Punjabi Wedding Traditions

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Punjabi Wedding

              Punjabi Weddings are rich in its traditions and custom. These customs and rituals of the wedding actually differ from one community to other. As Punjab has the diverse cultural and religious groups, therefore one can observe the diverse wedding types in Punjab. Each community has its own marriage rituals and customs. It is a common observation that Punjabis celebrate their wedding in a grandeur style and spend lavishly to make it big.

Muslims – A Muslim wedding allows the marriage between the relatives where the best match is considered to be wedding between first cousins. The formal name for the Muslim wedding ceremony is known as Nikah. The parents of the bride usually give her dowry that she can keep as her property.

Hindu – A Hindu wedding is very pronounced in terms of its celebration and organization. It usually extends for a where there are large number of customs and rituals are performed. Hindi Punjabis prefer to seek the marriage partners within their own caste. However, Hindus do not allow marriage with in the same clan and they seek the wedding partners outside their clans. The dowry is an important element of the Hindu wedding. Hindu rituals include the traditional journey of the Barat (wedding party) to the bride’s house and garlands of flowers exchanged between the bride and groom. The seven circles or Saat pheres round the sacred fire is a prominent custom.

Sikhs – The Sikh wedding id against any form of giving or taking dowries. The wedding of the Sikhs takes place before the Granth, which is their sacred book.

        After the wedding in all communities, the wife moves to a new location in the home of her husband’s family. The rules for remarriage and divorce vary a lot in different Punjabi communities. A Islam has provisions for a divorce however it is strongly avoided in the rural society. In the Sikh community, the divorce is not allowed and they permit the widows to remarry. In Hindus, the widow remarriage is not common and divorce is strongly opposed.

Punjabi Wedding Rituals

       The Pre-Wedding Rituals of Punjabi wedding consists of various ceremonies like Rokka, Mangni, Dholki, Mehndi, Shagun, Ubtan and Rut Jugga.

Rokka – The Rokka ceremony is done as a commitment from the boy and girl to marry each other. None of the parties consider any more matrimonial proposals after the Rokka. The Gift is exchanged between the families.

Mangni – It refers to the process of Engagement and it is celebrated in high profile manner. During the Mangni, the boys’ family goes to the girls’ home and presents gifts, jewellery, and other items as a sign of confirming the engagement. The major highlight of the engagement is the exchange of rings between boys and Girls.

Dholki – This is a high profile ceremony which is organised in a Banquet Hall where ladies sings traditional songs. However, in modern times people use to hire DJs and organise a dance party followed by dinner.

Mehndi: This ceremony is organised in the party’s environment where the bride and other ladies get apply mehndi on their hands and feet.

Shagun: Shagun refers to the ceremony where two families usually exchange gifts for confirming the engagement.

Ubtan: In this ritual, a paste of powdered turmeric and mustard oil is applied on the gal’s body by female relatives and friends.

Rut Jugga: The Rut Jugga ceremony marked by the dancing and singing in the decorated wedding home. It is performed till late night hours. A copper or brass vessel called “gagger” is decorated with clay lamps and filled with mustard oil to light them. The ladies will move into the homes of friends and families where they are usually welcomed by sweets and drinks. They perform dance there and move ahead. It is a loud ceremony that is celebrated with joy, fireworks, dancing, followed by tasty food.

Punjabi Wedding Process

              There are various procedures that are observed in Punjabi Wedding.

Sarbala – A young nephew or cousin of the groom dressed in a similar attire as the Groom and accompanies him throughout the wedding. He is called as sarbala or caretaker of the groom.

Sehrabandi – In this ritual, the Sehera is tied to the turban of groom by his sister.

Varna – In this ceremony, the groom’s sister-in-law applies Surma to groom’s eye. Once this is done, the sisters and cousins of the groom decorate and feed his mare.

Milni and Jaimala – In this ceremony, “The Ardas” is performed by the priest. It is followed by the formal introductions of main relatives of both the families. They exchanged garlands of flower and money. Once the process of Milni is over, the bride and groom gather in the middle of the circle made by family members and exchange a heavily decorated garland as a sign of accepting each other.

The process of Kanyadaan includes the following rituals.

Pheress/Lavan – As per the traditions of Hindu Punjabi Wedding, both bride and groom move in circle around the scared fire, seven times at some set intervals. In case of a Sikh Wedding, the Bride and Groom walk in tow four times around the Guru Granth Sahib at the set intervals.

Nikah – In case of Muslim wedding, the Nikah is performed as a contract between a bride and bridegroom. After the Nikah, Walima is performed as part of an Islamic wedding.

Post-Wedding Rituals comprises of Vidaai when a girl moves out of her parental house to enter the groom’s house. During this procedure, the bride throws puffed rice over her head. The ritual is done as a gesture of making good wishes for her parents. The brother of Bride accompanies her and relatives throw coins to celebrate the procession.