Within the Hindu tradition, weddings are followed by cultural and religious implications. Among all the sweet and memorable moments, there is a belief that wedding rituals are of paramount importance in determining a good life for the two soulmates who are tied together in a bond.
For a long time, women have continued to adorn their hands with bangles. Also an important part of the wedding culture in India, bangles are a customary wedding ornament to be worn by the bride. In the Punjabi weddings, a ‘chooda’ and ‘kalire’ ceremony is conducted which is hailed auspicious for the bride-to-be. These rituals are held on the morning of the wedding day, at her place.
The Magnificent Choodas
A set of 12 bangles, these Punjabi wedding bangles are available in red and maroon, ivory and white and is bought by the maternal uncle of the bride. He then gifts it to the bride during her wedding day. However, with the changing trends and styles, more and more brides are opting for multicoloured choodas like pink, orange. But red still continues to hold a ritualistic connotation when it comes to wedding occasions.
The Ritual-
During this ceremony, a puja is conducted where the bangles are first purified by washing them with milk. Before the bride puts them on, every relative has to touch these bangles as a mark of blessing. The choodas are then covered with a white cloth so that the bride cannot see them before her wedding day.
When it comes to the shola shringaar of the bride, choodas are an evident impression. It is also known to bring good luck to the couple by strengthening their bond. Worn for a maximum of 40-45 days, choodas bring fertility and prosperity in the life of the newly-weds.
The Elegant Kalire
Kalires usually hang from the bride’s chooda making a unique combination. This signifies well-being and showers happiness upon the newly-weds. These are also known to bring about an eternal love between the couple. Mostly golden in colour, they bless the bride with good wishes. Also, the specific coconut shape of the kalire symbolizes that she never falls short of food to eat in her new home, while the metallic element signifies wealth and accomplishment.
The kalires are usually carved with intricate patterns of dried beetle nuts, coconut or other kinds of nut. These designs are encrusted on the surface and make it look beautiful and attractive.
The Ritual-
On her wedding day, the bride shakes the chooda and kalire over the unmarried girls present in the ceremony. It is believed that if the leaf of a kalire falls on someone, it is her turn to marry next.
On the next day, the kalire is left in a temple shrine where the priest bestows blessings upon it and is then preserved by the bride as a memoir from her parent’s house.
To buy some of the most innovatively designed bridal bangles for a Punjabi wedding ceremony, one can visit the online store of ‘Quality Fashion’ and select from a wide array of choices.
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