Punjabi Wedding Ceremony Simple And Pompous

Punjabi Wedding Ceremony:

Punjabi Wedding is straightforward and sticks fast to religious practices. Punjabi marriage is not much pompous compared with Hindu marriages. The unions were held in Gurudwara in front of GuruGranth. The Punjabi Wedding celebrates for one week and follows all the customs and rituals of their tradition. The bridal ceremonies are very similar to those practised by the Hindus. Most Indian wedding rituals are similar between Sikhs and Hindus, but the only difference is the Hindus use Vedic texts chanted by the priests during the Hindu marriage. But in Punjabi tradition, the preachers follow their sacred book AdiGrandh.

Punjabi Wedding:

The Punjabi Wedding was performed in the presence of a preacher and attended by family, friends, relatives and guests. Punjabi wedding rituals are also performed before and after the Punjabi marriage. Both families are integral to Punjabi marriage and strictly follow their customs and traditions.

The Punjabi wedding rituals are divided into three parts. They are 1. Pre Wedding rituals. 2. Wedding day rituals. 3. Post Wedding rituals.

Punjabi Wedding Traditions:

A ceremony of Bliss:
This is the beginning of the Punjabi wedding ceremony. The two families start their shopping for the Wedding. As a custom, the families purchase Rumalla Sahib, which contains four pieces of cloth. The cloth is very sacred, customarily embroidered, and used to cover the Granth Sahib. After this dangerous activity is completed, the family starts the rest of the shopping. They buy clothes for the Wedding, jewellery and other Punjabi wedding needs.

Tilak Ceremony:

In the Punjabi wedding ceremony, a tilak ceremony is a beautiful event. It has another name, engagement. In this ceremony, the Bhaiji, the Gurudwara preacher, recites hymns and applies tilak on the Bridegroom’s forehead. After this ceremony, both families distribute the gifts among the two families—the Chura ceremony was held at the Bride’s home. In the Chura ceremony, the Bride’s maternal uncle and aunt give red and white bangles for wearing, and other gifts are also presented to the Bride. These bangles are tied with silver and gold ornaments called Kalirein. The following custom Maiya is the Bride, and the groom is not allowed to leave the house sometime before the Wedding.

Gana Ceremony:
This ritual protects the Bride and groom from the ill omen. In the Gana ritual, the preacher tied the red threads to the right wrist of the Bridegroom and the left wrist of the Bride.

Vatna ceremony:
In this ceremony, the women in the house prepare a liquid powder with scented powder made of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil. And applied this material to the couple and sang traditional songs following the ceremonial bath.

Jaggo Ceremony:
This ritual of Jaggo celebrates late at night before the Punjabi marriage day. Only close relatives participate in the ceremony. The maternal relatives of the Bride decorate a copper vessel with lamps made of wheat flour. They light these lamps. The Bride’s maternal aunt carries the lamp and visits and serves sweets. The family members sing and perform a traditional Siddha dance during this ceremony.

Mehendi ceremony:
During this ceremony, Mehendi is applied on the hands and feet of the Bride by singing traditional songs.

Gharoli ceremony:
In this ceremony, the family members bring the water from Gurdwara for the ritual bath of the groom.

Kharecharna ceremony:

Early morning on the wedding day, the groom’s sister-in-law and other female relatives bring water from Gurudwara and prepare the groom to sit on a stool for his bath, and four girls hold a cloth to his head. Similar rituals are also performed at the Bride’s house. After the bath, the Bride wore 21 red and white bangles and tied the bangles with golden metal plates. She wears a heavily embroidered Salwar-Kameez or Lehenga-Chunni. Meanwhile, the groom wears the brocade achkan(long coat) and a pink turban to get ready to leave for Bride’s house. Then his brother’s wife applies surma to his eyes, and the groom gives her some money as a gift of gratitude. After this ceremony, he sat on horseback, accompanied by his relatives and friends and starts at the Bride’s house. This ceremony is called Baraat. The Baraat continues with lavish pampering and arrives at the Bride’s home, and then the male members of the Bride’s family welcome the Baraat. After some traditional songs bot,h family members interexchange their garlands and gifts.

The families assembled at the Gurudwara. Then the couple sits before the Adi Granth. Then the priest tells the importance of obligations in the family life and sings the hymns of marriage from the sacred book Adi Granth and at the end of the fourth round, both are pronounced wife and husband. Then the elders of both families bless the couple and give gifts in money.

Rituals After Marriage:
After the marriage, the Bride’s family farewelled her with tears. And the groom’s family welcomes the Bride and gives her mukhdekhai, or money, to behold her. And follow the reception party and arrange a grand feast at the groom’s house.