CEREMONIES EXPLAINED
Question
What is the Mendhi Ceremony?
Answer
Mendhi application - The celebration of the wedding mehndi ceremony is believed to be an auspicious occasion for the bride and groom as it symbolizes happiness, prosperity, love and strength in marriage. The mehndi continues to remain on the hands and legs of the bride all night to ensure it comes out darker for her wedding day. As legend has it that the “darker the mehndi the deeper the love”.
Question
What happens before the Pithi?
Answer
Decoration of Pithi chair – Before the bridge/groom enter, an odd number of unmarried women arrange the chairs upon which the bride/groom respective sit. Ricee and sometimes a candle is used to decorate the area under the chair. Commonly with a variation of the swastika. Swastika is one of the world’s oldest known graphic symbols which is designed as a cross with four arms of equal length, and each arm is bent at a right angle. The word Swastika means “all is well” in Sanskrit, and the symbol is known for bringing good fortune, peace and harmony. This symbol is therefore considered a lucky charm and is commonly used in Hindu art, and major part of decoration for festivals and special ceremonies like weddings. The swastika is often made out of colored rice and placed under the chair while the bride and groom are going through the pithi ceremony. Modern traditions replace the swastika, mistaken for the Nazi symbol, with a heart.
Question
What happens during the Pithi Ceremony?
Answer
Pithi - A paste made out of chickpea flour, turmeric, sandalwood powder, herbs, aromatic oils, rose water and other ingredients. The pithi ceremony is a joyful, playful and fun occasion in which family members and friends bless the couple with well wishes by rubbing the pithi paste onto the bride and groom’s arms, neck, face, hands and legs. The paste is believed to be an excellent cleanser for providing skin glow, soft skin and shine. During the ceremony, the mothers of the bride/groom stand next to their respective child and hold a bandhni dupatta as a symbol of protection from evil. Guests line and apply pithi on the respective bridge and groom. Ponkwa is also performed on the bridge/groom.
Question
What is Ponkwa?
Answer
Ponkwa - This ceremony is meant to bestow blessings. The person who is doing the ceremony first places a “chandlo,” a dot of saffron water, on the person’s forehead, representing good luck. Rice is then placed on top of the chandlo to represent bounty and blessings. Then colored rice, or more modern flower petals, are showered over the person three times, again representing bounty and blessings. Finally, a sweet is placed in the person’s mouth, to wish them sweetness in life.
Question
What do I need to change after the groom's Pithi?
Answer
Well.......this is what Ali has to look forward to :): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyb31DApma0
Question
What happens between the Pithi and the Sangeet?
Answer
Puro - In the puro ceremony, the groom’s family brings gifts for the bride to welcome her to the family. The trousseau trays are carried by the groom’s sisters and female cousins. They are greeted by the bride’s mother and her family and each girl carrying a tray is “ponked” by the bride’s mother as she enters the hall. The girls then receive a gift in exchange for the tray. Traditionally this is cash or a gold or silver coin, but modern ceremonies offer the girls small gifts such as earrings or pendants. Ghari Ceremony – Specifically Ismaili ceremony. A special vessel is placed on the head of the brothers and sisters of the bride/groom (in a turn by turn fashion). The vessel is full of water from jamat khana. The brothers/sisters come one by one to the door or a symbolic door, at which time the mother of the bride/groom perform ponkwa and gives the brother/sister a gift or sweet.
Question
What happens after the Nikkah?
Answer
Sapatia - This ceremony centers around sapatia, which are small, covered clay plates filled with lentils; symbolizing abundance and bounty, silver; symbolizing wealth, sugar; symbolizing sweetness and harmony, and turmeric; symbolizing good health. Two sapatias are placed in front of the couple, one in front of the groom and one in front of the bride. The couple must break the sapatia by stepping on them, thereby releasing the gifts they contain. It is said that the first person to break the sapatia will rule the household.
Question
What is Khoba Khobi?
Answer
Khoba Khobi - The last ritual consists of the bride and groom sitting in front of each other with a bowl of rice between them. A coin is dropped inside, and the bride and groom have to search for the coin. Whoever finds the coin first, again, is considered to rule the household. The bride then scoops up rice, and passes it to the groom. This act is repeated seven times, each time letting go of rice between their fingers and onto the tray. Next, the bride and groom’s family perform the same ritual with the bride. Lastly, the bride and groom feed each other sweet milk, which concludes the Khoba Khobi ceremonies.
Question
What do I wear?
Answer
South Asian weddings are full of color, family, dancing, music, and so, so, SO much food!! We encourage our guests to fully immerse in our Pakistani-American culture throughout the weekend, and one of the many ways you can do is so by dressing the part! Here are a few examples of outfits worn by wedding guests. You can purchase outfits either online or in a major city (e.g. Houston, Atltanta, Chicago, Dallas, etc.). If you have questions, we would are happy to help!! Again, above and beyond everything else, we want our guests to feel welcomed and comfortable. Please do no feel obligated in any way to wear or do or partake in anything that does not bring you joy! Men: Shalwar Kameez Shalwar Kameez Vest Kurta Pajama Shirwani Women: Anarkali Sari Lengha Shalwar Kurta https://www.indianweddingsaree.com/salwar/anarkali-salwar-kameez http://www.roopsaripalace.com/categories.php?cPath=80_85 https://www.pinterest.com/explore/indian-wedding-outfits/?lp=true