Sindhi Marriage Rituals

If we look at Sindhi marriage rituals, they start from the day on which decision about marriage is taken in the most communities it is called [Mangino मंगिणो in Sindhi] engagement. Actually, this is promise between two families or between boy and girls about their proposed marriage. This has two functions Kachi Misari and Pakki Misari.
Kachi Misari: Most of times this takes place on the day when both families agree about marriage. Very limited people most of times only parents of Girl and boy along with few close relatives took part in it. Members of both families are gathered at Darbar or temple where prayer is made and after that Brahman Swami or priest offers a coconut and sweet to father of groom on behalf of bride family. On same day or on next day Kanhau Sahib is sent to house of groom family by the bride family.
Pakki Misari: Actually, this is also promise about the fixing of marriage the only difference is greater number of relatives of both sides are involved. In the olden days this function was held at bride’s house or community hall near to their residence but in modern days this function is arranged in hotel. Groom family brings some ornaments and precious gifts for bride whereas bride family beside arranging function also offers gifts for groom and other guests present at function.
After the Pakki Misari not only Girl and boy can move together in society but this is also considered as the start of sending sweets, gifts etc by the bride family to groom family on every festival and auspicious day till the marriage.
Pre-Wedding Shoot: This is the most recent development under which proposed bride and groom goes out to a holiday destination or a picturesque location for photo/ video shoot. Important thing is that majority of Sindhi people are against to agree to make this part of Sindhi marriage rituals. So, we can say that though pre wedding shoot has become part of Sindhi marriage rituals but it is limited to elite class or rich families.
In the olden days pre wedding celebrations were extended to several days and married girls, specially from the groom family side, were supposed to come for stay at parents’ house several weeks ahead of actual date of marriage. Prime function of this part of Sindhi marriage rituals is Lada which was supposed to be a three days or five days program for others [public] usually held at evening and ends close to time of sun set and every night for family members and relatives. Lada is expression of joy and pleasure through music, lyrics and dance.
Another pre wedding functions which are considered as part of Sindhi marriage rituals are Sathu and Tel Buki both of these rituals are performed at houses of bride and groom separately on the day before the marriage date.
Sathu is performed with the help of Brahman Swami. A stone grinder Jandru [जंड्रू] is used for this function, usually held in morning. Seven married women [सत सुहागिणियूं ] are playing important role for this function. Dev Pooja [डेव पूजिण] is also performed. Grinding of wheat grains is symbolising the start of new era of life.
Tel Buki is usually performed after the sunset though in the recent times, tradition of performing Sathu and Tel Buki at same time has become part of Sindhi marriage rituals just because on this night usually at home of groom D J Party is arranged.
Mehndi another important pre wedding function of Sindhi marriage rituals is now a days is arranged on the evening of Sathu and Tel Buki day. At many places Lada [public] and Mehndi are kept simultaneously.
Many people also perform Janiya [जणिया] of younger boys of family before the Sathu, even if the Janiya of groom are not performed earlier, the ritual is completed before the Sathu.