Now, moving on from the Haldi Ceremony comes the next step; the Choora ceremony. Choora generally means bangles, so, yes, it’s the Bangles Ceremony. Now, this is a huge tradition and function in Punjabi weddings, but, throughout the years, it has also spread into most Hindu weddings.
The concept of the Choora is, actually, very simple. The bride wears a set of red and white bangles, and there are usually twenty-one bangles on each arm. Traditionally, these bangles are made of ivory and are worn by the bride on her wedding day.
Before the bride wears her Choora, the bangles are washed in milk and water as auspicious sign or as a sign of blessings for the bride. Traditionally, the bride receives her Choora set from her maternal uncle and aunt, and her brothers (or cousin brothers) are the ones who put on the bangle set on her. Nowadays, after their wedding, brides will only keep on about 7-11 bangles on each arm for about a month and half (or anywhere near 40 days); whereas, before, brides would wear their Choora for a year. Then on the 1stanniversary of the bride and groom, the bride’s in-laws would host a ceremony to have the bride take off her Choora.
I know it might sound like a ridiculous ceremony, but, traditionally, it was meant as a sign of the bride leaving her maternal home and settling into her in-laws. Through this, the Choora was a sign that the woman was a newly-wed bride. In the end, these traditions are still carried on and most brides get that feeling of excitement while wearing their Choora. Of course, wouldn’t we all get excited to keep on celebrating and partying for our wedding?
More on the Choora Ceremony: http://billiejipunjabiweddings.com/blog/35-the-chura-ceremony
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