GUIDE TO MAIYAN CEREMONY...A PUNJABI WEDDING RITUAL

By Sakshi Arora, 16 August 2019

Punjabi Weddings are full of colors and its traditions and ceremonies add more grace, colors, fun and joy to it. One such ceremony is Maiyan (Maiya) ceremony. It’s a beginning of a countdown for your “THE DAY”.

Traditionally, Maiyan (Maiya) is conducted three times, which starts two days before the wedding day, when it’s customary to start before midday. The second time is in the morning of the day before the wedding and finally, it is applied that night too. Both the boy and girl undergo the same process but now many families go for this ceremony on the morning of the day of the wedding along with Haldi or Vatna ceremony. It is a cleansing ceremony done to purify the bride and the groom, which takes place at their respective homes with their family and friends and once it is done, both bride and groom are not permitted to leave their home and not change their clothes. But today both the bride and groom leave for their respective salons post this ceremony after a bath. The main reason behind this is to ensure the security and safety of the bride or groom-to-be.

Main purpose behind the maiya ceremony is to beautify the couple!We have compiled a procedure and checklist for you of this ceremony. As today, most of us are not aware of it…

Pic credit @ Pinterest

*POOJA TO BEGIN WITH

Pic Credit @ Shaadiibox.com

The Wedding day begins with a pooja by a local priest and engaging your ancestors in the ceremony. Keeping their photograph in a room and getting their blessings for the bride and the groom. You will need all pooja material for the same.

POOJA KITS FOR WEDDING ARE AVAILABLE AT SHAADIIBOX.

*GRINDING THE WHEAT

Pic credit @ pinterest

Traditionally it was done with a traditional chakki after the pooja performed by the priest (PANDIT), but today it is done with a mixer grinder.

*CHOODA CEREMONY

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila Photography

For the chooda ceremony, the bride’s maternal uncle gifts the bride with a set of red and white bangles that are to be dipped in milk before presenting and after pooja girls maternal uncle makes bride wear the chooda.

Pic Credit @ Shaadiibox.com

Before wearing chooda girl is made to close her eyes as it is considered inauspicious. Even after chooda ceremony is complete chooda is kept covered till the evening. Check out trendy CHOODA COVERS WHICH CAN BE USED TO COVER CHOODA AND LATER TO BE KEPT AND STORE THE SAME, which are available in all the colors. Golden ornaments called Kalires are also tied to it by the friends and sisters.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/chooda-cover

*GAANNA CEREMONY

Pic credit @ Shaadiibox.com

Gana(Gaanna) is another Sikh or Punjabi ritual where a red thread is tied to the bride’s left and groom’s right hand. It is said to be sacred and protect them from bad omens.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/gaanahttps://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/gaana-1

*RANGOLI OR MAIYAN

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila Photography

It begins with a rangoli or maiyan, which is made in the garden or veranda of the wedding home, which is made with coloured powder, flour and rice. The design could be as intricate or adventurous as you like! Readymade Maiyan Board are also widely available these days.https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/maiyan-board

*PEERI AND FATTI

Pic credit @ Pinterest

A peeri (stool) is placed beside the design, where the boy or girl will sit and this should be east-facing as per the tradition. A fatti (traditionally a rectangular piece of wood) is placed in front of Peeri, on which the boy or the girl will sit. https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/peeri-stoolhttps://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/phulkari-chowki-and-patti

Pic credits @ Cosmin Danila Photography

The boy or girl carrying a thaal (tray) comes out,which has vatna which is a mixture of turmeric powder, flour and mustard oil that is kneaded into a moist dough, Today, it is preferred to buy handmade ubtan rather than packed ready ubtans available.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/phulkari-thalihttps://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/handmade-ubtan

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila Photography

Thaal also has gaaney (auspicious red thread) and dupatta (Usually PHULKARI), which four people from family and friends hold and place it above the Bride or the Groom during a ceremony, One duppatta can be placed on the wall behind for the décor.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/gaanahttps://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/gaana-1https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/phulkari-dupattahttps://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/phulkari-dupatta-1

*MUSTARD OIL APPLICATION

The mother or any other elder in the family, wipe mustard oil on the boy or girl’s head with a few grass strands.

*VATNA CEREMONY

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila. Photography

Then comes a ceremony which family and friends wait for… HALDI OR VATNA CEREMONY. The Bride sits on the Patri with arms and legs exposed. Sometimes family members place a coin under each foot for good luck. They rub vatna on the boy or girl, on the face, arms, hands and feet. The maiya (maiyan) ceremony is a playful and cheeky affair when relatives will often mischievously apply the vatna on every available body part! Ladies traditionally sing jovial folk songs to enhance the celebratory atmosphere.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/handmade-ubtan

*MITHI REET

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila Photography

Once everyone has taken it in turns to rub the vatna, MEETHA CHAWAL is the next auspicious part of this ceremony, where the mother feeds Sweet Rice to the boy or girl and it is then distributed among all the friends and family members.In few cases, Bride or Grooms’ sister-in-law (brother’s wife) playfully tries to stop the mother from doing this by smacking the mother’s hand away.

*GIFTS DISTRIBUTION

Pic credits @ Pinterest

All guests are given a gaana (auspicious red thread), and a Dupatta as a gift which they wear during this ceremony.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/pom-pom-bangles

*FOR THE BACHELORS AROUND

Pic credit @ wedmegood

The boy or girl is then led away with the tray in their hands and dupatta on their head. They are suggested to feed any singletons the remaining rice and sugar mixture as good luck for them to get hitched soon!

*NEXT IS…

Pic credit @ Cosmin Danila Photography

The boy or girl’s mother then steps over the rangoli seven times either side and then cleans it with water and collect it in a form of paste, to be thrown in the open area of the house or rooftop for birds to feed from it, which is considered auspicious. She will then leave three handprints on the wall of the house with her stained rangoli hands. This was traditionally done on the front of houses in India as a sign that it is a wedding house.

*GHAROLI

Pic credit @ Pinterest

In this Punjabi wedding ritual, holy water is brought from the Gurudara or temple and the bride and groom are to bathe with this water. The water is to be brought by the sisters-in-law (sister in few families) of the couple in an earthen pot (Gharoli). Family and friends go dancing to the temple and bring the water. They always have to take two different routes for going and coming back to the home. Bride and Groom are never allowed to be a part of this ceremony, as they cannot move out of the house after Maiyan ceremony.

https://sakshiarora10.wixsite.com/shaadiiboxcom/product-page/handcrafted-ghadoli

When Everyone is finished rubbing the vatna and oil, the phulkari is bundled up and placed on the bride’s head. She stands and walks to take a bath, holding the phulkari in place. Bride or Groom has to take bath from the water which is bought from the Temple or Gurudwara in a ghadoli.In case of Girl when she comes out, a clay lid is placed at the door of the washroom, and she has to break it while stepping out of the washroom.

*WHEN IS IT DONE?

Few families conduct Maiya or Maiyan another three times. First time a day before a wedding. The second time is the following morning (the day before the wedding) but this is simply a process of the boy or girl applying the vatna to their body themselves. The third and final time is that evening, at the jaago night. This is another big get-together where friends and relatives will be involved.Maximum of the people in the metros perform it on the morning of the wedding day i.e. before the Gharoli ceremony and after chuda ceremony. Checklist

• Rangoli – the quantity and range of colours depends on your design choice

• Flour (just a handful)

• Rice (just a handful)

• Peeri (stool)

• Fatti (rectangular piece of wood)

• Vatna – made of turmeric powder, mustard oil and flour kneaded to a moist dough

• Gaaney (auspicious red thread) – For the Bride and the number depends on how many guests you’re expecting

• Thaal (tray)

• Boiled rice and sugar mix (Mithe Chawal)

• Dupatta (scarf) – Punjabi’s tend to go for a traditional Phulkari design (it should have a coin tied to one corner)

• A few strands of grass to make it like a brush

• A small tie to bind a grass

• A few drops of mustard oil

• Small bowl for Vatna

• Baby oil

• Dupattas for guests

• Wheat (Handful)

• Ghadoli

• Clay lid

• Milk (to dip chooda)

• Chooda (brought by maternal uncle)

• Giveaways (gifts for guests)

Pic credit @ RahulRanaPhoto

In a true Punjabi tradition, Maiyan takes the form of a big celebration from lots of fun and decorating the house in a traditional way. And don’t forget that dancing is a big part of all Punjabi Celebrations, so get ready for some Giddha and Bhangra.