India is a vast country with different religions, traditions, faith and values and so does the Indian weddings are full of traditions, rituals which hold religious as well as emotional values to each and every function held on weddings. 

And from many traditions and customs, there is one most important ritual in Sikh/ Punjabi  bride known as “Chooda and kalire rasam” 

Both these ceremonies are held on the morning of the wedding day at the bride’s place.

What is a Chooda?

When it is worn and by whom?

It is worn on the morning of a wedding day. The chooda is put on a bride’s wrist by the mama “Maternal Uncle”.

In some places, the bride is not allowed to see her chooda and sits with her eyes clothes. They say if you see your chooda before the wedding it is inauspicious. So after the chooda is put, it is covered with a cloth.

 

Chooda Rasam/Ritual

On the wedding morning, after bride took her bath known as ” Khaare Laana”, the chooda ceremony will be performed. The chooda is put into “Kachhi Lassi” ( mixing milk and water together), yes not only milk but milk and water.

Yes, It is worn after the bath, final bath of a bride to be in her own home as after this she will be a married woman. So, after putting the chooda into a bowl of “kachhi Lassi”, the maternal uncle will start putting the chooda on a bride to be wrist and following, maternal uncle’s wife and then the brothers can perform this ritual.

Chooda comes in “Nanki Shakk” ( Gifts from mom’s side Family). In Sikh Wedding, Bridal wear and Chooda is given by them.

Pro Tip:  When you put Chooda into kachhi, please do not remove the thread and mix into that mixture, As chooda is ” small in size from the front and larger from the back”, and if you mix it, possibilities of wearing it wrong. So, make sure you do not cut the thread and if you do, there are numbers on the inside of chooda, put it according to the numbers.

 

There is a variety of chooda, from colours to design to anything you name and it’s in the market.

 

• In Punjabi tradition, A puja or havan is usually organised during the chooda ceremony. The bangles are first purified with milk and rose petals. Before it is put on the bride’s wrist by her maternal uncle, all the close relatives touch the chooda as a mark of their blessings. After that, the wrist is covered with a white cloth, as the bride cannot see the chooda until the time of the wedding ceremonies.

 

 

Why you cannot remove or change it?

A bride wore it for a husband, and this ritual is performed by bride’s maternal uncle. and it held an emotional as well a belief that it is “worn for husband”.  It is a sign of Married Women.

 

Kalire

Kalire are umbrella shaped hangings which were earlier made of silver or dry coconut and makhana that are encrusted with dried beetle nuts and dry fruits.The significance is to provide good wishes to the bride and to remind her of her cousins and friends whom she is going to leave behind when she gets married. Also, the coconut-shaped of the kalire is symbolic that she never runs out of food in the new home, while the metal symbolises wealth and prosperity But now the modern kaliras are made of metal and studded with rhinestones.

 

When it is worn & whom?

These are worn after the chooda ceremony when the bride is all dressed up in her bridal wear. Kaleere are gifted by Bride’s sisters, friends and close relatives

Yes, worn after when the bride is all dressed up so the kaleere don’t get tangled.

• After the kalire are tied, a bride makes all her unmarried friends and she shakes her hands on their heads. It is believed that if any part or the kalire fall on the head of any girl she will get married soon.

• Often there are dried beetle nuts, dry fruits and coconut encrusted on the kalire. These are available in various designs and sizes, and one can pick according to their choice.

What not to do?

• You cannot remove it once it is worn until you reached your new home ( inlaw ) house.
• You cannot remove it your own, Sister in law (Husband sister) will do this favour.

What to do with them?

You can save them in their box or also use it as a decor in the house.

 

XOXO
PC