Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Pheras?
Also written: Phere, saat phere, फेरे
Pheras are the rounds the bride and groom take around the sacred fire, tied together, with a vow made in each round; in most North Indian weddings there are seven.
- Who keeps it
- Hindu, Jain and Arya Samaj families across North, Central and West India.
- When
- At the shubh muhurat, after the kanyadaan and gathbandhan, before sindoor and mangalsutra.
About Pheras
What should you know about Pheras?
The priest chants as the couple walk around the fire. In many families the bride leads the first rounds and the groom the rest, and some communities take four rounds instead of seven. The vows are often explained as promises about food, strength, wealth, family, children, health and lifelong friendship.
The pheras are timed to the muhurat, which is why many North Indian weddings run late into the night.
In the order of functions
Where does Pheras come in an Indian wedding?
At the shubh muhurat, after the kanyadaan and gathbandhan, before sindoor and mangalsutra.
- 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 Pheras?
Saat phere at the shubh muhurat: 11:15 pm, Saturday, 14 February.
Related words
Words that go with Pheras
- Saptapadi
Saptapadi means seven steps: the bride and groom take seven steps together near the sacred fire, each step with a promise, and in many traditions this is the rite that completes the marriage.
- Havan
A havan is the sacred fire lit in the centre of the mandap; in a Hindu wedding Agni, the fire, is the divine witness to the vows, and the couple make offerings into it.
- Gathbandhan
Gathbandhan is the tying of a knot between the end of the bride's chunni or saree and the groom's scarf, joining them for the pheras.
- Sindoor daan
Sindoor daan is the moment in many Hindu weddings when the groom applies sindoor, red vermilion powder, in the parting of the bride's hair for the first time.
- Mangalsutra
A mangalsutra is the sacred necklace of black beads and gold that the groom ties around the bride's neck during the wedding, which many married women wear every day.
Questions
Pheras, answered
What is Pheras?
Pheras are the rounds the bride and groom take around the sacred fire, tied together, with a vow made in each round; in most North Indian weddings there are seven.
Which families celebrate Pheras?
Hindu, Jain and Arya Samaj families across North, Central and West India.
When does Pheras happen in the order of wedding functions?
At the shubh muhurat, after the kanyadaan and gathbandhan, before sindoor and mangalsutra.
What do families write on the invitation for Pheras?
Saat phere at the shubh muhurat: 11:15 pm, Saturday, 14 February.
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