So what do you do when you are a Punjabi, marrying into a Gujarati family? There are another set of traditions that you will have to adhere to that’s what that means. You have got to love the week long affairs, it is just like an extended wedding day; full of parties, family, celebrations, food and plenty of bulleh bulleh che Ahem.. Please hold out for my favourite part at the end.
Punjabi’s break the engagement up into two separate ceremonies, namely the grooms side do one (Kurmai) and the brides side do the other (chunni).
The kurmai can be done any amount of time before the marriage ceremony, be it a few days to a few years. In typical Punjabi fashion, this ceremony is held either in a gurdwara or the groom’s home. Various prayers and gifts are presented to the groom from the bride’s family. The gifts often include a gold kara (Sikh bracelet) and can be modernised with a watch.
The chunni ceremony again can be done anytime before the wedding ceremony, no time constraints. This ceremony, held at the bride’s home, is the groom’s families turn to shower the bride in gifts. The gifts often include clothing, make-up, jewellery, sindoor (red powder).
The most significant gift is the chunni (a scarf) – now if you are thinking Hermes, cut it out! It is always in a shade of the traditional wedding colour, red, and is presented to the bride-to-be. The chunni ceremony is the start of the welcoming the bride into the family.
Now if you are a Gujarati, then not only are there some new names thrown into the mix, but some additions.
The Gujarati Engagement ceremony is called “Gol Dhana” (or “Gor Dhana”), roughly translated as Coriander Coriander Seeds and Jaggery. These ingredients are distributed at a Gujarathi Engagement.
The bride and her family will visits the groom’s home with sweets and gifts. The couple will exchange rings. Now here is where it gets interesting, the couple will seek the blessing of five married women from both their families. This resembles the coming together of families.
Suppose you are wondering what an earth a Punjabi marrying into a Gujrati family does, bar everything on both lists. It is widely thought of to combine these ceremonies into a mahusive engagement party held in a banquet hall. Both families have the luxury of inviting who they wish and they are able to contribute costs. Snazzy right?
Combining the sagan ceremonies allows both the bride and groom to be present and involved.
Wait for it, this is my favourite part… as an added bit of fun, the groom can get down on one knee in front of all family and friends and present a ring to the bride. That’ll be a picture, twice in one life ey!
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Always, always keeping you inspired!
Rachyeta xxx
