Songs of the bride's side
-
- Suhag: which is sung by the bride in praise of her parents
and the happy days of her childhood and in anticipation of
happy days ahead.
- Jaggo: procession song to call the neighbours to the
wedding.
- Churra charan vele da geet: sung when the chura,
ceremonial bangles are worn by the bride.
- Janj: sung when the janj, marriage procession, is to be
greeted.
- Milni: sung at the ritual introduction of the two sides.
- Ghenne de geet: sung when the bride is adorned with
jewels.
- Siftan: song in praise of the bridegroom
- Chhandh: evolved from poetry, songs of joy.
Sitthniyan (crude, teasing songs)
-
- Song sung when the bridegroom's procession is being
welcomed.
- Song sung when the wari, or gifts from the bridegroom’s
side, are being exhibited.
- Song sung when the groom's party sits down to the meal.
- Song sung when the daaj, dowry or the bridal gifts, are
being displayed.
Others
-
- Lavan Phere :sung at the time of the actual wedding
ritual.
- Mahinya :sung when the girl is preparing for the wedding
and is bathed by the women at home. It goes for both men and
women.
- Vedi de geet : sung while erecting the marriage pandal.
- Khatt: sung at the time the maternal grandparents present
gifts to the bride on an overturned tokra, or basket.
- Pani vaarna: welcoming the bride to her new home.
- Bidaigi: sung when the bride is being sent off in the doli.
- Ghughrian: sung when the doli arrives at the groom s
house.
- Shahana: sung by mirasis in praise of the bridegroom.
- Til Methre: sung while welcoming the bride and orienting
her to the family.
- Pattal: song sung before meal.
.Wedding
rituals
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Rokka: In this ceremony, the boy and the girl commit to enter a
wedlock, and won't consider any more matrimonial proposals. Ardaas
is done, followed by exchange of gifts.
Mangni: The Engagement. Usually
very high profile. This when the boys' side of the family goes to
the girls' side with gifts, jewellery, and other goods, to confirm
the engagement. Usually even an exchange of rings takes place.
Dholki: Can be one day or many
days, usually high profile in a banquet hall, ladies sings
traditional songs, and it is the eastern version of the western
Bridal shower. Nowadays people hire DJs and have a dance party
followed by dinner.
Mehndi: The Mehandi ceremony
takes place in the atmosphere of a party. The bride and other
ladies get mendhi (henna designs) done, on their hands and feet
(most ladies get it done only on their hands but the bride gets it
done on both hands and feet). For the bride the mendhi is sent by
the future Mother in Law.
Shagun: Shagun or Shagan is the first ceremony which marks the
commence of activities, where the two families exchange gifts to
conform the engagement.
Ubtan: This ritual demands that the bride-to-be stay at home in
her old clothes for a couple of days before her wedding. Before
her bath, ubtan (a paste of powdered turmeric and mustard oil) is
applied on her body by female relatives and friends. Both, the
ghara ghardoli and the ubtan ceremonies are also performed for the
groom at his house. Here the decorated pitcher of water (ghadoli)
is brought for his bath by his bhabi (elder brother's wife).
Rut Jugga: The Rut Jugga ceremony is where the family dances
and sings in the beautifully decorated wedding home. Rut Jugga is
in the last hours of the night. They decorate copper vessels
called "gaffers" with diyas (clay lamps) and fill them with
mustard oil and light them. The
bride/bridegrooms maternal aunt (mammi) carries it on her head,
and another lady will have a long stick with bells, and she will
be shaking it. The ladies will then go into other friends and
families homes and be welcomed by sweets and drinks, they will
then dance there and move on. It is a loud ceremony, filled with
joy, dancing, fireworks, and food. And if the family wishes the
ladies' dholki (ladies night of singing) and mendhi will follow
the mayian and dinner.
Wedding Process
Sarbala/Shabbala: A young nephew or cousin also dons similar
attire. He is called the sarbala/shabbala (caretaker of the groom)
and accompanies him .
Sehrabandi: his relatives bless his sehra or turban.
Varna: The groom's bhabi lines his eyes with surma (kohl).
After this, the groom's sisters and cousins feed and decorate his
mare. varna, a ceremony that is supposed to ward off the evil eye.
The cash is given away to the poor.
Milni: (means "Introductions") The Ardas is performed by the
priest (Giani) followed by the formal introductions of the main
male players in the families. Example is both eldest Chachas
(father's younger brother) will come together and exchange
garlands of flowers and money. After or during the wedding, ladies
will do the same thing, but a much smaller affair.
Jaimala: After Milni, the bride and groom come in the middle of
the circle where the family is standing, and place a heavily made
garland made of flowers on each other to state, they accept each
other and will love and live together with one and other.
Kanyadaan:
Pheress/Lavan: Depending on a Hindu Punjabi Wedding Hindus
around the Agni, (sacred fire) four times at the set intervals. In
a Sikh Wedding, the Bride and Groom will walk in tow around the
Guru Granth Sahib four times at the set
intervals.
Nikah: Nikah is Muslim marriage
ceremony. Nikah is the contract between a
bride and
bridegroom and part of an
Islamic marriage, a strong
covenant (mithaqun Ghalithun) as expressed in
Qur'an 4:21.
Walima: It is one of the two
traditional parts of an
Islamic wedding. The walima
is performed after the
nikah, or marriage ceremony.
Juta chhupai. This is when the girl's young relatives grab the
groom's untended shoes and hide it away to be returned after the
ceremony for a fee which is Kalecharis of gold for the bride's
sisters and of silver for her cousins. This joyful custom is
called juta chhupai.
'Post-Wedding Rituals:
Vidaai/Doli: Vidaai marks the departure of the bride from her
parental house. As a custom, the bride throws phulian or puffed
rice over her head. The ritual conveys her good wishes for her
parents. Her brother’s accompany the bride. Her relatives throw
coins in the wake of this procession.
Rituals Observed at the Groom's House:
Pani vaarna. The groom's mother performs the traditional aarti
with a pitcher of water. She makes seven attempts to drink the
water from the pitcher. The groom must allow her to succeed only
at the seventh attempt. The bride must, with her right foot, kick
the mustard oil that is put on the sides of the entrance door
before she enters the house.
Phera Dalna: the newly weds visit the bride's parents on the
day after the wedding. The bride’s brother usually fetches them.
