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Suche Ni Maen Vaar Payi Doldi

This song is sung by the mother and the sisters of the bridegroom. It is an expression of the happiness they will feel as each ceremony in the marriage of their brother is accomplished.

O virtuous one, I circle you and cast it away!
I circle you with diamonds, and cast them away.

I circle your bride’s veil, the edging on the veil,
I circle my dear brother upon the mare, his sarbaala as well.

If you will sit at the maaiyan, dear brother,
Your mother will receive congratulations.

If you will cut a branch of the jand tree,
Your mother will distribute raw sugar.

If you will climb the mare, dear brother,
Two brothers will be with you.

If you will sit on the khaara,
Your father will circle you with money.

If you will tie the ceremonial knot, dear brother,
Standing beside you, I will sing the songs.

If you will bring the doli home, dear brother,
Your mother will be joyful.

Maaiyan: this ceremony occurs on the days prior to the wedding. The bridegrooms face and body (and at her home the bride has a similar ceremony) is rubbed and massaged with a mixture of meal, turmeric and oil. This is supposed to cleanse the skin and make it glow. A beauty treatment!

Jandi vaddna: Jand is a type of tree. Before the marriage a groom would cut off a small branch of this tree

Khaara: a basket or woven seat where the bride and the groom are seated during the marriage ceremony.

Laavan: lit. to join or attach. The ritual of tying the cloth of the bride with the cloth of the groom and circumambulating the kindled fire or the Granth Sahib a fixed number of times. It forms part of the Muslim marriage but is unconnected with the religious ceremony. The bride and groom are seated and their cloths knotted together. This knot is then placed by the mirasan upon the head of the bride and groom seven times each. Songs suited to the occasion are sung at this time.

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