Wedding Functions

The Pithi or Haldi ceremony is one of the most joyful pre-wedding rituals across Hindu, Sikh, and some Muslim traditions. A paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is applied to the bride and groom by family members — first the women, then often a raucous free-for-all. The yellow colour of turmeric is believed to bless the couple with good fortune, purify the skin before the wedding, and ward off the evil eye.

The Mehndi ceremony is a beloved pre-wedding celebration held for the bride — and increasingly the groom's side too — in the days leading up to the main ceremony. A professional mehndi artist applies intricate henna designs to the bride's hands and feet, often incorporating the groom's name or initials hidden within the pattern. Guests and close female relatives typically have smaller designs applied on their hands.

The Sangeet is the musical celebration of the wedding, typically held in the evening one or two days before the main ceremony. Families and friends perform songs and dances — both prepared routines and spontaneous performances — often competing playfully between the bride's and groom's sides. For Gujarati Hindu families, the Sangeet becomes a Garba or Raas Garba night, featuring traditional circular folk dance performed to live or recorded garba music.

The Civil Registry ceremony is the legally binding marriage ceremony conducted by a registrar, required for all marriages in the UK regardless of religious tradition. For South Asian couples, the civil ceremony is often a separate, smaller event held before or after the main religious ceremony — sometimes the day before, sometimes a few weeks earlier to reduce complexity on the main wedding day.

Anand Karaj — literally 'blissful union' — is the Sikh wedding ceremony, conducted in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture) at a Gurdwara. The ceremony centres on four circumambulations (laavan) around the Guru Granth Sahib, during which the Granthi (officiant) recites four hymns. Each lavan represents a stage of the couple's spiritual journey together.

The Hindu Vivah is the central religious ceremony of a Hindu wedding, conducted beneath a decorated mandap (ceremonial canopy) by a pandit (priest). The ceremony follows Vedic rituals and includes several key moments: the Kanyadaan (giving away of the bride by her father), the Saat Phere or Pheras (seven circumambulations around the sacred fire), and the Sindoor ceremony (the groom applying sindoor to the bride's hairline).

The Nikkah is the Islamic marriage contract — the formal, legally and religiously binding ceremony of a Muslim wedding. It is conducted by an imam in the presence of witnesses, and involves the formal offer (ijab) and acceptance (qubool) of marriage, the agreement of the mahr (a gift from the groom to the bride), and the signing of the marriage contract.

The Walima is the wedding reception feast in Islamic tradition, hosted by the groom's family the day after the Nikkah or shortly thereafter. It is a sunnah — a practice of the Prophet — and is considered a community celebration and announcement of the marriage. The Walima is open-hearted in spirit: guests are fed generously, and the atmosphere is festive and welcoming.

The Reception is the celebratory gathering that follows the main religious ceremony — the party. For most South Asian weddings in the UK, this is the largest and most expensive event in the programme, often held in a banqueting hall with 300 to 800 guests. It combines a formal dinner, speeches, first dances, and a high-energy evening of dancing.

The Doli or Bidaai is the emotional farewell ceremony marking the bride's departure from her family home to begin her life with her new family. It is one of the most poignant moments of any South Asian wedding — the bride throws rice over her shoulder as she leaves, symbolising prosperity she leaves behind for her family, and her family weeps openly.

The Choora ceremony is a pre-wedding ritual primarily observed in Punjabi Hindu and Sikh weddings, in which the bride's maternal uncle (mama) places a set of red-and-white bangles (choora) on the bride's wrists. The bride traditionally should not look at the choora before they are placed on her, so she covers her eyes while her family applies rose petals over them first.

The Bhangra reception or after-party is the informal late-night celebration that follows the main reception, often held in a separate room or at a different venue once the formal programme has ended. This is where the dance floor truly opens up — the DJ plays Punjabi bhangra and Bollywood, and the energy shifts from formal to uninhibited celebration.