Hindu · Pre-wedding

Chooda & Kalire

The bride's maternal uncle gifts her red-and-white bangles; friends tie golden kalire to them.

Also known as: chooda, chura, choodha, kalire, kaleere

What it means

In Punjabi weddings the bride's mama (maternal uncle) and his wife present the chooda — a set of red and ivory bangles — which the bride wears for the wedding and after. Friends and sisters then tie kalire (dome-shaped golden ornaments) to the bangles; a tradition holds that whoever a falling kalira touches will marry next.

What happens

  1. 1The maternal uncle puts the chooda bangles on the bride, who traditionally doesn't look at them yet.
  2. 2Unmarried friends tie kalire to the chooda and the bride shakes them over their heads.
Applies to: Punjabi Hindu
This explanation is under review by a religious authority — a companion to, not a replacement for, your pandit.

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