Indian wedding rituals extend beyond the sacred saat pheras around the sacred fire, continuing into the bride’s first visit to her in-laws’ home after the wedding. At the groom’s house, a series of traditional rituals and fun games for newly married couple are played, each carrying its own significance for happy married life. These playful customs, deeply rooted in various Indian cultures, not only celebrate the union but also provide valuable insights into the couple’s future together. While the specifics may vary across regions, these games and rituals are designed to bring joy, foster bonding, and seek the blessings of elders for a prosperous life ahead. Here are some fascinating and enjoyable wedding rituals that you can incorporate into your own celebrations.
Find the ring (Jua-Jui)
This game is a popular post-wedding ritual in many Indian cultures, enjoyed by newlyweds and their families. It’s a playful, competitive tradition where a mixture of flower petals, milk, turmeric, coins etc. is prepared, and the bride and groom must search for a hidden ring within it. The bride uses both hands, while the groom is allowed only one. It’s believed that the winner of the game will have the “upper hand” in the marriage, symbolizing who will “rule” over the other. The game is filled with fun banter and lively cheers from family members, making it a memorable and joyous ritual for the entire family.
Grah Pravesh
Graha Pravesh is an important ritual that marks the bride’s formal entry into her new home. The ceremony begins with the bride kicking a kalash filled with rice, symbolizing abundance and prosperity, and then leaving foot impressions, made with kumkum, throughout the house. Prior to this, the mother-in-law or sister-in-law performs an aarti to welcome the newlyweds. This ritual signifies the bride’s arrival as Goddess Lakshmi, bringing wealth, prosperity, and good fortune to the family.
Thali and the Kattaar
“Thali and Kattaar” is another meaningful ritual that symbolizes the dynamics of the couple’s future married life. In this tradition, a row of plates is placed in front of the groom. As he walks through, he pushes each thali in either direction with his Kattaar. The bride’s task is to collect all the thalis, but the way she does so holds significance. If she picks up the thalis without making any noise, it is believed that she will bring peace and harmony to the family. However, if the thalis make a sound when she lifts them, it is thought to symbolize potential quarrels or challenges in the marriage. This ritual reflects the hopes and wishes of the family for a peaceful and happy future for the couple.
Darwaja Rokai
After the Joota Chhupai rasam, where the bride’s sisters have their fun, it’s time for the groom’s sisters to have their moment. They block the groom from entering the suhag raat (the first night room) and demand a shagun (gift) in exchange for his entry. This playful and spirited tradition involves a lot of banter and negotiation between the groom’s sisters and his friends, who try to support him in securing his way into the room. It’s a lighthearted game filled with teasing, laughter, and a bit of friendly bargaining.
Finding the cotton
This fun activity is a lighthearted game between the bride and groom, designed purely for entertainment. Cotton balls are hidden in their clothing or inside, and they must find and collect them from each other. It’s a playful and amusing game that brings laughter and enjoyment to the family, especially the adults, adding an extra touch of fun to the celebration. This is one of the most played post-wedding games for the newly married couple in Northern India.
Pair Pakdai
“Pair Pakdai” is a heartfelt ritual, where the bride seeks blessings from the elders of the groom’s family. She touches the feet of her mother-in-law, father-in-law, elder brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncles, and aunts, receiving blessings and shagun (gifts or tokens of good fortune) in return. This is a mark of respect and an important bonding moment in the new family in various Indian culture wedfdings.
The fun twist to the ritual comes afterward. Once the elder couple has blessed the bride, the younger sister-in-laws (Devrani) and daughters-in-law (Bahus) step forward to hold the feet of the elders, also seeking their blessings. Not leaving until they recieve the Shagun, which creates a lively, cheerful atmosphere. The ritual emphasizes respect, love, and the importance of family ties in the bride’s new journey.
Find the name in Mehendi
During the mehendi ceremony, the bride’s hands are decorated with beautiful henna designs. Within these intricate patterns the groom’s name is hidden somewhere in the designs. It’s a fun tradition where the groom has to find his name before their first night together. The playful belief is that if he can’t find it, they won’t be able to spend the night together. This adds a lighthearted touch to the celebration.
Knotted String Game
Amongst various games for the newly married couple, the Knotted String Game is a fun and symbolic ritual where the groom’s sister ties several knots in a long string, and the bride and groom, each using one hand, must work together to untangle them. The game is a playful test of teamwork and cooperation. The belief is that the quicker they untie the knots, the smoother and more harmonious their married life will be.
Shell and Rice Game
This fun and tricky game, commonly played during Bashi Biye (post-wedding), is a popular tradition in Bengali weddings. The couple sit on the ground, while five earthen pots filled with turmeric, rice, and shells are placed before them. The bride’s task is to topple the pots, and the groom’s job is to neatly rearrange them. They take turns, and the challenge is to carefully pick up and organize each grain of rice and shell. The person who does this most neatly is declared the winner. The game is believed to symbolize the ability to organize and manage the family in the future.
Find the Finger
Although this game is one many of us remember playing as kids. Now it has become a lively feature in South Indian weddings! In this playful tradition, the bride gathers her fingers and challenges the groom to find her ring finger. To keep things interesting, she mixes up her fingers, adding a twist and making it trickier for the groom. If he fails to identify the correct finger, he faces a playful penalty from the bride. While the game is lighthearted, it also tests the groom’s ability to make quick decisions and demonstrate attentiveness. It is a fun metaphor for the decisions and compromises that lie ahead in married life!
