Can you imagine a wedding without a bridal chooda? No, not at all. Especially if you are talking about Punjabi weddings. Punjabi brides-to-be, the bridal chuda is the indispensable jewellery often worn before the actual D-day. Nowadays, instead of just a traditional chooda, wedding chooda becomes a fashion statement among women.
All About Bridal Chura
It is Punjabi tradition to wear a set of bangles commonly called a “Chura” (sometimes spelled “choora” or “chuda” or "chooda") on a Punjabi wedding day. Traditionally, bridal chura was only available in red or maroon ivory bangles, but now due to the increasing demand and people becoming so experimental that they love to match it with their wedding outfits. You can see wedding chura online in orange, pink, white, green, etc. The chura usually consists of 21 bangles, though it depends on the bride’s preference. Some girls choose 7, 9, 11 bridal bangle set too. These numbers are believed to be auspicious.
Origin of Wedding Chura
Punjabi Bridal Chooda is believed to have originated in Punjab ages ago. Just like Sindoor and Mangalsutra wearing women are identified as Hindu bride, similarly, a Sikh or Punjabi bride always adorn wedding bangles or chooda. In actual, women from north-India prefer to wear wedding chooda. Online buying Chooda has become a style icon for the bride-to-be and for new brides.
Significance of Wearing Bridal Chura
The bride’s chura is said to bring good luck to the newlyweds. It is a symbol of fertility, fortune and prosperity. It is believed that it strengthens the bond between the newly-wed couple. The bridal bangles are worn for at least 40 to 45 days, minimum, and maximum of one and a half years after the wedding as it is a sign of a married woman.
Chuda Rasam or Bridal Chuda Set Wearing Ceremony
The bride can’t wear the chooda on her own. There is a proper ceremony where the bride’s maternal uncle and aunt make her wear the wedding bangles. In addition, the chooda is bought by them.
The chura is given to the bride by the bride’s maternal uncle and aunt in a ritual referred to as ‘Chura Ceremony’.
For Hindus, one part of this ceremony is done while having Puja or Havan. The chura is cleansed in milk mixed with water and rose petals, which is often called ‘Kachi Lassi’, and then touched by each of the relatives as a symbol of their blessing, before being given to the bride.
In some places, the bride is not allowed to see her chura before the wedding. She closes her eyes when it is given, and then it is covered with a white cloth until the wedding starts so that it cannot be seen.
In Sikhs, bridal chooda comes in ‘Nanki Shakk’ in which the maternal family presents gifts to the bride-to-be and chura rasam is done.
Who Take off Bridal Chooda
From so many articles of punjabi jewellery online, bridal chooda is something that one can’t take off herself. For this too, another ceremony is performed named as ‘Chura Wadhana’. In this ritual, the bride’s sister-in-law is the only one who can remove it from the bride’s wrist. If the bride wants to wear it for a longer time, the sister-in-law only removes two bangles from each hand and then places it back.
Something About Kaliras
Often, the bride’s sisters and friends hang Kalires on the bride’s chura, to remind her of her friends and family when she leaves them behind, as well as to wish her good luck. The kalires are usually gold, but often silver as well. Sometimes, dry fruits and nuts are encrusted onto the kalire for another ritual. After the wedding, the bride shakes her bangles over every unmarried girls’ head, and it is said that if a leaf falls onto one of them, she will be the next to get married. This is similar to the throwing of a bride’s bouquet in English and American weddings.
These days, a lot of these traditions are not followed, such as covering the chura or having a Chura Wadhana ceremony. Regardless, these are sacred rituals and part of Punjabi Heritage.
If you have had a punjabi wedding, did you follow these traditions? What color was your chura? How many bangles did it have? Leave a comment with your answers!
Buy Wedding Chooda Online in Canada
Do you need a stylist chura for your own wedding? If so, you can head over to our site, AmazelDesigns.com. Browse our vast collections of these traditional wedding bangles and other jewelry. You can buy punjabi jewellery online. Feel free to contact us. Get the customized piece to be a fashion style icon! On top of that, we’ll ship to you for free; no minimum total!