'Chuda' or 'Chooda' is an integral part of Punjabi wedding. For me its the favorite of all pre-wedding ceremonies. I can still remember each and every moment of it.
For me this ceremony is the favorite of all pre-wedding ceremonies.
This ceremony is performed on the day of wedding. The bride to be takes bath with water brought from a temple and sits for this ceremony. A 'puja' is performed by a priest. Chooda is a set of red/maroon and cream bangles with rich and intricate work on it. This is brought by the girl's maternal uncle and aunt. The interesting part is that the girl is not supposed to see it before wearing. So it is kept covered with unboiled ('kachcha') milk in a pan. Originally, these bangles were made of ivory, but nowadays ivory has been replaced by plastic or lac. The girl's uncle makes her wear them. Once she wears them, everyone present touches it and gives her wishes for a successful married life.
Traditionally, the girl is supposed to wear it for 1.25 months or 1.25 years. A span of 1.25 is considered auspicious in almost all Punjabi traditions. But if the lady gets pregnant while she is wearing Chooda, she is required to get it off before delivery of the baby. Gradually, people have become less stringent and girls wear it as long as they want.
It will be part of me for 1 year and 25 days. This is one thing which will always make me feel like a new bride throughout the entire span of my first year of marriage. I am really enjoying the gaze of ladies/ girls around in office -appreciative of its beauty at one time and jealous (yes, I could see that) at other. Consciously, unconsciously I have compared it with any newly wed bride's that I encountered.
For me, mine is always the best :) Am sure that would be the feeling with everyone of those. I am spending long looking at the amazing patterns formed by the light reflected through the stones embedded in the bangles.
Whenever I see my Chuda, I think about my love, his eyes, smile,….and then he comes in my mind as always. I adore him a lot.
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