The Punjabi wedding: traditions & food.
From the chunni to the doli: Punjabi wedding traditions in order, and the food every Punjabi family expects on the table.
What are the main Punjabi wedding traditions?
A Punjabi wedding usually begins with the chunni or roka, then the sangeet and mehndi, the jaggo night and the choora ceremony, where the bride receives red and white bangles from her maternal uncle. On the day come the baraat, the milni and the ceremony, an Anand Karaj for Sikh families or pheras for Hindu families, then the doli.
Punjabi weddings are shared by Sikh and Hindu families, so the ceremony itself differs while the celebrations around it are much the same. Families mix and adapt these traditions freely.
Food is never an afterthought at a Punjabi wedding. Guests expect generosity, tandoori starters, rich curries and proper breads, and they remember when it is done well.
Order of the day.
Chunni or roka
Weeks or months before
The engagement: the groom's family places a red chunni over the bride's head and the families exchange gifts.
Sangeet and mehndi
The days before
Music, dancing and henna for the bride, with family on both sides.
Jaggo
The night before
Relatives carry a decorated pot of lit lamps through the neighbourhood, singing and dancing late into the night.
Choora
Wedding morning
The bride's maternal uncle gives her the choora, red and white bangles, and kaleere are tied to them.
Maiyan
Wedding morning
A paste of turmeric and oil, the vatna, is applied to the bride and groom in their own homes.
Baraat and milni
Arrival
The groom arrives with the baraat, and the families meet and embrace in the milni.
Ceremony
Morning or midday
The Anand Karaj at a gurdwara for Sikh families, or the pheras around a sacred fire for Hindu families.
Doli and reception
Evening
The bride's farewell, then a reception with dinner and the bhangra the night is known for.
Food at each stage.
| Stage | Typically served | How we serve it |
|---|---|---|
| Jaggo and mehndi | Pakora, samosa, chaat, tikka | Passed or as a buffet, through the night |
| Wedding morning | Paratha or chole bhature, masala tea, mithai | Our ceremony breakfast menus |
| Reception starters | Chicken tikka, seekh kebab, Amritsari fish, paneer tikka | From the tandoor, led by our head tandoori chef |
| Reception mains | Butter chicken, karahi, makhani dal, sarson ka saag, naan | Our events menu, plus jalebi and gulab jamun to finish |
Planning notes.
Punjabi receptions run late and the dance floor fills early. Plan the main course before the dancing starts, or serve it in two waves, so guests are not torn between the two.
If the ceremony is at a gurdwara, its rules apply to food served there. The reception menu is yours to decide.
Passage to India is a Hounslow-based Indian wedding caterer and event manager that has catered weddings across London and the South East for over twenty-five years. Food is cooked fresh by our own chefs under Chef Ranjeet Johar, twice CIEH National Curry Chef of the Year, and one event manager runs your day from first tasting to last dance.
Indian & Asian weddingsMore guides.
Questions couples ask us.
What food is served at a Punjabi wedding?
Tandoori starters such as chicken tikka and seekh kebab, rich mains such as butter chicken, karahi and makhani dal, sarson ka saag, plenty of naan, and sweets such as jalebi and gulab jamun.
What is the jaggo?
A night-before celebration where relatives carry a decorated pot of lit lamps, singing and dancing to announce the wedding.
What is the choora ceremony?
On the wedding morning, the bride's maternal uncle gives her a set of red and white bangles, the choora, which she traditionally wears after the wedding.
Tell us about your evening.
Share the date, the venue if you have one, and roughly how many guests. We will call you back within one working day.
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