Do you even want to consider a wedding without a bridal chuda? Without a doubt, not at all. In particular, if we’re talking about weddings in the Punjabi culture. The bridal chuda is a piece of jewellery that is traditionally worn by Punjabi brides even before their wedding day. These days, the bride’s chooda is more of a fashion accessory than a mere cultural artefact.
Bridal Chura: The Whole Story
On the day of a Punjabi wedding, the bride and groom traditionally wear a set of bangles known as a “chuda” (also written “choora,” “chuda,” and “chooda”). Bridal chudaused to exclusively come in red and maroon, but now, due to demand and people’s willingness to be more daring with their wedding attire, ivory bangles are becoming a popular choice. chuda for weddings can be found on the internet in a wide variety of colours, including orange, pink, white, green, etc. Traditionally, the chuda is made up of 21 bangles, however this number might vary based on the taste of the bride. The most common number of bangles in a bridal set is 7, while sets with 9, and 11 are also popular. People often use these numerals because they are considered lucky.
The History of the Wedding Chuda
The history of the Punjabi bridal chooda can be traced back to ancient times. Sikh and Punjabi brides, like their Hindu counterparts, are easily recognised by the chooda or wedding bangles they wear on their wedding day. In reality, chuda is the preferred bridal attire for women in the northern part of India. chuda, which can be purchased chuda online, has become a symbol of bridal fashion.
Importance of the Wedding Chuda
It is believed that the chuda worn by the bride will provide the couple with happiness and prosperity in their new lives together. It represents fruitfulness, good fortune, and financial success. It’s widely held that this practise helps married couples become even closer to one another. Brides traditionally keep on their wedding bangles for at least a month after the big day, and sometimes for as long as 15 months.
Ceremony of Donning the Chuda Set for the Bride, also Known as Chuda Rasam
The bride is not allowed to don the chuda on her own. The bride’s maternal uncle and aunt are responsible for putting on the wedding bangles at the correct time. Additionally, they purchase chuda.
In the chuda Ceremony, the bride’s maternal uncle and aunt present the chuda to the bride.
Part of this ritual takes place during a Hindu Puja or Havan. Each family member touches the chura as a symbol of their blessing before it is presented to the bride, after it has been washed in a mixture of milk, water, and rose petals known as “Kachi Lassi.”
The bride is often forbidden from seeing her chura before the big day. She doesn’t look at it when it’s presented to her, and it’s hidden under a white cloth until the ceremony begins.
Gifts are given to the bride-to-be by her maternal relatives at the ‘Nanki Shakk’ stage of the Sikh wedding ceremony, and chura rasam is performed.
Who Take off Bridal Chooda
The bridal chuda, unlike many other pieces of punjabi jewellery available on the internet, cannot be removed by the wearer. An additional ritual, dubbed “chuda Wadhana,” is carried out for this purpose as well. Only the bride’s sister-in-law can take it from her wrist during this ceremony. The sister-in-law simply has to take off two bangles from each hand and then put it back on if the bride wants to keep it on for longer.
About Kaliras
To help the bride remember her loved ones and to wish her well on her new journey, the bride’s sisters and friends will often attach Kalires to her chuda. Usually the kalires are gold, but silver is not unheard of. Another practise involves adorning the kalire with dried fruits and nuts. Following the ceremony, the bride is reported to shake her bangles over the heads of all the single women in the room, and if a leaf lands on any of them, that woman will soon be engaged. In English and American weddings, this is analogous to the tradition of throwing the bride’s bouquet to the guests.
Many of these rites, such as covering the chuda or performing a chuda Wadhana ceremony, are not observed in modern times. The fact remains, however, that these practises are integral to Punjabi culture.
