India has a bunch of sweet traditions and customs that go hand in hand with the whole shaadi shenanigans. Indian weddings are jam-packed with pretty rituals that make the whole affair even more gorgeous. And let’s not forget, pre-wedding customs are a fantastic time for both the bride’s and groom’s families to bond.
You must have heard of pre-wedding ceremonies such as Mehendi, haldi, Sangeet, etc. But there are some more rituals and ceremonies that are still practiced at some weddings in different regions and are worth mentioning. So, here are some fun pre-wedding rituals at Indian Weddings that you probably didn’t know about.
GHARA GHAROLI
Ghara Gharoli is a bathing ritual practiced in Punjabi weddings where a pitcher of holy water is brought for the bride to cleanse her body. This pitcher is supposed to be brought by the groom’s bhabhi. The bride takes bath in the water and then gets dressed in her wedding attire.
KANSAR BHOJAN CEREMONY
The Kansar Bhojan Ceremony has its roots in the Vedic scriptures, where the couple share their first meal together by offering kansar (a sweet made from crushed wheat) to one another.
KAASHI YATRA
The Kaashi Yatra is an interesting ritual performed by the people in Karnataka. The Groom pretends to run away from the altar and leave the city for Kaashi. He only stops when the bride’s father shows him the bride. Items such as umbrellas and flowers are used to woo the groom.
ASSAMESE PRE-WEDDING RECEPTION
In Assamese Weddings, the reception is held right after the completion of all pre-wedding rituals. In other Hindu weddings, the reception is usually held post the wedding ceremony but Assam seems to follow its own culture!
“PUANDUM” GIFTING
In Mizoram, there is a ritual practiced where the bride gifts the groom a traditional rug, known as, “Puandum” before the wedding. This puandum is supposed to be wrapped around the groom’s dead body while performing the final rites.
LEILENGA CEREMONY
A traditional pre-wedding ceremony practiced by the people of Manipur is the Leilenga ceremony. Here, the bride is supposed to prepare hand-made garlands for herself and her partner for the wedding ceremony.
KUAITANO
Women mark the name of the bride and groom on betel leaves and nuts while making the Ulu sound (same like Bengali weddings) to bestow blessings on the couples. This ceremony is practiced in the Land of the Fourteen Gods, Tripura
SAANTH
The Saanth is a pre-wedding ritual practiced by the Sindhis. First, an anklet is tied on the right foot of the bride and groom, then seven married women pour oil on their heads, after which the bride and groom are made to wear new shoes and break an earthen lamp with it. Further, the groom’s relative tears off his clothes to ward off the evil eye.
TOMATO HURLING
A town called Sarsaul in Uttar Pradesh has a unique way of welcoming the groom and his baraat. Unlike other weddings, they are not welcomed with flowers and aarti but with potatoes and tomatoes, and a bunch of abuses. It is believed that a relationship that begins on a bad note always culminates in love.
SANCHAQ
This is a pre-wedding ritual performed at Islamic weddings. The Groom’s family sends jewelry and clothes for the bride that she has to wear on the wedding day. These gifts are known as Sanchaq.
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