Wedding Related Events
There are many events that go along with weddings. *Spellings (and sometimes names) of events may vary.
Here is a list to remind you of all the fun you'll be having:
Bridal Shower…traditionally a women's only party with games, gifts, and teasing the bride
Bachelorette Party…ladies night! with drinks, dancing, debauchery
Bachelor Party…guys night out! with drinks, dancing, debauchery
Mendhi…traditionally a womens gathering although nowadays it is usually another 'everybody comes' event. women's hands are adorned with henna/ mendhi. green is traditionally worn.
Grah Shanti…traditional religious ceremony to bless the household prior to the marriage ceremony.
Pithi / Haldi…ceremony to beautify and bless the person getting married. Family and friends rub yellow paste on arms, face, neck of the soon-to-be-wed person.
Garba…this is more common with Gujarati families. It is a folk dancing event and guests all join in to do raas and garba.
Sangeet…this is a festive music event with performances by friends and family often highlighting music, song, dance, skits, speeches. In the USA many of these events end with an open dance floor for all guests.
Baraath...this is the groom's grand procession / parade, traditionally he is on a horse, his family and friends dancing around him.
Milni...brief introductions of bride's family/ relatives meeting corresponding family/ relatives on the groom's side
Wedding...bride and groom get married! a traditional Hindu wedding is often at least one hour. more religious and traditional families may have ceremonies that are 3-4-5 hours long.
Reception…often the final event of the big wedding celebration, usually has dinner, dancing, a few speeches, cake cutting.
Vidai...this is a more traditional ceremony when the bride leaves her family to go to the grooms family officially.
First Homecoming...bride ‘comes home’ to the groom’s home usually in a traditional sari, and usually a sari provided to the bride by the groom’s family.
