
| ROKA CEREMONY | Formal approval and finalization of the alliance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAAGAI RITUAL | The “ring” ceremony (engagement) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CHUNNI CHADAI | Dressing up and blessing the bride | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HEENA CEREMONY | Adorning traditional mehandi on the hands & feet of the bride & accompanying ladies of the family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KANGNA BANDHAI | Tying of the symbolic bracelets on the couple's wrists | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CHUDA CHADAI | Bedecking the bride with bangles particularly presented to her by her maternal uncle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HALDI CEREMONY | Covering the bride with tradional ubtan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SANGEET CEREMONY | Musical celebration among the ladies of the families | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GHODI SAJAI | Beautifying the mare of the groom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEHRA BANDHI | Tying of the traditional headdress on the groom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AGWAANI | Welcoming the baraat (groom’s procession) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MILNI CEREMONY | Formal meeting of the relatives of both the families | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JAIMALA | Exchange of garlands between the groom & bride | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIVAH AAYOJAN | Actual wedding rituals segmented in the following sequence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BIDAAI | Formally giving away the Bride to the groom’s family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KANGNA KHOLNA | Untying of the bracelets tied on the brides hands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MOOH DIKHAI | Introducing the bride to her husband's relatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GOTA CEREMONY | Traditional ceremony of mixing thin flakes of pistachios, almonds and betel nuts, done by the elders | |
| BADIA CEREMONY | Formal acceptance & formalization of the alliance between both families | |
| SHAGUN CEREMONY |
Pre-wedding celebration of the upcoming wedding | |
| MEHENZERAAT | Beautification of the bride including the henna ceremony | |
| GEHNA CEREMONY | The bride is bedecked with floral jewellery | |
| DEVGUN | Ritualistic baths for the bride and groom, symbolizing purity | |
| SANZVARU | Beautifying the bride, before the wedding | |
| SEHRABANDHI | Tying a traditional headdress on the groom | |
| BARAAT | Arrival of the groom’s procession | |
| LAGAN | The “wedding” ceremony | |
| POSH PUJA | Elders Blessing the couple with flowers | |
| BIDAAI | Giving away the bride to the Groom’s family | |
| DAHI BHAAT | Welcoming the bride in her husband’s home | |
| GARASUN | Bringing the bride to her paternal home for a brief period | |
| MANGNI | The prospective couple exchange rings. The bride-to-be wears an outfit gifted to her by her future in-laws. A convenient date for nikaah is fixed after the mangni |
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| MEHNDI CEREMONY | Adorning traditional mehandi on the hands & feet of the bride & accompanying ladies of the family , on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a couple of days before it. |
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| UBTAN CEREMONY |
The female relatives of the girl anoint her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her complexion. |
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| SANGEET | A festive pre-wedding celebration among the women of the families, involving singing traditional songs |
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| WELCOMING THE BARAAT | Arrival of the groom at the wedding venue with the baraat. The groom shares a drink of sherbet with the bride's brother. |
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| NIKAH | The actual “wedding” ceremony conducted by the “Maulvi”. [In traditional Muslim communities, the men and women are seated separately. It is the duty of the 'Walis' (the respective fathers of the couple) to ensure that the rights of his child are protected.] |
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| VERSES FROM QURAN | Selected verses from the “Quran” are read by the maulvi. | |
| THIJAB-E-QUBUL | Formal proposal & acceptance of the alliance between the couple. [Usually, the boy's side proposes and the girl's side formally conveys her assent. The mutual consent of the bride and groom is of great importance for the marriage to be legal. Neither of them must be forced to enter in the marital contract.] |
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| MEHER | Deciding the amount of gifts. [It is on the day of the Nikaah that the elder members of the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift]. The Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom's family to the bride] |
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| NIKAAHNAMA | Registering the marriage contract [The Nikaahnama contains a set of terms and conditions that must be respected by both the parties. It also gives the bride the right to divorce her husband. For the contract to be legal, it must be signed by the bridegroom, the bride, the Walis, and the Maulvi.] |
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| BLESSING THE GROOM | The groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam (a respectful salutation). The guests pray for the newly-weds. |
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| AARSIMASHAF | Lavish post wedding dinner [Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sit together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi. The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each only through mirrors (aarsi)] |
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| RUKSHAT | Bidding a farewell to the bride. | |
| WELCOMING THE BRIDE |
The groom's mother holds the Quran above the head of her new daughter-in-law as she enters her new home for the first time after the wedding. . |
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| VALIMAH | Lavish post-wedding celebration | |
| JANYA | The ”thread” ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KACCHI MISRI | Formal approval & finalization of the alliance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUCCI MISRI | The ”ring” ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEHENDI | The “henna” ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NAVGRAHI PUJA | Holy puja ceremony summoning harmony within the planets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAGARI | The groom's relatives bedeck the bride with floral jewellery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GARHI-BUKHI | Sacred puja ceremony for the mothers of the bride and groom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VANWA | The ”oil”ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SHAADI | Ceremony held on the morning of the wedding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIVAH | The rites of the actual wedding segmented in the following sequence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SATAVARO | Post-wedding celebrations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATTAR | The salt ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASHIRBAAD | The “ring” ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AL BUDDO BHAAT |
The bride's last meal in her parental home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GAI HALOOD | Smearing the bride and groom with uptan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SHAKA PAULA | The bride is bedecked with bangles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BOIJOTRI | The “wedding” procession | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POTTO BASTRA | Welcoming the groom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIVAH | The ‘wedding’ ceremony segmented in to the following sequence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BASHAR GHAR | The groom stay in the bride's home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIDAAI | Giving away the bride to the groom’s family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BRIDE'S RECEPTION | Welcoming the bride in her husband’s home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BAHU BHAAT | Formal acceptance of the bride by her inlaws | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RECEPTION | Post wedding celebrations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PHOOL SAJJAYA | The bride is bedecked with jewellery made from flowers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GOL DHANA | Formal approval of the alliance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GANESH STHPAN | Commencement of marriage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GARBA | Gujrati dance to traditional folk songs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PITHI | Bedecking the bride with jewellery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRIHA SHANTI | Creating a canopy for the wedding rites | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAGNA | The actual wedding ceremony sequenced in the following rites: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| RECEPTION | Celebrating the wedding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUPIA PERAVANU | Final approval & finalization of the alliance |
| ADRAVANU | The “Ring” ceremony |
| MANDAV-SARO | Planting a mango sapling |
| ADERNI | Bride’s father formally hands over gifts to the groom's family |
| NAHN | Customary bath symbolizing purity |
| VIVAH | Actual ‘wedding’ ceremony commenced by tying the marital knot : |
| HATHEVARO | Hand fastening between the groom & bride |
| ASHIRWAAD | Blessing the newly wedded couple |
| VAROVA | Rituals followed after completing eight days of the wedding |
| NICHAYA DARTHAM | The ‘ring’ ceremony |
| MATTRU KATTUTHAL | Making a protective cover for the marriage platform |
| KOLAM | Decorating the homes with rice flour paste |
| TAALI | The bride's parents hand over the 'taali' to the groom |
| MINJI | The groom's maternal uncle bedecks his nephew's feet with toerings |
| POORAM KAZHITHAL | Ritualistic Bath symbolizing purity |
| THUMBU PIDITHAL | Summoning the blessings of deities through 'kolam' decorations |
| POOVAI ARITHAL | The groom arrives at the bride's home |
| BHAGAVANAM | Tying of the 'kappus' |
| ARIMNA IDUTHAL | Showering grains on the couple, symbolizing luck |
| SAPTAPATHY | Seven steps around the havan kund |
| ISAIVU PIDIMANAM | The marriage agreement is signed |
| THIRUPOOTU CEREMONY | Welcoming the bride in her marital home |
| KALYANA VEVU | The bride's matenal uncle presents her with gifts |
| KULAM VAZHUM PILLAI | Handing over of household responsibilities to the bride |
| THUMBU KATTUDAL | Tying of the matrimonial thread on the bride |
| KAICHI UTRRUDAL | A traditional feast |