Folk Songs at a Punjabi Wedding

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. 

Old Punjabi Folk Singers

When we think of old Punjabi singers, only Surinder Kaur Prakash Kaur come to mind. 

This post is a tribute to other Punjabi singers who laid the foundation of Punjabi music in the previous century. Most of their work is pure classic. 

I have only listed one indicative piece of each performer. Feel free to youtube/google them for more of their work. 

Hazara Singh Ramta: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLLLrM6gzUI

Asa Singh Mastana: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZDLhElSFLI

Jatt Yamla: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhXwSmBmzU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scuo4bTT8LI

Wadali Brothers: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSMrFFgJiV4

You might have heard of Wadali brothers. This is one of their older recordings, which is more Punjabi folk and less modern Sufi. 

Malkit Singh 

Malkit Singh shot to fame with more modern Punjabi. But he has sung a lot of traditional Punjabi. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRa4bRIrtI

Daler Mehndi 

Most ppl know Daler Mehndi as a pop Punjabi singer, which he was. But before that, in Patna Sahib, he also went through the tough training to be a Ragi - a singer of Raga based devotional songs of Sikhism. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfviqkZr-54

Kuldeep Manak 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V6kUiLGykQ

Surinder Shinda 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOXeb-gLq2E

Gurdas Mann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiwKVciHJxM

And because I really think he is the modern vali in Punjabi music, an exception for Gurdas Mann: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLYjFm816G0

Alam Lohar: 

One of his best-known songs was - Bol  Mitti Deya Baweya ve... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhZepg9mQ40

More on Fathers Day

My dad used to tell us these short poems. Thinking of him this Fathers Day and of course, preserving these for the future

ਬਾਪੂ ਬਾਪੂ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਸੀ 

ਬੜੇ ਸੁਖੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸੀ 

ਬਾਪੂ ਬਾਪੂ ਅਖਵਾਯਾ ਹੈ 

ਬੜਾ ਦੁਖ ਪਾਯਾ ਹੈ 

Baapu Baapu kahinde see, 

BaDaa/Daade sukhi rahinde see 

Baapu Baapu akhwaya hai 

bada/Daada dukh paaya hai 

The second one: 

ਢੀਆਂ ਜੁੱਵਾਈ ਲੈ ਗਏ, 

ਤੇ ਨੂਵਾਂ ਲੈ ਗਈ ਪੂਤ 

ਕਹੈ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਜਾਫ਼ਰੀ, 

ਹਮ  ਰਹੇ ਊਤ ਕੇ ਊਤ 

Dheeyaan juwai lai gaye, 

Te nuhaan lai gayi poot

Kahe Manohar Jafri 

Ham rahe oot ke oot. 

Vikas Khanna and the Single Story - 2 favorite TED Talks

One usually shares TED talks on facebook. But these ones are here because they will be relevant for a long, long time.


This one:
https://www.ted.com/talks/vikas_khanna_how_my_challenges_made_me_who_i_am#t-534564


And This one, which has defined my thinking since the day I saw it.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Disilusioned? Ignore that cacophony!

From 1930 to 1947, a gradual, but definite radicalisation was done. This radicalisation took in its fold rational intellectuals like Allama Iqbal (who went from translating the Gayatri Mantra to insisting on offering namaaz at a converted cathedral) and Md. Ali Jinnah(who went from being staunchly anti Pakistan in 1936 to being the Qaid-e-azam of Pakistan) - people who had grown up in cosmopolitan surroundings, had friends from all faiths and nationalities.


Even they were converted to radicalism by this paranoia of "Muslims cannot co exist with Hindus without living in perpetual fear." As a result of this, not one but 2 separate and new countries were created, for Muslims to live in peace, without fear and with freedom to practice their religion.


It has now been 70 years. History has seen the result of the 2 theories - that Muslims will live in fear in a Hindu country, and that Muslims will live well in a country of their own.


Today, I see the replay of that paranoia. I hear the same cacophony that played from 1930 to 1947. So, as a survivor of 1947, here is my humble request to you:


If you feel that Muslims are not secure or free to live as they please in India, please understand that this is not a new or original thought. With exactly this fear in mind, Jinnah has created 2 countries for Muslims to live free and happy. All you need to do is, prepare your citizenship papers, then go to the country of your choice, and tell them, "My forefathers made a mistake when they decided to continue living in India. Jinnah was right. Muslims cannot live in a Hindu India without fearing for their life and belief. Please don't punish me for the wrong decision of my grandparents. I need to join the dream that Jinnah saw for us."


But please, do NOT poison the air that we breathe. Because when I turn off your cacophony and look around me, I see Muslim craftsmen making Jain marble temples. I see maids saying "Didi I wont come tomorrow, its my Eid, and the Hindu didi putting enough money to cover the Eidi of all the maid's children. I see a national Muslim body saying they will sing Saare Jahaan se accha instead of Vande Mataram, and no one batting an eyelid.


This poison is worse than you can imagine in your wildest dreams. It killed millions of people in a gory, bloody journey, displaced millions, created orphans and widows who didn't care about religion in the first place. Just honest men and women concerned with earning their daily bread. My family went through this and By God , I do not want to go through this again. So please, unless you can control the consequences of your short term power hunger(and you cannot): SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Why i worship Gurdas Mann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Kp8gsdne0&feature=youtu.be




47 ਵਿਚੋਂ ਲੰਗ ਕੇ ਆਈ ਸੀ, ਤੂੰ 84 ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ..
ਹੁਣ ਖੌਰੇ ਕੇਦਾ ਵਰਯਾ ਦੇਣਾ ਈ




ਕੀ ਖਟਿਆ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੀ ਹੀਰ ਬਣ ਕੇ...