Wedding in Punjabi Style

The Punjabis are known for their enthusiastic approach to life, vivaciousness and of course the very happening and rocking “Bhangra”. The Punjabis celebrate even a smallest occasion with full zeal and when it comes to a jubilation like wedding they know how to pull all the stops. The Punjabi weddings are in the truest sense synonymous with excitement and thrill.

Punjabi Wedding Customs
The customs of Punjabi wedding are very colourful and elaborate. Every custom in fact seems like a big carnival. There are many traditional Punjabi wedding rituals like Ladies Sangeet, Roka and Juta Chupai and so on. Each function is also marked by special dance performances like Bhangras and Giddas.

Have an eye at the various customs and rituals:

Pre-Marriage Functions
Roka - The marriage ceremonies begin with the Roka function. It is held as soon as the couple agrees to wed. The Roka ceremony conveys that the boy and the girl have found their soul mates and are going to look no further for a life partner. Though rings are not exchanged the couple is considered to be engaged.

Sagai/Shagun – This the engagement ceremony where he rings are exchanged and gifts are presented by the bride's family to the groom and his other relatives.
Sangeet – After Sagai comes the Sangeet function that is held at the bride's place and close relatives of the groom are also invited. The women play dholaki and sing spicy songs teasing the groom and his family and others dance on the music. A similar Sangeet function is held at the Groom's place where everyone enjoys to their fullest.

Mehendi – Mehendi is one of the major pre-marriage functions. It is applied on the pals and feet of the bride. The other members of the girls's and the boy's family also beautify their hands with Mehendi.

This function is quite common in all the Indian weddings.

Wedding Day Hulla Balloo
On the day of marriage the paste of turmeric is applied on the hands, face and feet of the bride and groom. It is said that this brings glow on both their faces. This custom is followed by the Bangles ceremony where the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride put red and white bangles on the bride's wrists. A kind of hanging jewellery made of gold or silver is tied on the bangles of the bride.

Costumes
The wedding dress of the bride comprises a Sharara (a long flowing skirt and a blouse).There is colourful dupatta or chunni to cover the bride's head. The groom mostly dresses up in a Sherwani or a traditional salwar and kurta.
The Barat Fuction
The groom wears a “sehra”on his head and travel on the horseback (ghodi) and reaches the bride's house to tie the nuptial knot.