Events After the Wedding Ceremony

After the wedding ceremony, there is alot of hulla bulla amongst the family and friends - lunch to be eaten, socializing to be enjoyed, games to be played. shoes to be stolen :)

There is a traditional Punjabi game where the girls on the bride's side steals the groom's wedding shoes and in order for the groom to have them returned to him, he must pay a price to all the bride's sisters - whatever they request. It is usually ALOT of fun when u are on the girl's side but being on the boy's side, ur main task is to hide his shoes. It gets kind of silly because during the ceremony, instead of watching solemnly and praying for a beautiful future life for the lovely couple, I find myself looking for exit routes and perfect hiding spots under cushions and ladies' outfits. :) Just kidding. The girl's side didn't really fight for my brother's shoes so this made an easy win at this wedding.

While all teh wedding guests return to their rooms to relax, the couple has their alone time together for pictures and enjoying their newly wed status. After a few hours of rest and picture taking, everyone gets to get ready all over again for the Reception!

The bride with her brother and I

The bride upon entering the groom's home. Here a game is being played where the groom's sister (me) has to attempt to drink water from a golden cup for 7 times while my brother has to try to prevent me from doing so. The significance? Beats me.

A FUN game where the bride and groom have to fight each other to win golden rings hidden inside a bowl full of milk and roses

My brother and his new wife in the wedding car!

The quaint wedding richshaw

Tradition where the bride's first steps into the house are recorded by having her step in red paint and then over a white scroll of paper adorned with rose petals

My brother and his friends along with his new wife.

The weddign car decorated

My dad and I with the newly married couple

Bringing Devina into the boy's home for the first time

One of my favorite pics :)

Helping Devina step on rose petals laid out for her to enter our home

My hubs and I :)

My cousin's wife Chandni and I watching our kids play together after the wedding ceremony 

Devina feeding my brother traditional Indian sweets 

The ring game 

The real wedding car - not the richshaw 

Devina and Moni

My new sis in law and I :)

My little nugget Jeevan at 8 months old

Me chaperoning the ring game - making sure there are no cheaters! The cheaters ended up being the women in my family who told Devina that catching quarters in the milk was just as good as rings and while they told my brother quarters wouldn't cut it and he would have to find a gold ring to win. Devina won with the help of the lovely ladies of our family :) Girl power!

Another cute game where the bride shakes her decorations from her hands over the heads of unmarried females of the house. If a gold piece falls off by itself onto the head, then it is good luck and signifies that the female will be the next in getting married - similar to the boquet toss!

Me receiving Devina into our home

My brother dancing on the path Devina had to walk into our home. SO SWEET how happy and proud he is. It's written all over his face.

My little Kavanjot with his cousin Noor :)

Devina and Moni

Anand Karaj - Sikh Wedding Ceremony

The actual wedding ceremony of my brother and his wife was beautiful. It was held outside in Goa near the Banyan tree under which he proposed. It was lovely. The immediate family sat near the bride and groom while the other guests sat behind on beautiful little sofas lined with comfy cushions.

The meaning of Ananad Karaj is Blissful union. The couple does 4 lavaans or rounds around our holy scripture called the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In the Sikh faith, although the bride walks behind the groom holding his scarf, marriage is considered a partnership amongst equals. No consideration is to be given for caste, race or social status nor is dowry permitted. The families from both sides are very involved during the ceremony. The ceremony must end before noon and afterwards is langar or a lunch for all the guests.

There are fun little games played amongst the boy's and girl's side after the ceremony where the girl's sidehas to steal the groom's shoes and in order to get them back, he has to offer a price to pay them which they usually do not accept and keep asking for more. It's meant to be alot of fun but I have been at weddings where the girl's sister has stolen the shoes and asked for the bride's wedding ring and GOT IT. I know, nuts. Talk about taking tradition seriously.

My brother coming up to our Scriptures covered in white and blue

Moni (my brother) coming up to matha tek (pay respects to our scripture)

The canopy for the wedding ceremony 

Guests surrounding where the couple is to sit

What we saw coming up to the wedding site.

Up where immediate family and the couple sat

The bride's side.

The bride, Devina, coming in.

She looked stunning

Wedding guests looking upon the ceremony

My brother with me dabbing my CHIN (ugh) behind him.

bride's entrance

bride and groom attached with a pink scarf which she held onto following him during the rounds

The bride's mother. Just a lovely lady.

The bride and groom making their rounds

Where the guru granth sahib (our scriptures) sat

Me telling Moni and D what they need to do.

Scarf being adjusted

Looking onto the ceremony

The couple making their rounds with her brothers surrounding the area (symbolizing that they will always be there for her throughout her married life). Very sweet.

Getting garlands put on them by our priest

The couple standing together before making a round

Rounds

Garlanding 

And they're married after the 4th round!! (my brother wasn't really allowed to touch her but I guess he couldn't resist!) :)