Punjabi Hindu Wedding in Melaka

punjabi wedding couple at the melaka equatorial hotel banquet
punjabi wedding couple at the melaka equatorial hotel banquet
The happy couple at the wedding banquet in the Equatorial hotel

A Punjabi Hindu wedding. Anusha’s mum had just outlined her daughter’s upcoming wedding day in Melaka as we sat in the local Starbucks enjoying a coffee. I have been the photographer for many Hindu weddings in the past and I have shot quite a number of Sikh weddings as well, so the fusion of the Punjabi culture and Hindu religion promised a very colourful couple of days with lots of fun.

The wedding day started with the Saainth ceremony (performed with oil) at the brides house, followed by the bangle ceremony. I was at the brides to cover these events while the team headed over to the grooms and awaited the priest who would perform the reciprocal saainth ceremony at his home. After the groom performed these rituals his family performed the Sehra bandi ceremony. This is a meaningful time whereby he gets dressed and puts on the traditional head dress and veil (known as the Sehra).

The wedding ceremony was held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC). Both Punjabi and Hindu wedding traditions were observed when the groom Karun arrived at the wedding venue. Traditionally the groom arrives on a horse, typically a mare, along with his “best man” (who is called the sarvala). The families met and greeted each other with bhangra drums, dancing and Milni (exchange of garlands between our fathers, our brothers and our uncles).

The Punjabi Hindu wedding ceremony is quite different from the south Indian traditions. Immediately on meeting the bride and groom garland one another (Jaimala). Rumour has it that the bride and groom should be careful not to bow as it is a marriage of equals. As you will see in the photos the parents are integral in the ceremony itself. Once the wedding ceremony is over the groom is finally permitted to remove his veil. To everyone’s relief it was Karun underneath!

Later in the evening we all retired to the brides house where the bride and groom were welcomed. Karun had to bargain his way into the house and the bridesmaids/cousins and sisters all made good on his lavish donations. A tearful goodbye was expected as Anusha left her home. It is quite a dramatic event for any woman.

Two nights later the final wedding banquet was held at the Equatorial Hotel Melaka. It was a very colourful event, with many family members flying in from overseas. The bride and grooms first dance turned out to have a flash mob made up of cousins and friends.

punjabi bride wedding photographer

Stunning wedding bangles

punjabi bride henna wedding photographer

The brides beautiful henna prints on her hands

punjabi indian groom arriving by horse at his wedding

The groom arriving to the wedding venue on his horse

punjabi wedding photographer milni in melaka

The Milni welcome garlanding

punjabi wedding photographer melaka sehra sarvala

The Serbala aka grooms “best man”.

punjabi groom wearing sehra at wedding

Groom in his Sehra

brides entrance punjabi wedding melaka

The brides entrance

punjabi wedding garland exchange mandap Jaimala

The first part of the ceremony is the Jaimala (exchange of garlands) between the bride and groom on the Mandap

Bride performing hindu wedding ritualBride praying at punjabi wedding in MITCpunjabi wedding ceremonypunjabi wedding parents involvement in ceremony

The parent’s play an integral role in the ceremony

punjabi mandap wedding MITC melaka

The Mandap looked very beautiful

punjabi wedding ring exchange

The ring exchange

punjabi wedding couple

Married

punjabi wedding tease groom

The girls teasing the groom

punjabi wedding teasing groom

Money opens doors!

punjabi wedding photography melaka

Bride, groom and sarvala resting up after the negotiations for entry

punjabi doli ceremony

Doli ceremony as the bride leaves her home

wedding banquet grand entrance at the equatorial melaka

The bride and grooms grand entry into the ballroom at the Equatorial Hotel in Melaka

punjabi wedding melaka equatorial hotel banquet

The happy couple at the wedding banquet in the Equatorial hotel

Punjabi wedding banquet speeches at the Equatorial Melaka

The grooms speech was well received.

Punjabi wedding banquet speeches at the Equatorial Melaka

The grooms parents enjoyed their sons speech

Punjabi wedding banquet speeches at the Equatorial Melaka

Brides speech was touching

Punjabi bhangra at the Equatorial Melaka

Dance and Celebrate!

Punjabi bhangra at the Equatorial Melaka

Bhangra!

punjabi wedding couple at the melaka equatorial hotel banquet

The happy couple at the wedding banquet in the Equatorial hotel

punjabi wedding banquet at the equatorial hotel melaka

The happy families

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