TYPES OF INDIAN ENGAGEMENT CEREMONIES

The rituals for the ceremony are essentially just the same but there are different ways of its manifestations. The engagement ceremony can be held at a banquet hall or at the bride’s residence. Usually, it’s the bride’s family who takes up the expense of the ceremony.

1. North Indian Engagement is performed soon after the marriage is finalized. There are few rituals like applying Tilak i.e. greeting the groom with auspicious vermillion paste and rice is performed by the brides’ brother, followed by the exchange of rings by the bride and groom. The two families exchange trays filled with fruits, sweets, etc to bless their new relationship. Jewelleries, dresses, sweets are also gifted for brides by groom’s family.
   
2. South Indian Hindu Engagement is so colorful with many rituals performed according to their religion worships. In some ceremonies, a priest is invited to recite holy mantras. The bride and groom need not be present for the function in some families. They meet and formally commit themselves for the forthcoming marriage. An engagement tray containing flowers, leaves, nuts, turmeric and coconut is exchanged. Both the bride and groom is blessed.
   
   
   
3. Muslim Engagement ceremony take place once the couple has accepted each other for marriage. It provides an opportunity for the two families to come together and for the couple to exchange rings, if they so wish. The outfit of the bride-to-be is traditionally provided by the groom’s family. Gold jewelry is acceptable for women only, although silver rings may be worn by men or women.
   
4. Christian Engagement is a small formal party where the couples exchange rings and cut cake. Customs vary depending on places. To bless the couple, the priest of church is invited for the function or it takes place in the church. The Holy Cross, the Holy Gospel, a tray containing two rings, two crowns, a cup containing wine are few symbols that play a major role in the ceremony. A confirmed date and venue for the wedding is announced to all the guests. I have seen the bride-to-be, in white beautiful gowns. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Gujarati Engagement is called as “sagai” or in some parts as the ‘gol dhana’which literally means jaggery and coriander seeds referring to the practice of distributing a small amount of jaggery mixed with coriander seeds during the ceremony. The bride’s family presents the grooms family with a steel container filled with sweets and gifts and is called as the ‘matli’.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. In Punjabi Engagement, the kurmai is a ceremony for the groom done by the bride`s family and the chunni is a ceremony for the bride done by the groom`s family as a part of engagement. The groom is presented with gifts brought by the bride’s family. The gifts often include a gold kara (Sikh bracelet) or a wrist watch. The gifts for bride include a salvar kameez or sari, make-up, nail polish, jewellery, bangles, bindis, hair clip or ribbon and sindoor. The most important gift is the chunni (a long scarf). It is always in a shade of the traditional wedding colour, red, and is presented to the bride-to-be. The significance of the chunni ceremony is to begin the process of welcoming the bride in to the family.