Weddings are solemn affairs - two new people, innumerable new relationships, and a new beginning. After months and months of stressful planning for the big day, frayed nerves have to be soothed. There are enough frothy moments and unusual rites in wedding ceremonies that lighten the mood and remain as fun-filled memories in the years to come.
Parsi saalis extract gifts from their jija during the haath boravanu ( groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he pays up ), pag dhovanu ( groom is threatened with milk on his shoes ) and chero chorvanu ( seven strands of thread tying the couple are removed on payment ) ceremonies.
Thanks to Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan we are all familiar with the custom where saalis hide the shoes of their jija and return them only in exchange for money. The negotiations can become quite festive and provide great photo opportunities.
In some communities, the hands of the couple are covered with a sacred cloth to ward off the evil eye during the pheras . This sudden privacy afforded to the couple in the midst of the public ceremony often sparks of much teasing and jocularity.
The Gujarati groom's mother-in-law tries to catch his nose on arrival of the baraat , as a reminder of the fact that he is taking away their daughter and is now responsible for her happiness.
Aeki-Beki amongst Gujaratis is also all fun and games. A tray or pot of water is mixed with milk and vermillion. A ring and a few coins are thrown into the mixture. The bride and groom are given seven chances to fish out the ring. The winner is considered as having a dominating personality and it is predicted amidst much laughter that he / she will rule the roost!
Among the Marwaris, a popular custom is Seethna . The bride's side gets a chance to mock the groom's family with playful 'fish-ponds'. Apt Bollywood songs are sung for each member. "Oh meri zohra jabeen" is a popular one for the fathers-in-law, while mothers-in-law are generally treated to the popular Karishma number, "Gore Gore gaal mere, mein kya karoon?"!
Punjabi brides wear a Chuda which is a set of red and ivory bangles presented to them by their mama ( maternal uncle ). These are said to bring good luck to the bride in her new home.
Punjabi brides wear Kaleeres . These are silver or gold plated ornaments tied to the Chudas . It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the Kaleere . So the more leaves the merrier!
When the groom brings home his new bride, the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in. This is done amidst much jocularity and negotiation.
In some Hindu families, after the wedding the devar ( groom's brother ) sits in his bhabhi's ( the bride ) lap and refuses to get up unless his mother gives him some ransom to release his bhabhi.
