From Rituals to Roasts: A Wedding Tale to Remember

As my time in India inches closer to its end, I find myself holding onto every tiny moment that made these past few months so special. So, I decided to pen this fresh, lighthearted piece - a little slice of joy. And what better way to do that than with a tale of playful mischief? Let’s just say it involves a Gujarati wedding, a traditional ritual, and a perfectly sneaky nose pull!

Weddings, especially in India, are a world of their own - a whirlwind of traditions, laughter, and just the right amount of chaos. They are not just events; they are experiences where every ritual carries meaning, every meal becomes a celebration, and every family member finds a role to play-whether they like it or not!😜 Siblings turn into unofficial chauffeurs, running around to pick up and drop off guests, and basically running on adrenaline and chai! Amidst all the madness - the last minute planning fixes, the inevitable mix-ups, the endless coordination and the missing shoes or accessories - it’s the warmth of togetherness that truly stands out. And let’s not forget the playful teasing, the impromptu dance-offs, and those unscripted moments that make the whole affair truly unforgettable. Even the simplest weddings, without the grand expense or luxury, can leave the deepest impressions - because in the end, it’s the love, shared laughter, and those unexpected bursts of joy that truly make them memorable.

And if we talk about Gujarati weddings - they are full of colorful chaos, ear-splitting dhols (drums), and an unending buffet of gathiya (crispy fried chickpea flour sticks), fafda, dhokla (soft, spongy, fermented lentil cakes), and thepla (flavorful spiced flatbreads), jalebi for breakfast - because Gujjus (Gujju - a fond name for a Gujarati person) love their food just as much as their traditions!

Each culture has its own traditions - a unique blend of beliefs and rituals curated to honor and celebrate their heritage. That’s what makes every society or community distinct and beautifully unique in its own way. It’s fascinating to see how these traditions are passed down from generation to generation, carrying the essence of the past. What’s even more remarkable is how each generation adds its own playful twist to these traditions, making them more fun while still preserving their originality and purpose. In Gujarati weddings, for example, Mameru - the ritual where the bride’s maternal uncle brings gifts and clothes for her before the wedding - was once a straightforward tradition. But now, many families turn it into a fun event, with the uncle arriving in a grand, playful entry - sometimes even dancing in with a band or carrying oversized, wrapped-up gifts just to add to the drama! There are many other examples, such as Garba (flash mobs and fusion music are added to a deeply traditional dance), Joota Chupai (a simple prank where the bride’s family hides the groom’s shoes during the wedding and asks for money in return), and Samaiyu (And that’s exactly where my story unfolds!😉), each evolving with a fun, modern twist while keeping the traditions alive! And that’s what I cherish the most - giving these traditions a generational touch without ever forgetting the roots of the original practices!

Moonlit magic in my Henna ✨🌙

Sibling shenanigans!❤️

Now onto the story - I belong to a Gujarati family. As a teenager, I attended very few weddings, far fewer than most people my age would in our Indian society! Back then, I was a total bookworm, always tucked away in the house (we have a term for such kids in Gujarati - “Ghar Kukdi” or “Ghar Kukdo”😂). Honestly, I had zero clue about wedding customs - except for one thing: the food! If there was one reason to attend, it was the endless buffet. My social life? Practically non-existent, but my love for wedding food? Thriving!

And as I grew up, I started going to weddings purely for the food! No offense to anyone, but for me - weddings were basically food festivals with extra steps 😂. I would show up, devour the food, and then happily head back home with my family - mission accomplished. Over time, I did start picking up on some of the traditions at weddings, especially the Gujarati ones, but honestly, I still wasn’t all that into the whole ritual thing.

But my views might have shifted on how cool some of these traditions actually are and why they’re so special! I recently attended my cousin’s wedding and I had the honor of being her bridesmaid(or “Anwar” as we call it in Gujarati). The wedding lasted 4 days! Unlike Western weddings, there’s only one bridesmaid, which means I got to be involved in every single part of the wedding rituals. One of them was Samaiyu, where the groom is welcomed to the wedding ceremony, and the bride’s sister carries a decorative item called Samaiyu(symbolizing the union of two families) to perform the ritual. I got to do it, and honestly, it was such a fun little moment amidst all the wedding madness!

That's me carrying the Samaiyu!✨

And the best part about this ritual, apart from its intention, is the playful fun you can add to it! The bride’s sister gets the chance to pull the groom’s nose or even dab sindoor (vermilion) on his nose on purpose during the ceremony, adding a touch of mischief. Meanwhile, the groomsman’s job is to guard the groom and try to stop it, turning it into a fun little game. That’s what makes it so enjoyable! It’s all about light teasing and gentle laughs, keeping things fun while still honoring the tradition of welcoming the groom.

Since I got to do it, there was no way I was going to miss the chance to pull our groom’s nose! But I knew I had to be sneaky about it. No sudden moves, no obvious hints - otherwise, the groomsman would go full defense mode, and let me tell you, he was already on high alert! So, I decided to play it cool. I acted like I had absolutely no idea what was going on (which wasn’t hard, considering I was pretty clueless about the whole tradition anyway, hehe!😂🤭).

The perfect opportunity came when I was doing Dukhna/Ovarna leva - a part of the ritual where you wish the groom well by gently placing the tips of your fingers from both hands on his head and then cracking your knuckles on your own head. I kept a straight face, pretended I wasn’t into it at all, and just waited. Innocent vibes all the way through! It’s such a sweet and innocent moment that no one expected me to pull anything mischievous. But that’s exactly when I made my move! One quick nose pull, and it was done before anyone could react. The groomsman tried to jump in with a handkerchief as a reflex, but it was too late. Everyone chuckled, and even the groom had a good laugh about it. It was such a lighthearted and playful moment that added a little extra fun to the ceremony. And honestly, kudos to him for being such a good sport!

Respecting traditions is quite cool, but what’s even cooler (probably air-conditioning level cooler😜) is when we add a touch of humor or playful mischief to them to make them more enjoyable. On top of that, with all the media coverage nowadays, we get to capture these moments on camera, turning them into memories that stay with us forever. As the years go by, we will remember everything about the wedding - the good and the bad - but those funny moments always have a way of overpowering everything else. And honestly, that’s what matters in life: finding a bit of humor in everything,  and making it more memorable. Because those moments are what people cherish and laugh about for years to come, creating bonds that last a lifetime.

At the end of the wedding, during Vidaai - the emotional ceremony where the bride leaves her paternal home to start a new journey with her husband - we all cried as she said goodbye to her home and family. It’s a deeply emotional moment, and while we will always remember the tears, it’s the laughter and fun from earlier that help us move past the sadness. Those funny moments have a way of staying with us, lightning even the heaviest of hearts. Because in the end, it’s laughter and love that carry us through even the hardest goodbyes!

Adding humor to rituals wasn’t just limited to Samaiyu - there were plenty more playful moments throughout the wedding. For instance, the bride’s family sings Fatana - wedding songs that tease the groom and his family. Of course, the groom’s family sings right back, poking fun at the bride’s family in return! It’s all done in good spirit, and the banter keeps everyone entertained. These moments made me realize that laughter is what makes traditions stick-it’s what turns simple rituals into memories we will laugh about for years!❤️

Another fun tradition comes after Vidaai, when the bride and groom play a game to determine who will be the “ruling force” in the household. A tray filled with a mixture of milk and vermilion is prepared, and coins and a ring are placed inside. The milky pink liquid makes it impossible to spot the ring, and the couple has to search for it by immersing their fingers into the tray. They play four rounds, and whoever finds the ring the most times is declared the “winner.” The laughter, teasing, and cheering during this game create so many funny, unforgettable moments that everyone carries with them long after the wedding is over.

Therefore, I got to be a part of this craziness! And it made me realize how, in life, making the best out of everything truly makes it easier and so much more enjoyable. We often take life way too seriously when, in reality, it’s actually pretty simple. We are the ones who create our own rules, turning everyday moments into fun, memorable experiences whenever we can. And I am so glad that our community, across generations, is carrying this spirit forward - finding joy and laughter even in the smallest of things!

If you want to dive deeper into the wedding madness, I have got an entire story collection on my Instagram under the highlight Wedding Tales! It is packed with more memorable moments than I could fit here! Trust me, you don’t want to miss the snippets of rituals, the laughs, some groovy moves, and maybe even a clip of a little nose-pulling - it’s all there! 🎉😂. Go check it out! And hey, if your culture’s weddings have any funny or playful twists to their rituals, slide into my DMs or drop a comment - I would absolutely love to hear about them! Let’s swap some laughs and stories! ❤️