Hindu Punjabi wedding ceremonies, in order

Roka रोका

3-4 Months Before

The first ceremony — families agree to stop the search for matches

Roka is the very first ceremony in a Hindu Punjabi wedding, marking the moment both families formally agree to the match and "stop" looking for other alliances. The bride's family visits the groom's home, where the bride's mother applies a tilak on the groom's forehead.

Decorated thaals laden with sweets, fruits, and dry fruits are exchanged between the families. The bride's side presents a shagun envelope to the groom — traditionally in an odd amount, which is considered auspicious. Mithai and coconut are offered as part of the tilak ceremony.

The gathering is intimate, typically 15-30 close family members, creating a warm setting for the two families to bond and celebrate the beginning of the wedding journey.

In LaddoThis: a Roka checklist with 9 tasks, 7 of them things to buy or prepare.

Sagai / Ring Ceremony सगाई

3-4 Months Before

The formal engagement with ring exchange and family celebrations

The Sagai, or Ring Ceremony, is the formal engagement celebration typically held at a banquet hall with 100 or more guests. It is a grand affair that publicly announces the couple's commitment to marry.

The ceremony begins with a tilak applied to the groom's forehead by the bride's family. The couple then exchanges engagement rings, a moment marked by cheers, music, and blessings from elders. A Ganesh Puja may be performed to invoke Lord Ganesha's blessings and remove any obstacles from the couple's path.

Gifts flow in both directions: the bride's family presents outfits, watches, accessories, and shagun to the groom, while the groom's family gifts jewellery and outfits to the bride. Decorated thaals of sweets are exchanged, and a lavish meal follows the ceremony.

In LaddoThis: a Sagai / Ring Ceremony checklist with 12 tasks, 8 of them things to buy or prepare.

Chunni Chadana चुन्नी चढ़ाना

3-4 Months Before

The groom's family visits to drape a red chunni on the bride

Chunni Chadana is a beautiful ceremony where the groom's family formally visits the bride's home to drape a red chunni (dupatta) over the bride's head, symbolizing her acceptance into the groom's family.

The groom's mother is the central figure — she lovingly drapes the red chunni or phulkari dupatta over the bride's head. The bride is then adorned with the jewellery gifted by the groom's family, including necklaces, earrings, and bangles. The groom's father fills the bride's jholi (the fold of her dupatta) with dry fruits, signifying abundance and prosperity.

The groom's family arrives with elaborately decorated thaals containing outfits, jewellery, makeup sets, mehndi, fruit baskets (always in odd numbers — 3, 5, or 7), dry fruit hampers, sweets, and shagun envelopes for the bride's family members.

In LaddoThis: a Chunni Chadana checklist with 18 tasks, 14 of them things to buy or prepare.

Sangeet संगीत

3-5 Days Before

A grand musical celebration with dance, folk songs, and Bhangra

The Sangeet is the most vibrant and joyous pre-wedding celebration, held 2-5 days before the wedding. It is an evening of music, dance, and unbridled celebration where both families come together to revel in the upcoming union.

The night is anchored by Boliyan — traditional Punjabi folk songs sung by women from both families, often teasing the bride, groom, and in-laws with witty, humorous verses. The dholak provides the rhythmic heartbeat for these songs. Women perform Giddha, the traditional Punjabi folk dance, while men break into energetic Bhangra.

Choreographed dance performances by friends and family are a highlight, often telling the couple's love story or performing elaborate Bollywood-inspired routines. A DJ keeps the energy high, and a professional dhol player elevates the celebration. The evening includes a lavish dinner spread.

In LaddoThis: a Sangeet checklist with 10 tasks, 3 of them things to buy or prepare.

Mehndi मेहंदी

3-5 Days Before

Henna application on the bride's hands and feet with traditional songs

The Mehndi ceremony is a beloved pre-wedding ritual where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride's hands, feet, and arms. The bride's mehndi is an elaborate work of art that can take 2-4 hours to complete, often featuring the groom's name hidden within the intricate patterns.

While the bride sits patiently as the mehndi artist works, the room comes alive with traditional songs accompanied by the dholak. Female relatives and friends sing, dance, and take turns getting simpler mehndi designs on their own hands. A basket of bindis and bangles is often set out for guests to adorn themselves.

The groom also gets mehndi applied, typically a simpler design on his palms. Once the bride's mehndi is complete, a lemon-sugar solution is dabbed on to deepen the colour, and the hands are wrapped in cotton overnight for the richest stain.

In LaddoThis: a Mehndi checklist with 10 tasks, 6 of them things to buy or prepare.

Maiyan / Haldi माईयां / हल्दी

3-5 Days Before

The turmeric cleansing ceremony with vatna paste and sacred rituals

The Maiyan (also called Haldi) is a deeply symbolic purification ceremony held 1-3 days before the wedding. Both the bride and groom undergo this ritual separately at their respective homes.

The bride or groom sits on a patri (low wooden plank) while four married women hold a phulkari dupatta as a canopy overhead. The vatna paste — a fragrant mixture of turmeric (haldi), besan (gram flour), mustard oil, and rosewater — is lovingly applied to the bride or groom's face, arms, and feet by family members.

Four diyas are placed at the corners around the seating area, and the bride or groom faces the lamps throughout. The Kangna Bandhana is a sacred moment — a pandit ties a mouli (sacred thread) with a betel nut and shell onto the wrist, providing spiritual protection.

The mother feeds five bites of sweets to the bride or groom, a tender gesture of maternal love before the transition to married life. This is followed by a ritual bath to wash away the vatna. The same vatna paste is shared between both families as a bonding symbol — paste prepared at the bride's home is sent to the groom's, and vice versa.

In LaddoThis: a Maiyan / Haldi checklist with 21 tasks, 20 of them things to buy or prepare.

Jaggo जागो

1-2 Days Before

A lively night-before procession through the streets with lights and music

Jaggo literally means "wake up!" and is one of the most spirited traditions in a Hindu Punjabi wedding. Held the night before the wedding, it is a joyous procession through the neighbourhood streets that announces the wedding to the entire community.

The centrepiece is the khadda — a decorated copper or brass vessel filled with diveh (small clay oil lamps) or LED candles. The mami (maternal aunt) carries this illuminated vessel on her head as she leads the procession. A jaggo stick adorned with bells is shaken rhythmically, adding to the festive cacophony.

Accompanied by a dhol player, the procession dances door to door through the neighbourhood, distributing sweets and inviting everyone to celebrate. Sparklers add to the spectacle. The energy is infectious — neighbours come out to join, and the procession grows larger as it weaves through the streets.

In LaddoThis: a Jaggo checklist with 16 tasks, 9 of them things to buy or prepare.

Chooda & Kalire चूड़ा और कलीरे

1-2 Days Before

The mama presents sacred bangles and umbrella-shaped kalire ornaments

The Chooda and Kalire ceremony is one of the most emotionally charged rituals in a Punjabi wedding, traditionally performed on the morning of the wedding or the night before.

The mama (maternal uncle) brings a set of 21 red and cream bangles — the chooda. Before being placed on the bride's wrists, the bangles are purified by soaking in a mixture of milk and rose petals. The bride's eyes are covered with a cloth or blindfold, as tradition holds she should not see the chooda before it is on her wrists. The mama lovingly slides the bangles onto her wrists, and a white cloth called a subar is draped over them.

The kalire — beautiful umbrella-shaped ornaments made of gold, silver, or decorative metal — are then tied to the chooda by the mama, sisters, and close friends. In a playful tradition, the bride shakes the kalire over the heads of unmarried girls gathered around her. If a piece of the kalire falls on someone, she is believed to be the next one to get married.

In LaddoThis: a Chooda & Kalire checklist with 10 tasks, 10 of them things to buy or prepare.

Gharoli घड़ोली

Wedding Morning

Sacred morning bath using holy water from the mandir

Gharoli is a sacred morning-of-wedding ritual. The groom's sister visits the mandir early in the morning to fill a beautifully decorated clay pot (gharoli) with holy water. She carries it back on foot, accompanied by female relatives singing boliyan (folk songs) along the way.

Once home, the holy water is used by the groom to bathe, spiritually cleansing and purifying him before the Vivah. The gharoli is decorated with flowers, ribbons, and sometimes mirrors.

In LaddoThis: a Gharoli checklist with 4 tasks, 3 of them things to buy or prepare.

Sehra Bandi & Baraat सेहरा बंदी और बारात

Wedding Morning

The groom is prepared, blessed, and leads his wedding procession

Sehra Bandi and the Baraat form the groom's grand departure for the wedding. The morning begins at the groom's home with an elaborate dressing ritual.

The groom is dressed in his sherwani, and his father ties the pagdi or safa (wedding turban) on his head. Sisters tie the kalghi — an ornamental jewelled piece — onto the turban. The sehra, a face veil made of golden ribbons or pearl strings, is then tied by the father, partially concealing the groom's face.

The bhabhi (sister-in-law) applies surma (kohl) around his eyes for protection from the evil eye and receives a gift in return. The mother places a coconut in the groom's lap, and elders bless him with shagun envelopes and feed him sweets.

For the Ghodi Chadna, the groom mounts a beautifully decorated mare, accompanied by the sarbala — a young boy who rides alongside. The varna ritual follows, where cash is waved around the groom's head and later given to the poor.

The Baraat — the groom's wedding procession — then sets off toward the wedding venue. Led by thunderous dhol players and a DJ, the groom's family and friends dance through the streets in a jubilant procession of music, fireworks, and celebration.

In LaddoThis: a Sehra Bandi & Baraat checklist with 14 tasks, 11 of them things to buy or prepare.

Milni मिलनी

Wedding Ceremony

Formal introduction of male elders from both families with garland exchange

The Milni is the formal introduction ceremony that takes place when the baraat arrives at the wedding venue. Male elders from both families are formally introduced to their counterparts — oldest to youngest — in a structured and dignified ceremony.

Each pair of matching elders (e.g., the bride's grandfather meets the groom's grandfather, then the fathers, then the uncles) exchanges flower garlands (milni mala), embraces warmly, and the bride's side presents shagun envelopes. This creates a personal bond between individuals from both families.

After the milni, the baraat is welcomed with tea, snacks, and sometimes a full breakfast, allowing the groom's travelling party to refresh before the ceremony. The bride is not present during the milni — she awaits the groom inside the venue.

In LaddoThis: a Milni checklist with 7 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Jai Mala & Wedding Ceremony जयमाला और विवाह

Wedding Ceremony

The sacred wedding ceremony under the mandap with pheras around the holy fire

The Jai Mala and Wedding Ceremony is the heart of the Hindu Punjabi wedding, held under a decorated mandap with Pandit Ji officiating.

It opens with a Ganesh Puja to invoke Lord Ganesha's blessings. The bride enters to shehnai, and the couple exchanges heavy garlands (Jai Mala) while friends playfully lift the groom higher.

The sacred fire is lit and Vedic mantras fill the air. Kangna Bandhana ties a mouli on both wrists for protection. Kanyadaan follows — the bride's father places her hand in the groom's. Gathbandhan ties the groom's scarf to the bride's dupatta, binding them as one.

The Seven Pheras are the climax — the couple takes seven rounds around the sacred fire, each with a vow: nourishment, strength, prosperity, family, children, longevity, and eternal friendship.

In Lajahom, the bride's brother places puffed rice in her hands, offered to the fire three times. Sindoor Daan seals the marriage — the groom applies sindoor to the bride's maang and ties the mangalsutra with three knots representing devotion to husband, family, and God.

Conch shells blow as the couple is showered with petals and rice. They touch the feet of all elders for ashirwad.

--- Joota Chupai (जूता छुपाई) ---

When the groom removes his shoes before entering the mandap, the bride's sisters and cousins steal and hide them. After the ceremony, when it is time to leave, the groom discovers his shoes are missing. The bride's sisters demand a cash ransom — hilarious negotiations follow before the shoes are returned with much laughter.

In LaddoThis: a Jai Mala & Wedding Ceremony checklist with 21 tasks, 17 of them things to buy or prepare.

Vidaai / Doli विदाई / डोली

Departure

The emotional bridal farewell with rice throwing and the decorated car departure

Vidaai (also called Doli) is the most emotionally intense moment of the entire wedding. It marks the bride's departure from her parents' home and family.

The bride throws handfuls of rice and coins backward over her head three times — this symbolizes repaying her parents for the love and care they have given her and leaving behind prosperity for their home. Her brothers push and escort the weeping bride toward the decorated car.

The groom's mother places a red dupatta over the bride's head, symbolically welcoming her into the new family. The couple enters the decorated car amid tears, blessings, and farewells.

In LaddoThis: a Vidaai / Doli checklist with 6 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Baar Rokai बार रोकाई

Departure

The groom's sister blocks the couple's entry to the house

When the newlywed couple arrives at the groom's house after the wedding, the groom's sister blocks the entrance and refuses to let them in. She demands a gift — typically cash, gold, or jewelry — from her brother before she will step aside.

Playful negotiations follow, with the groom trying to bargain and the sister holding firm. The groom's friends may try to help him negotiate a lower price, but the sister has all the leverage. Only after she is satisfied with the gift does she step aside and allow the couple to enter.

Also known as Bhena da Naaka (भैणा दा नाका) — the sister's checkpoint.

In LaddoThis: a Baar Rokai checklist with 4 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Griha Pravesh गृह प्रवेश

Departure

The bride's auspicious first entry into the groom's home

Griha Pravesh is the bride's ceremonial first entry into the groom's family home, where she is welcomed as an embodiment of Goddess Lakshmi.

The groom's mother performs aarti at the entrance and paani varna — circling water around the bride to absorb negative energy. The bride steps into alta (red liquid) and walks into the home, leaving red footprints on a white cloth symbolizing Lakshmi's arrival. She kicks over a pot of rice at the threshold, signifying overflowing abundance.

The bride presses her milk-and-kumkum-dipped hands onto the wall, leaving auspicious handprints. The mother-in-law offers sweetened milk as a welcome. The bride then visits the family puja room to light a lamp and pay respects to household deities.

The Mooh Dikhai ceremony follows — the bride's veil is lifted and each family member gazes upon her face for the first time, blessing her with gifts of jewellery, cash, or other items. A playful ring-finding game in a bowl of milk and rose petals concludes the celebrations.

In LaddoThis: a Griha Pravesh checklist with 10 tasks, 9 of them things to buy or prepare.

Reception रिसेप्शन

Post-Wedding

A grand celebration hosted by the groom's family with dinner, dance, and Bhangra

The Reception is a grand celebration hosted by the groom's family, typically held 1-3 days after the wedding. It is the public celebration where the wider community — colleagues, friends, and extended family who may not have attended the wedding — come together to bless the newlyweds.

The couple sits on an elaborately decorated stage as a steady stream of guests approaches to bless them, present gifts, and take photographs. The backdrop is typically a stunning floral arrangement with the couple's names.

A lavish dinner features the finest Punjabi cuisine — dal makhani, butter chicken, paneer tikka, assorted naan, biryani, and an array of desserts. Cake-cutting marks the transition from formalities to festivities.

The first dance by the couple opens the floor, followed by high-energy Bhangra and Giddha performances. The DJ keeps the energy alive late into the night as guests dance, celebrate, and create lasting memories.

In LaddoThis: a Reception checklist with 15 tasks, 7 of them things to buy or prepare.

Pag Phera पग फेरा

Post-Wedding

The bride's first return to her parents' home after the wedding

Pag Phera takes place after the reception and is the bride's first return to her parents' home as a married woman. It is a deeply emotional and joyful homecoming.

The bride's brother arrives at the groom's home to escort the couple back to the bride's parents' house. The reunion is filled with tears of joy as the bride is welcomed back into the home she grew up in.

A lavish meal is prepared — the bride's family pulls out all stops to feast the couple and the groom. Gifts flow generously: the bride's family presents the groom with a new outfit, the bride with jewellery or an outfit, and the couple with cash shagun, sweets, and dry fruits.

The couple stays overnight, and the groom returns the next day with his wife, carrying gifts and mithai from the bride's parents back to the groom's home.

In LaddoThis: a Pag Phera checklist with 7 tasks, 5 of them things to buy or prepare.