An Indian Sikh Wedding
Mangni/shagun: the Engagement
Usually very high profile. This happens when the girl’s family goes to the boy’s house with gifts, jewellery, and other goods, to confirm the engagement.
Dholki/sangeet: the first two days
There’s a formal banquet. Ladies sing traditional songs. Nowadays people hire DJs and have a dance party followed by dinner. After dinner only the bride and her bridesmaids dance and this is called “ladies sangeet”. Moreover when they finish dancing during the night, the bridesmaids go around the village with something on their heads (this is called jaago), while the bride is at home because she can’t go out.
The third, fourth and fifth days:
They take the Guru Granth Sahib book from the church to their home for three days to read it.At Midday they have lunch with their relatives and in the afternoon the Mehandi takes place in the atmosphere of a party. During this ceremony the bride and other ladies get Mehandi done (henna designs): if you are married you can have henna designs on both hands and feet, otherwise only on hands. For the first time the bride gets drawings on both hands and feet: for her the Mehandi is sent by her future Mother in Law.
Varna: the sixth day
At the groom’s house:
In the morning the groom's sister in law lines the groom’s eyes with eyeliner. After this, the groom's sisters and cousins feed and decorate his horse. With the Varna ceremony the devil’s eye is kept away. For the same reason some money is given away to poor people.
At the bride's house:
Vidaai/Doli: Vidaai marks the official departure of the bride from her parental house. The bride throws rice over her head following the ancient tradition. The ritual conveys her good wishes for her parents. Her brother accompanies the bride out of her parent’s house.
The wedding:
In the afternoon, the Bride and Groom will walk around the Guru Granth Sahib book for four times: this ceremony is called Anand Karaj and it means "Joyful Union".
After the wedding:
Pani vaarna. The groom's mother performs the traditional Aarti: she makes seven attempts to drink milk from a bowl. The groom must allow her to succeed only at the seventh attempt.The bride pours oil on the sides of the entrance door before she enters her house.
During the seventh day:
Phera Dalna: the Groom and the Bride visit the bride's parents.
Questions:
- What happens during the engagement?
- What do ladies do during the first two days?
- Can the bride go out during the Jaago ceremony?
- How long do they read the holy book?
- Who can have henna designs on both hands and feet?
- Why does the groom’s sister line the groom’s eyes with eyeliner?
- What do the groom’s sisters and cousins do to the groom’s horse?
- What does the Sikh wedding ceremony mean?
- What does the bride do when she goes out of her house?
- How many attempts does the groom’s mother do before drinking the bowl of milk?