12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
The paath ceremony includes prayerful meditation on the couple's new journey into marriage together and their committment to God. Guests must have their heads covered during prayers, and vegetarian Punjabi cuisine will be provided.
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
This is an informal gathering at the home of Kinnu's bhua (paternal aunt), Jagir Bhullar, in which female relatives gather and recite wedding songs for the bride. These suhaag, or folk songs, center the traditional experience of the Punjabi bride as she prepares to leave her home to experience a new life with her husband's family. Vegetarian cuisine will be provided.
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
This is an informal gathering at Jagir Bhullar's house in which relatives gather and recite wedding songs for the groom. These ghorian, or folk songs about the groom, are often told from the perspective of the groom's sister as she prepares her brother for the next chapter in his life. During this event, the groom's family plans to host a jaggo (wedding procession filled with song and dance) around the neighborhood while the bride has her mehndi (henna) applied. Vegetarian cuisine will be provided.
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi or Indowestern
Guests will return to the home of Kinnu's parents, Laddi and Gurdev Bhullar, for the choora, haldi, and mehndi ceremonies. The choora (bangle) ceremony involves the blessing, purification, and application of a bride's wedding bangles by her family as she prepares for her upcoming wedding. This is followed by the haldi (turmeric) ceremony in which a paste of turmeric, oil, and flour is applied to the skin of the bride and groom to give them a lovely pre-wedding glow. Vegetarian Punjabi cuisine will be provided.
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi or Indowestern
At this evening event, wedding guests are able to have "mehndi" (henna) applied to their hands to create a temporary tattoo design. In South Asian weddings, brides typically apply intricate mehndi designs on their hands and feet. In addition to having their mehndi done, guests may also enjoy appetizers, dinner, dancing, and performances by the wedding party.
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi or Indowestern
Typically, the sangeet is the final gathering of a spouse's family before their wedding day — a reception before the reception, so to speak. While each side typically hosts their own sangeet for their guests, Kinnu and Aryanna will host a joint sangeet welcoming their family and friends. A Punjabi sangeet is a colorful, vibrant event that embraces Punjabi culture with traditional songs, dances, and food. Guests will be able to enjoy evening performances at this event as well as another rendition of folk wedding songs. Additionally, the chunni (scarf) ceremony will take place at the sangeet in which the groom's family presents the bride with an intricate chunni and salwar kameez (Punjabi suit) as a gesture to welcome her into their family.
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
The baraat (groom's procession) involves the groom's family arriving at the wedding venue alongside the groom. Everyone sings and dances as the groom, who usually rides in on a white horse, proceeds to the wedding venue. The baraat is followed by the milni (meeting) in which the corresponding members of both families exchange flower garlands and embrace to honor the union of both families through marriage. After the milni, tea and snacks will be provided to guests before the Anand Karaj.
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
The Anand Karaj (Blissful Union) refers to the wedding ceremony in the Sikh religion. During the Anand Karaj, a babaji (a religious leader similar to a priest) reads the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy book in Sikhism. During the Anand Karaj, the wedding couple listens to the babaji and intermittently does four lavaan in which the couple walks in a circle around the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Each circle is meant to represent the couple's commitment to righteousness and piety in a life devoted to God and one another. The Anand Karaj will be followed by a luncheon featuring traditional Punjabi cuisine.
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Attire: Traditional Punjabi
Historically, the doli has been a bittersweet tradition in which the bride bids farewell to her family as she leaves for her new life with her husband's family. In pastoral Punjab, traveling between villages and towns took days and was much less frequent than in modern times, so brides would often go months or even years without seeing their families. While much has changed, the tradition of the doli remains with families often shedding tears for the departure of a daughter or sister. And like the Western tradition of throwing rice grains, brides throw rice over their heads for their mothers to catch behind them.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Attire: Black Tie Optional
In the afternoon, Kinnu and Aryanna will celebrate their union once again in the American cultural tradition of exchanging wedding vows. An officiant will oversee this ceremony as the wedding couple exchanges vows, rings, and their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Bhullar.
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Attire: Black Tie Optional or Formal Indowestern
Before the reception doors open, guests will have the opportunity to convene at cocktail hour, which will include drinks and hors d'oeuvres provided by The Carolina Inn. Renowned dhol player Nihal Singh will also be present to play soothing music alongside celebrated DJ Raj Minocha.
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Attire: Black Tie Optional or Formal Indowestern
At the reception, the newlyweds will welcome all of their cherished guests and thank them for their love, support, and presence. Following the introductions of their families, Mr. and Mrs. Bhullar will enter the ballroom together to enjoy wedding toasts and cake-cutting. The couple will enjoy first dances with their parents, then with each other, before opening up the dancefloor to guests. After a night of their favorite Punjabi and American songs, guests will enjoy a resplendent buffet courtesy of Zayka and The Carolina Inn. While the ballroom closes at 11pm, guests may send off the couple in a sparkling exit outdoors and are welcome to keep the party going past midnight within nearby Chapel Hill.