have a look:
Joota Chupai
It is a fun ritual where the bride’s sisters hide the groom’s shoes and demand money for their return.
Vidaai
The bride leaves her parental home, often with tears and blessings, to start her new life.
Phera Phera
The couple visits the bride’s parental home the next day, where the bride’s family organizes a feast.
Conclusion
So, here, in a nutshell, we tried mirroring the Punjabi and the Haryanvi wedding rituals and traditions. These traditions reflect the deep cultural heritage and joyous spirit of Punjabi and Haryanvi weddings. What do you think about it? Which culture or tradition is more alluring to you?
