South Asian Weddings
Important parts of a Sikh Wedding and Events:
The Chunni Ceremony: The groom and his family come to the bride’s house and adorn her with gifts and jewelry to symbolize that she is now part of their family, showing the brides family that they will take care of her from now on. When the bharat arrives oil is poured at the door and a glass of water is held by Bride’s sisters showing that these are auspicious and important guests entering their home.
The Maiya: This is a time for the bride and the groom’s family to pass on their blessings and ceremonially rub a paste on their face and arms to make them glow for their wedding day. A Rangoli or colorful drawing is made on the ground in front of the bride or groom and he or she is seated low on the ground while the family sings. Red strings are tied onto all the guests wrists in celebration of the wedding, since red is a color of health, vitality and love. After the paste is finished the mother of the groom or bride jumps over it five times with her sister in law for luck. Then the mother then makes five handprints on the house, this is also simply for luck. The bride or groom carries the canopy their family holds over them on their head.
The Jago: This is ceremony takes place for the groom and the bride at their own homes: Pots full of light are carried in on their families heads to symbolize the light they will bring into each other’s lives. Everyone gets up and dances here to celebrate the forthcoming wedding!
The Churra Ceremony: This only takes place for the Bride at her house. The bride’s uncles put special bangles on her hands to wear during her wedding. The bangles are first placed in milk then put on with care. Her sisters then tie on jewels to her bangles as a sign of well wishes.
“The Bharat”: this term simply means the groom and his friends and family, they are treated with care and special consideration by the bride’s family as a sign of respect for they will be taking care of the bride from this day forth.
Arrival of the Bharat at the Temple (temple also called Gurdwara): The Bharat walks in with Drummers to symbolize their joy and happiness and also to signal they are coming so the Bride’s family will come out to greet them.
The Milni: This takes place in front of the Gurdwara first a prayer is read and then family members (first the men, then the women) of the bride and grooms sides exchange scarves (men) and small gifts (women) to show their love and appreciation for each other. Bride will walk out escorted by her younger sisters, and Groom and Bride will exchange flower garlands to show their love and devotion for each other.
“Langar” is the Punjabi term for food and “Langar Hall” basically means the part of the temple where the meals are served and eaten. The Bharat eats after the Milni and then the ceremony begins.
The Actual Sikh Wedding Ceremony begins as soon as the groom is seated in front
of the “Guru Granth Sahib” or Holy book. He bows before the Holy Book and is seated his sister takes off a jewel on his turban and then bows before the holy book and places it there. After this the bride is escorted in by her brothers, she bows before the holy book and is seated. The Bride & Groom and their parents stand and silently pray, this is called “Ardas” meaning well wishes after this all bow and are seated. Then a special hymn is sang, one of Bride’s uncles will take Groom’s shoulder scarf and hand it to Bride, showing that they give their fatherly blessing for him to take her. After this Groom leads Bride around the Holy Book four times (Bride’s brothers and sisters hold her as she walks here, showing they’ll always love and support her). After the fourth circle around the wedding party showers the couple with rose petals, they are married now!!!
After this there are a few speeches on the sanctity of marriage, and then the couple remains seated as their guests give take pictures with them.
After this everyone eats lunch! ☺
The Doli: Upon arrival at Bride’s house, Bride proceeds in but Groom must pass a few of her sister’s tests and games before he is let into the house, these are just fun traditional Indian games! Oil and water is put by the door again showing this is an auspicious guest entering. The families mingle a bit and Bride hugs everyone goodbye and is escorted out by her family, she throws rice over her shoulders and then forward to show that the will no longer look to the past but only clearly see the future.
Panni Varna: At Groom’s house, Groom and Bride arrive at the door and the groom’s mother is standing with a pot of water and she circles it over the bride and grooms heads and tries to drink it 5 times and the groom stops her each time. There might be a few traditional games here also. Then Bride and Groom are seated and given a glass of milk for health and vitality, the groom drinks a bit and the bride finishes it. More mingling and possibly singing takes place after this.
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