Punjabi wedding invitations: Chooda, Jaggo, and what to write
Punjabi weddings are long, loud and organised around a run of separate functions, each of which has its own guest list and often its own invitation.
One thing to settle before you write anything: whether the ceremony itself is an Anand Karaj or a set of pheras. Punjabi Sikh families have an Anand Karaj in a gurdwara. Punjabi Hindu families have pheras around a fire. The surrounding functions are nearly identical, so people conflate them, and then the invitation says the wrong thing.
The two functions people always ask about
Chooda. On the morning of the wedding, the bride's maternal uncle, the mama, and his wife give her a set of red and white ivory or plastic bangles. They are dipped in milk and rose petals first. The bride traditionally does not see them until they are on her wrists, so her eyes are kept closed or covered. Kalire, the gold umbrella shaped ornaments, are then tied on by her sisters and friends, and she shakes them over the heads of unmarried girls. Whoever a piece falls on is said to be next.
Jaggo. The night before, the bride's maternal family carries a decorated brass pot on their heads with lit lamps set into it, and the whole group goes through the neighbourhood singing boliyan, waking people up, banging a stick. The word means wake up. It is loud, it is late, and it is the function that guests from outside Punjab enjoy the most.
The full run of functions
| Function | Where | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Roka and Thaka | Bride's home | Elders of both families |
| Chunni Chadhai | Bride's home | Groom's mother and sisters |
| Sagai | Either | Both families |
| Sangeet | Usually joint | Everyone |
| Vatna or Haldi | Both homes | Family |
| Chooda and Kalire | Bride's home, wedding morning | Bride's maternal family |
| Jaggo | Bride's and groom's, night before | Maternal family, neighbourhood |
| Ghara Ghardoli | Both homes | Family, with water from a gurdwara or temple |
| Sehra Bandi and Ghodi Chadna | Groom's home | Groom's family |
| Milni | Venue entrance | Both families, paired by relation |
| Anand Karaj or Pheras | Gurdwara or venue | Everyone |
| Doli and Vidaai | Venue | Bride's family |
Hindu or Sikh, on the invitation
- Sikh: open with Ik Onkar or Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Call the ceremony Anand Karaj. Do not write phere. Name the gurdwara. Mention head covering.
- Hindu: open with Shree Ganeshaya Namah. Call it the Vivah or the pheras. Name the venue and the muhurat.
- Mixed families: many Punjabi families have both, and invitations often carry both invocations. This is common and nobody finds it odd.
Punjabi wedding invitation wording you can copy
Copy any of these and change the names, dates and places. They are written to be read out loud, so they sound right on a phone screen too.
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
With the blessings of the Almighty and our elders,
[Parents' names]
request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
[Name]
with
[Name]
[Day, Date] · Muhurat [Time]
[Venue]
Ik Onkar
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
[Name] and [Name]
Anand Karaj: [Day, Date] · [Time]
[Gurdwara]
Reception: [Day, Date] · [Time] · [Venue]
Please bring something to cover your head.
Chooda ceremony for [Name]
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Address]
Close family only. Come before [Time], she cannot look until it is done.
Jaggo aayi aa!
[Day, Date] · [Time] onwards
Starting at [Address]
Bring your voice. We are waking the whole street up.
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Questions people actually ask
What is the Chooda ceremony?
On the wedding morning the bride's maternal uncle and aunt give her a set of red and white bangles, dipped in milk and rose petals. She traditionally does not look at them until they are on. Kalire are then tied on by her sisters and friends.
What is Jaggo?
The night before the wedding, the bride's maternal family carries a decorated pot with lit lamps through the neighbourhood, singing and making noise. Jaggo means wake up.
What is the difference between a Punjabi Hindu and Punjabi Sikh wedding?
The surrounding functions are almost identical. The ceremony differs: Sikh families have an Anand Karaj in a gurdwara with four Laavan, Hindu families have pheras around a fire. Getting this wrong on the invitation is noticed.
What is Milni?
The formal meeting of the two families at the venue, where corresponding relatives are introduced in pairs, garlanded and often given gifts. It happens before the ceremony.
Do we need separate invitations for each function?
Not separate cards, but the invitation should make clear who is invited to what. A single link listing every function with its own details handles this much better than a card.