Sindhi people are known for their wealthy background, this feature can distinctively be observed in Sindhi weddings.
Though in today’s life style, the couple is able to find match on their own but in case of a traditional arrange Sindhi wedding, a mehraj is called upon who is believed to be the match maker.
A guryanni is also popular in the community who are known to carry “Kundli “or horoscopes of boys and girls of marriageable age from house to house in the community.
When the match is made, following are the pre wedding Sindhi rituals which are performed before the wedding day.
Janya
It is also called by the name of “thread ceremony”. Thought the rituals are performed during the adolescent phase of the boy, but these days it is carried out one or two days before the wedding day.
Here, the mehraj or a priest ties a yellow thread on to the groom’s wrist and recite some holy mantras.
Kachchi Mishri
It is a form of a traditional engagement. In this way, the families of groom and the bride give them coconuts and Mishri (sweet).
Pakki Mishri
This is a proper engagement ceremony where the bride and the groom exchange rings. A seven kg of clay pot filled with Mishri is given to the mother of the groom and she opens it.
Later on, seven married women take kumkum and draw image of lord Ganesha on the pot. Prayer is carried out in order to seek blessing for the couple.
Berana
Berana is a praying ceremony in respect of Jhulelal, the Sindhi god.
Dev Bithana
This ritual includes installation of a stone grinder, chakki, in homes of both the bride and the groom.
Lada
This ceremony observes invitation of all the ladies in the neighborhood as well as in the family by the groom’s parents. The evening is married by enthusiastic dances on dhole’s beats.
Tih
Here, a priest is sent by the girl’s family to the groom’s home with auspicious things like a coconut, a bag of rice grains, twenty one sweet nibatas, cardamom, cloves, etc.
A pujan to lord Ganesha is carried out and these rituals is performed just before the day of wedding.
Other pre wedding Sindhi rituals include Mehendi application, saagri, gjhari Puja and navgrahi Puja.
