Choodha: The Traditional Wedding Ornament of a Punjabi Bride

Punjabi weddings are mostly grand and fun-filled. They are characterized by wedding ceremonies like the bride’s sisters stealing the groom’s footwear and pre-wedding ceremonies like the ghara gharoli ritual where bathing water for the bride is brought by the groom’s sister-in-law. But, there is one tradition that has been long going on since ages and yet not many people know of its connotation. This is the ceremony of Choodha chadhana.

The choodha ritual is one of the most crucial ceremonies in a Punjabi wedding. Simply put, it is the most significant wedding accessory for Punjabi bride. A set of red and ivory bangles, the choodha has a special meaning for a bride.

An evening before the wedding, relatives and friends flock the bride’s home for this ceremony. The bride’s maternal uncle and his wife play have to meaningful role as they gift the choodha to their beloved niece.

On the day of the ceremony, the bride’s family conducts a puja. The ritual starts with all the family members

Sisters and Cousins tie Kaliras on the Choodha

and friends touching the bangles and blessing them. They give their heartiest wishes to the bride for a happy married life. The bride is then called in and made to sit down. The oldest maternal uncle is invited first to put on the choodha in the petit hands of the young bride. Assisted by their wives, the uncles take one bangle at a time (usually spread out beautifully on a tray) and pass them to the aunts. The aunts dip the bangles in a bowl full of pure milk and hand it over to the uncles, who then put them on to the bride. The milk helps ease the process and allows the bride to comfortably wear the tight bangles without developing a rash or scratches.

After this, the bride is given something sweet to eat, mostly an Indian sweet, along with some cash. The people present sprinkle petals of flowers on the bride and then take turns to tie kaliras on to the front bangles. The bride is now ready for marriage.

Author:

Devika Arora

Groom yourself before you become a Groom

There are grooms who shy away like a bride and there are Haryanvi grooms who equally look forward to their marriage and perceive their marriage a lifetime commitment towards their life partner. The following content throws light on the behavior of Haryanvi grooms.

When it comes to wedding or matchmaking, the bride tend to take the entire spotlight from the groom as women seem to be more thrilled for their marriage as compared to men.  A wedding as we all know is a bonding between two people who are willing to share their entire life with each other through thick and thin.  However, in India a wedding means coming together of two families, a bonding of a culture and traditions and bragging how much money they have spent on wedding. If we are discussing about Indian weddings then undoubtedly north Indian weddings grabs the number one position as they are one of the most lavish weddings in the country.

Haryanvi Groom

Marriages in states like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi has elevated the level of marriages. . There are certain pre and post wedding rituals which makes the concept of marriage more interesting. Haryanvi wedding ceremony is no different. The list of rituals in a Hindu wedding is endless. Rituals from “Haldi” of groom and “Vaara Satkaarah” to the big day celebrations, Haryanvi grooms make sure they are dressed at their best. The wedding outfit is something which plays an integral part in a wedding. Haryanvi grooms opt for a traditional outfit such as “sherwani” which gives a royal look while some go for “achkan” or “kurta pyjama”.

Haryanvi grooms are believed to take key responsibilities for their big day. They eagerly participate and prepare themselves in the activities and formalities with an intention to shine at their marriage. Haryanvi grooms eagerly buy wedding outfit, wedding rings and gifts for the bride’s family and i.e. what every groom should do prior to tying the knot.

Author:

Ashish Kumar 

Cards – A Special Way of Conveying Love

The best part about wedding anniversaries is the romance and the presents. But how many of us know how to make a memorable day of the given occasion. There is no doubt that all couples wish to exchange loving words and gifts on this special day. However, not many people know how to make it unforgettable. Greeting cards are the best way to let your spouse know how you feel. Here are some innovative ideas that you can use on your anniversary without burning a hole in your pocket.

The Tradition of Giving Cards

Even in the age of the internet where you have e-cards and e-mail, the value of self-written words is the highest. A card that you have made all by yourself or maybe even one bought from the market but having your hand-written written words is priceless. Personalized gifts are always a beautiful way of saying that you care. A card is an economical yet interesting love declaration, whether you present it individually or add-on more gifts to complement it.

Picking the Right Card

Choosing the ideal card from the cards shop is not a herculean task as such outlets generally have them displayed methodically according to occasions. All you need to do is go to the anniversary section and pick the one that best suits your feelings and mood. You can select from a range of mushy, romantic, funny, naughty or even sentimental cards. There are options where the cards even give out music or different kind of sounds.

Personalizing the Card

There are always interesting things couples have to say to each other. It is easier to write things down, rather than saying them verbally. Cards are the best way to express yourself. You can pleasantly surprise your spouse by re-writing your wedding vows in the card. Or, you can pen down love poems that have a strikingly close resemblance to your love journey – the poems can be inspired, copied or self-composed. You may also tell your spouse their good qualities, memorable experiences and things that you adore about them, such as how they impressed you during your courtship period. Other than that, you can even leave some sweet notes in the card and wait to see their reaction.

Wedding and anniversary cards can always be supplemented by a bouquet of flowers for an added effect.

Bangles in Indian Culture

Indian weddings are incomplete without jewelry. The following blog post focuses on the importance of bangles in India culture. 

Jewelry forms an integral part of every Indian wedding. In a myriad country like India, the use of bangles can be found almost every community. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat, Bangles are used in every Indian wedding tradition. Till date Indian women can be seen wearing bangles. However, with modernization the style has undergone changes. These days’ bracelets have become among the urban Indian women. Let us take a quick look at the origin of this unique ornament. 

The custom of wearing bangles in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The first discovery of bangle was made in the ruins of Mohenjodaro dated around 2600 BC. One of the early examples of bangle occurs in the Mauryan Empire. Later gold bangles were known to have been excavated for the historical sites of Taxila. 

Bangles find their references in classical Indian literature. Works like Vyasa’s Mahabharata, Banbhatta’s Kadambari are seen depicting women wearing kangans.

According to ancient Indian treatise, bangles were made from stones, terracotta, gold, silver, glass and lac. From simple plain circlets of metal to the ones decorated with exquisite motifs – bangles are available in innumerable styles.

Bangles continue to bear a huge significance among Indian women till date. Married women are spotted wearing a bangle in their hands as a symbol of betrothal. Different communities have their own way accommodating the same. Glass bangles are more prevalent among north Indians especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana whereas in Bengal married women usually wear two types of bangles – a white one made of conch shell and a red one made of coral. 

Bangles are an inevitable aspect of Indian wedding traditions as well as daily life. Indian women take pride in flaunting bangles as bangles mean more than just enhancing her clothing ensemble. 

Author:

Sampurna Majumder

Arranged Marriages: The trend Continues!

Marriage is an important event in an individual’s life. It holds a great significant in the Indian context as it includes the union of two people, two souls and the two families. Let’s throw some light on the evergreen trend of arranged marriages in India.

Wedding in India holds great importance and finding a suitable partner is a blessed thing on the Earth. Have you ever thought that why does the constitution of arranged marriages continue in India? In a country like ours, getting married to a person chosen by the family is considered a legitimate way. About ten years ago, many people must have thought that the trend of arranged marriages would not exist. However, it is not the case so far.

The answer to this lies mainly to the traditional customs of India, where marrying at the contest of parents is considered respect for them.Moreover, even many young people in the country believe that marrying a person who is chosen or approved by the family is a better decision.The idea that love marriages are more suitable options for a long-lasting and happy relationship is not always right. A couple can share a happy relationship, irrespective of the fact that whether it is an arranged or love marriage.

Role of Matrimonial Sites

The rising trend of arranged marriages in India is witnessed by the success of several matrimony sites, which include thousands of registered members for marriage. These online marriage portals offer services to find suitable partner as per your liking for community, age, occupation, etc. These sites are trusted and have gained popularity among young professionals and families seeking a perfect match for their son or daughter.

Like we cannot choose our parents, sisters, or brothers, marriage is a relationship that cannot be always chosen by us.Similarly, the status of marriage cannot be predicted. Its success completely depends on the two people tying the nuptial knot. So, whether the couple falls for arrange or love marriage, the idea of arranged marriage still holds charm.

Author:

Swati Srivastava