Introduction
The Punjabi community follows one of the two types of traditions - the Arya Samaj or Sanatan Dharm. In the following sections, the wedding rituals performed by the Sanatanis have been described.

Pre-Wedding Rituals
Roka
Once the match is finalised, a formal announcement is made through roka. The girl's parents give sweets, fruits and token money to the boy. The boy's parents also give a token of acceptance to the girl.

Shagun
This usually takes place one day prior to the marriage. The relatives of the bride go to the groom's house with sweets, fruit, gifts, clothes, etc. After the priest does Ganesh pooja and navagraha shanti, gifts are given to the groom and his family. The parents of the bride present clothes to the close relatives of the groom. Tilak is applied on the groom's forehead which symbolises acceptance of the groom by the bride's family.

Chunni Chadhana
After Shagun, the groom's family go to the bride's house. They carry dry fruits, sweets, clothes, jewellery and cosmetics for the bride. In the presence of a priest, the groom's mother blesses the girl by putting the auspicious things like dry fruits and coconut in the girl's lap. She also covers the girl's head with the chunni. The bride then changes into the clothes and jewellery received from the groom's parents symbolising the acceptance of the bride by the groom's parents. The bride's family offers a feast to the guests.

Gana
The Gana ceremony is performed separately for both the groom and the bride. A priest does pooja and ties a red thread to the bride's wrist in her house. The same custom is repeated with the groom in his house. The thread has a supari, an iron ring, a shell and beads of mustard tied to it in a small cloth. This is called the gana. This is for protection and to ward off an evil eye. After this the bride or the groom do not step out of their respective houses till the wedding ceremony is over.

Ladies Sangeet
This is the last party that the bride to be gives her friends as a maiden. Women sing special marriage songs and play the dholki. Most of the songs are lively, boisterous and worded for the occasion. The songs range from making light fun of the groom and the in-laws, to advising the bride how to lead her marital life to feeling sad about the girl leaving her parents' home forever.

Mehendi
The Mehendi ceremony generally takes place one or two days before the wedding. This is also primarily a function for the ladies and is held at the bride's house. First the girl is cleansed with a paste of turmeric and sandalwood powder from top to toe. Then the girl's hands and feet are adorned with ornamental mehendi (henna) patterns. Mehendi or henna is a symbol of auspiciousness. The intricate designs that decorate the palms of the bride include folk art figures of plants, birds, fish and other auspicious symbols. There is a general belief that deeper the red of the mehendi, the deeper the love between the husband and wife. The girl is surrounded by her friends and female relatives who also get their hands adorned with henna.

Chooda Ceremony
Chooda ceremony is also held on the morning of the wedding. The pandit does a puja and the bride's maternal uncles give her a set of choodas (21 bangles in red and white ivory) after washing them in milk. Nowadays the bride often wears 7 or 9 bangles. As per tradition, the bride should ideally wear the chooda for at least a year. Nowadays the bride wears the chooda for a month and a quarter. The bangles range in size according to the circumference of the top of the forearm and the wrist end so that the set fits neatly. For the bride's mother and father the maternal uncle gets gifts - nanke chaak. As a symbol of best wishes and blessings, the sisters, sister-in-law and friends tie kaleeras made of thin silver and plated with gold on an iron bangle worn by the girl.

Sehra Bandhi
Generally the sehra bandhi ceremony takes place in the groom's house late noon or early evening. The priest does Ganesh pooja and navagraha shanti. The pagri and sehra are then purified and blessed. The elders also bless a silver mukut. The priest ties the pagri or headgear. A silver mukut is tied over the pagri. The groom's sister ties the sehra. To ward off any evil eye, the bhabhi then puts surma in the groom's eye. The groom's jija (sister's husband) helps him sit on the horse. The sister offers roasted gram to the horse. They also tie a golden thread to the reins of the horse. This is called wagh bandhai. Then the baraat sets out for the bride's house. The procession, heralded by bright lights, fireworks, rejoicing relatives and friends, accompanies the bridegroom who is often mounted on a horseback.

Reception of Baraat and Milni
As the baraat reaches the venue, friends and relatives break into a dance. It is welcomed at the gate by the members of the bride's family and relatives. Then Milni Ceremony is done. The respective male relatives from the groom's family hug their counterparts from the bride's family and exchange flower garlands. The groom is made to get down from the horse by the bride's brother.

Jaimala
The groom is taken to a decorated raised platform. The bride makes an entry accompanied by her sisters/friends/bhabhis. She is taken to the platform where the groom is standing. Then the bride and the groom exchange flower garlands. Often this ceremony has its lighter moments. As the bride approaches, garland in hand, to place it around the groom's neck, his friends lift him up from the ground and hold him in mid-air, yelling to the bride to place the garland around the neck of the groom. If he bows his head to wear the garland, they insist that he would be bowing to her will for the rest of their lives. Meanwhile the bride's sisters and friends try to ensure that she should not ask the groom to bend, but garland him someway. All this happens in good humour. All the friends and relatives meet and bless the couple. Gifts are usually given at this time. After this the couple proceeds to the vedi.

Upanah
The groom is invited to the lagan mandap where the actual wedding ceremony will take place. He is made to take off his shoes. This is called upanah. The girl's father welcomes the groom and offers him a seat.

Madhu-parka
The groom is also offered madhu-parka - a mixture of honey, curd and sugar. This is done in the hope that the relationship, which is going to be established, will always remain sweet. Then the girl is called and made to sit on the right side of the boy.

The Marriage Ceremony
Angnyaas
Angnyaas is a cleansing ritual performed to attain a clean heart and body. A few drops of water are sprinkled on the couple.

Haridralepan
Haridralepan is an auspicious ritual involving anointing of the hands of both the boy and the girl with turmeric.

Shankhocchar
The priest carries out shankhocchar which is an introduction of both the families. He speaks out the names of the people presenting the family tree of both the groom and the bride and also announces the respective gotras.

Ahavaan
The fire and the sun during the day, the polestar (dhruv) during the night, are called upon as witnesses sakshi to this marriage ritual. It is hoped that this union will be as energetic and illuminated as the sun, as steadfast as dhruv and as pious as agni (the fire).

Kanyadaan
The bride's parents hand over their daughter to the husband-to-be with folded hands since all the needs of their daughter would be fulfilled by him henceforth. They request him to care for her with the same compassion they have bestowed till now on their precious daughter. The father gives his daughter who is supposed to be a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi to the groom who is supposed to be a symbol of God Vishnu.

Granthi-Bandhan
Granthi-Bandhan signifies the union of two individuals into one entity. Either the groom's sister or the priest ties the cloth tied around the groom's waist to the chunni of the bride.

Paanigrahan
The groom takes the bride's hand in his hand. It is again a symbol of this most pious union. It signifies that they will now be together in good times and bad. It is an oath, which they take.

Lavan-phera
Then comes Lavan-phera wherein the groom and the bride circumambulate the sacred fire seven times.

Ashwaarnarohan
The girl puts her foot on a grinding stone as a symbol of steadfastness and courage. Then the brothers of the bride give kheel or puffed rice to the bride's hand, which are passed to the groom's hand and then offered to the fire.

Vamang-sthapana
The groom requests the bride to sit on his left side, because the heart is in the left side of the body.

Saptapadi
Saptapadi comprises 7 steps which the bride and the groom take together. Saptapadi provides them with guidelines for their married life. Then the bride and the groom say seven sentences as a form of oath. These are the promises they make regarding their conduct towards each other.

Sindurdaan
Then comes the final ritual of the wedding ceremony. The groom fills the bride's middle parting with sindoor or vermillion. The bride and the groom seek the blessings of their elders.