Punjabi wedding traditions

A tiny dot of henna paste (mehndi) is applied to her palm for good luck, and the function is sealed with the exchange of rings.

Modern Sangeet ceremonies have evolved to being celebrated in either ones homes or in larger venues to accommodate the proposed number of guests.

Mehndi artists are called to the houses of the boy and girl and apply mehendi to the palms of the female family members, groom and the hands and feet of the bride.

A basket containing Bindi and bangles is handed around so girls can choose those that match the outfit they plan to wear to the wedding.

The oldest maternal uncle and aunt play an important role in the performance of the ceremony.

Choora is basically a set of Red bangles, gifted by girl's mama (mother's brother).

People touch the choora and give their heartiest wishes to the girl for her future married life.

It consists of many rites, the Batna, Choora, Jaggo fireworks and sometimes the Ladies Sangeet and Mehndi.

Vatna involves applying a paste made from turmeric powder and mustard oil all over the bride's body by her female friends and relatives.

This ritual demands that the bride stay at home in her old clothes for a couple of days before her wedding.

Ubtan[clarification needed] is supposed to bring a glow to the bride's and groom's body, especially on their faces.

Jaggo: In this ceremony, the family dances and sings in the beautifully decorated wedding home.

They decorate copper or brass vessel called khadaa with diveh (clay lamps) and fill them with mustard oil and light them.

Sehra: Like the bride's home, the Vatna and Ghara Gharoli are followed by the dressing up of the groom in his wedding attire.

After the completion of Sehrabandi ceremony, all those who witness the function give gifts and cash to the boy as a token of good luck.

Friends and relatives of the bride and groom indulge in teasing and fun, to celebrate this happy occasion.

When all these rituals are over, the couple gets up to touch the feet of all the elder members in the family and seek their blessings for a happily married life.

In a Sikh wedding, the bride and groom will walk in tow around the Guru Granth Sahib four times, called laavaan.

Her brothers/male cousins then lead her to her husband, who waits to take her to his family home to begin her new life as a married woman.

The mother-in-law has a glass of water in her hand, which she circles three times around her new daughter-in-law and then offers it to her to drink, as a symbol of her acceptance and blessing as her newest daughter.

Then the bride must, with her right foot, kick the sarson ka tel (mustard oil) that is put on the sides of the entrance door before she enters the house.