That a Punjabi wedding is a music and dance riot is hardly news. Apparently, wherever you turn in a Punjabi wedding, there is music and dance to be had.
But over a period of time, I became aware that much of the diversity of this unique cultural heritage is vanishing.
So, it is time to record the various types of folk songs that make up the cultural extravaganza that is a Punjabi wedding.
There are apparently special songs for Roka and Mangni.
How Weddings Got Fixed
Traditionally, the father of the groom seeks the girl's hand for his son from the father of the bride. The father of the bride never does the opposite - of requesting an alliance directly from the father of the groom.
But in practice, usually, it was the nais (नाई ) barbers, or Pundits, who kept an eye out for young girls and boys of marriageable age. They suggested these rishtas (relationships) to the parents or grandparents of the young people.
Also, until the 1940s, young people did not see each other until after the marriage, so the Munh Dikhai - the time when the groom's family sees the girl's face for the first time, was a very big deal.
To the Songs..
Maiyaan / माइयाँ पाना - Maiyaan de geet
ये रस्म शादी से ४-६ दिन पहले की जाती थी। इस के बाद दूल्हा-दुल्हन अपने घर से निकल नहीं सकते थे। इस समय, उन से कोई काम नहीं कराया जाता था। उन्हें पुराने कपड़े पहन कर घर पर बैठना पड़ता था।
इस से दोनों को आराम करने का समय मिलता था। शादी के बाद अमूमन बहुत थकान हो जाती है।
पुराने कपड़े पहनने से नज़र नहीं लगती, और घर के अंदर रहने से सुरक्षा बनी रहती है।
Maiyaan paana is the first tradition related to a wedding.
On this day, the bride and groom wear old clothes and are, from this point on, not allowed to do any work or leave the house.
This typically happens 4-6 days before a wedding.
Maiyaan de geet are songs sung at this time.
Here are some Maiyaan songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNPOqcVBxPg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHwGUkTbzmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afTT7RL4jPU
Jaago
After this, every morning, Jaago go around the village, with a lantern, waking people up. Jaago is the song sung by these Jaagos. Usually, they are village women. Jaagna means to wake up.
Jaago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z_ue-bHAzQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYypgXpmbhg
This is a Jaago by Surinder Kaur ji:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-6gUvEKO84
This is the Jaago being done by a family:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUoZyiutNw4
This is a Jaago song from a 2013 song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dlcb6-R9wY
Malkit Singh's Jaago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYypgXpmbhg
A rare Jaago from the boy's house: (its from a film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTL0HntazJk
Sithniyaan te Swaang
Usually, in the evening, it would be time for some gup shup and music.
Swaang - is a kind of folk theater in which a relative dresses up and acts as a funny character. In the one that I have seen, it was a relative who has come to the wedding from the village and brought "things" for the bride and groom. She gave handkerchiefs as "suit pieces" etc. Swaang is done by both men and women and leads to much laughter.
Sithniyaan, on the other hand, is a very specific type of folk song.
At the wedding, the nanke (mother's side) and dadke (father's side) of the groom/bride meet and there is a competition on who is more enthusiastic about the wedding. Also, general insults are thrown at the other side about their mannerisms, actions etc. These gaalis between the Nanke and Dadke are called Sithniyaan. They get super creative and super funny.
Sithniyaan and other boliyaan of Sangeet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajX4AkW4Bc8 - from a Toronto wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgRfPUvsRE -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qABiFUYSMI
This is your dance challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT7C2mVIzTU
Malkit Singh's version is my favourite.
Sangeet Ceremony: Boliyaan, Tappe, Gidda
Boliyaan, Tappe, Gidda, and Bhangra were the songs (Boliyaan, Tappe), and dances (Gidda, Bhangra) performed on the Sangeet ceremony.
One special type of bolis are the kind where each relative is called by turns. Here is an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcKGUZKBhY0
And another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBhdN2gKPvk
This song is usually a part of the Sangeet at the boy's side:
Madho Rama Penchan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArHtJkgqeSU
Sangeet Songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cG1pibBRH0
More Bolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZRNj4vqNxY
Suhaag , Ghodi
Suhaag is the wedding song for girl's side. Ghodi is a wedding song for the groom's side. 5 suhaag and 5 ghodis started off the sangeet ceremony. The dancing started after the Suhaags, Ghodis, and other songs.
Suhaag and Ghodi are not accompanied by any dancing.
Some of the famous Suhaags and Ghodis are:
Suhaags typically talk about the life of the girl after marriage - largely sad. Ghodis are happy songs because they talk about the new member joining the family.
Suhaags:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGJtuFAv6k
Madhaniyaan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhWsUkPxMps
Bibi Chandan de ole ole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqLtWa0Hos
Fullaan di bahaar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GKTdSI3ZKU
Chitta Kukkad Banere te: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiRDDGt4Fu0
Ajj di dihari rakh Doli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-2RJh8-fk
Niki niki boond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noyo6ELBeUo
Aaya Ladiye ni tera Sehrayaan vala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceyvjobiU1g
Ghodiyaan:
By far the MOST popular Ghodi in Punjab is:
Matthe te chamkan vaal mere Bande de: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7AofNXdKxk
Jado lagiyaan veera tainu maiyaan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdyTMauKVOs
Another version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5yAHJ_utk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHn0g7vsIOM
Surjana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw1DONgJE6g
Veda Bharya Shagnaan da: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I9BMaHdnFw
Gaun
Gauns are just songs that are sung at weddings.
Kala Doria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1w4vU-BmOs
This one was my grandma's favourite song:
Sadke Sadke jaande mutiyaare ni: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQaKoITbxCs
Jutti kasuri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3HNYhK5Oc
Harshdeep Kaur version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhrRxtJaJsM
Latthe di chadar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFMxhu-n0sA
Baajre da sitta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-cNCWOXgw
Nai jaana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE0vCcnk1H0 (these are Tappe)
Ghadoli
These are songs sung when the bhabhi goes to the well neaby to get water.
Though after the original Ghadoli, regular bolis and tappe take over and people just dance.
This water is then used to bathe the bride/groom. After this the singaar for the wedding begins for both sides.
Earlier, this bath used to end "Maiyaan" but now, the maiyaan ends before Haldi, which is usually just before the sangeet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJhDBWtfreU
This is the Harshdeep kaur version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OirACRebqZw
The bhabhi who brings the ghadoli and other bhabhis are all given gifts at this time.
Sehrabandi
Sehrabandi - the tying of the Sehra, to the groom, is done the night before the wedding. The groom is then expected to keep the Sehra on all night and proceed to the wedding venue in the morning.
This is an old song to be sung at the time of Sehra bandi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na5QK1BDnpw
Milni
These songs are sung at the time of the Milni (meeting) of the relatives of the two sides.
Typically, they would only meet at the wedding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcr6RilJ7Lw
Sehra
The Sehra is sung when the Baraat enters the venue.
It is sung by a friend of the groom, his father, brother, sister, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWeJ2Zeu3U
Chhand
The groom sings Chhand right after the pheras.
Chhand is the same as Hindi छंद - a 4 line piece of poetry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMnUvJHUBA
After the pheras, the groom sings Chhand, the groom's mother gives kalicharis to the salis of the groom, and then the joote chhupai money is also given, and the groom's shoes are returned.
Sikhya
Sikhya was given to the girl by her family just after the pheras, before Doli.
Sikhya was meant to teach the girl to adjust at her in laws place.
It could be sung by the bride's mother, grandmother, sisters, or friends.
I found one example of Sikhya from a recent film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmCqUMLG0wk
This one is nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkC5LERBbNs
Doli
The best known Doli song is
Sadda Chidiyaan da Chamba oye..
Here it is in the voice of Mussarat Nazir, one of the best known Punjabi folk singers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdTIJf6fQF0
And by Runa Laila:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zrTStvStsE
The remarkable thing
is that all the 3 major religions of Punjab - Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam, follow the exact same traditions. Only the main wedding ceremony varies by religion.
By the way, did you count how many there were?
16 different types of songs are sung in the Punjabi wedding!
End note:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCBVLAE0OQ
This video has links to many traditional songs of Punjab.
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