So the wedding ceremony (or Anand Karaj) itself is only a few hours long and is done in the morning in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib (the holy text), but the process of a Punjabi wedding is so much more than that. Over the course of a week, there are many traditions and celebrations, that serve equally as many purposes. These traditions are a way to integrate friends and family and invite everyone to eat, drink and enjoy the happiness of this momentous union. A Punjabi wedding is not just the union of two people, it is the union of two families.
The term Jaggo means "wake up," and that's the theme for this exciting night. The families dance, sing and partake in old traditions to raise spirits and party late into the night. The Jaggo sets the tone for the rest of the wedding proceedings.
Traditionally this ceremony involves "cleaning" the bride and groom in preparation for their wedding day. During the maiyan, family and friends rubbing a tumeric based paste on the bride and groom; this is meant to cleanse the skin and create a glow!
The mehndi night is another pre-wedding event for the bride to celebrate with close family and friends. The main focus of the event is the application of the mehndi, or henna design, to the bride's hands and feet. Anyone in attendance will have the option of getting mehndi done by the mehndi artist.
No, absolutely not. We understand that there are many different events in a Punjabi wedding and none of them are mandatory. We invite you to attend as many as you like. We will welcome you with open arms to whichever you attend.