Indian wedding glossary · The functions
What is Mata ki chowki?
Also written: Jagrata, माता की चौकी
Mata ki chowki is an evening of devotional songs to the Mother Goddess that many Punjabi and North Indian families hold at home before a wedding to seek her blessing.
- Who keeps it
- Punjabi Hindu families and many families in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu.
- When
- A few days before the wedding, before the mehndi and sangeet.
About Mata ki chowki
What should you know about Mata ki chowki?
A group of singers sings bhajans to Mata Rani before a decorated image of the goddess, often Vaishno Devi. The family joins in, offers chunris and prasad, and ends with an aarti. A full-night version is called a jagrata.
It is often the first gathering of the wedding days and brings the extended family together before the louder functions begin.
In the order of functions
Where does Mata ki chowki come in an Indian wedding?
A few days before the wedding, before the mehndi and sangeet.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Mata ki chowki?
Jai Mata Di. Join us for a Mata ki chowki on Wednesday, 11 February, 7 pm onwards, followed by dinner.
Related words
Words that go with Mata ki chowki
- Ganesh puja
Ganesh puja is the prayer to Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles, that many Hindu families hold before any wedding function so that everything goes smoothly.
- Jaggo
Jaggo is a Punjabi night celebration where relatives carry a decorated brass pot of lit lamps on their heads and dance through the neighbourhood, singing to announce the wedding.
- Ladies sangeet
Ladies sangeet is the traditional women's gathering before a wedding, with a dholak and folk wedding songs, held at home in the days before the wedding.
- Mehndi
Mehndi is the ceremony where henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet in detailed patterns, while the women of the family sing, dance and celebrate around her.
- Chooda
Chooda is the set of red and ivory-white bangles a Punjabi bride wears from her wedding day, given by her maternal uncle at the chooda ceremony on the wedding morning.
Questions
Mata ki chowki, answered
What is Mata ki chowki?
Mata ki chowki is an evening of devotional songs to the Mother Goddess that many Punjabi and North Indian families hold at home before a wedding to seek her blessing.
Which families celebrate Mata ki chowki?
Punjabi Hindu families and many families in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu.
When does Mata ki chowki happen in the order of wedding functions?
A few days before the wedding, before the mehndi and sangeet.
What do families write on the invitation for Mata ki chowki?
Jai Mata Di. Join us for a Mata ki chowki on Wednesday, 11 February, 7 pm onwards, followed by dinner.
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