Punjabi Wedding Rituals

Vatna: 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, vatna (a paste of powdered turmeric and mustard oil) is applied on her body by female relatives and friends. Both, the ghara ghardoli and the vatna 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).

Jaggo: The Jaggo ceremony is where the family dances and sings on the road in front and around the beautifully decorated wedding home. Jaggo is in the last hours of the night. They decorate copper vessels called "gaffers" with divas (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' sangeet (ladies night of singing) and mendhi will follow the mayian and dinner.

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.

Sagan: The main engagement. See Anand Karaj for more details in what events happen in this occasion.

Chunni Chadana: When the boys side goes to the brides home, a day or two before the wedding, and take a red chunni and place it on her head, and also apply makeup, indoor, jewellery, mendhi, red nail polish, bindi and other accessories to symbolize her new life with her in laws.

Sangeet: Can be one day or many days, usually high profile in a banquet hall, ladies sings traditional Indian songs, and it is the Indian version of the western Bridal shower.

Mehandi: A night of mendhi, in the atmosphere of a party. The bride and other ladies get mendhi done, on their hands and feet. For the bride the mendhi is sent by the future Mother in Law.