Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Milni?
Also written: Milni ceremony, ਮਿਲਣੀ
Milni is the Punjabi welcome where relatives with the same relation on both sides, such as the two fathers and the two maternal uncles, meet, embrace and exchange garlands and gifts when the baraat arrives.
- Who keeps it
- Punjabi Sikh and Hindu families.
- When
- When the baraat reaches the venue, before the varmala or the anand karaj.
About Milni
What should you know about Milni?
A priest or granthi recites a short prayer, and then names are called in pairs: the fathers, the mamas, the chachas, and so on. Each pair hugs and exchanges a garland, a blanket or shagun. It often ends with some friendly lifting of each other off the ground.
It is a warm way to introduce the extended families and is kept in both Hindu and Sikh Punjabi weddings.
In the order of functions
Where does Milni come in an Indian wedding?
When the baraat reaches the venue, before the varmala or the anand karaj.
- 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 Milni?
Milni at 9 am at Gurdwara Sahib, followed by the anand karaj at 10 am.
Related words
Words that go with Milni
- Baraat
The baraat is the groom's wedding procession from his place to the wedding venue, with family and friends dancing to a band or dhol ahead of him.
- Anand karaj
Anand karaj, meaning blissful union, is the Sikh wedding ceremony, held in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, in which the couple walk around it four times as the four laavan are sung.
- Shagun
Shagun is an auspicious gift, most often cash in an envelope ending in one, such as ₹101, ₹501 or ₹1,100, given at the roka, engagement, wedding and other family occasions.
- Kurmai
Kurmai is the Sikh engagement ceremony, usually held at a gurdwara or at the groom's home with an ardas, where the bride's family blesses the groom and gives him gifts.
- Varmala
Varmala, or jaimala, is the exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom, which marks their acceptance of each other in front of the guests.
Questions
Milni, answered
What is Milni?
Milni is the Punjabi welcome where relatives with the same relation on both sides, such as the two fathers and the two maternal uncles, meet, embrace and exchange garlands and gifts when the baraat arrives.
Which families celebrate Milni?
Punjabi Sikh and Hindu families.
When does Milni happen in the order of wedding functions?
When the baraat reaches the venue, before the varmala or the anand karaj.
What do families write on the invitation for Milni?
Milni at 9 am at Gurdwara Sahib, followed by the anand karaj at 10 am.
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