Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Sehra?
Also written: Sehra bandi, सेहरा
A sehra is the veil of flowers, pearls or beads tied over the groom's turban so that it hangs across his face, put on at the sehra bandi before he leaves for the wedding.
- Who keeps it
- North Indian Hindu, Sikh and Muslim families.
- When
- On the wedding day before the ghudchadi and baraat.
About Sehra
What should you know about Sehra?
A sister, sister-in-law or an elder ties the sehra, and the women of the family sing sehra songs. In many families the groom's sisters receive neg for tying it. It is meant to protect the groom from the evil eye on his way to the wedding.
Sehras are worn by grooms in many Hindu, Sikh and Muslim families in North India and Pakistan. Some grooms today choose a lighter sehra or skip the face veil.
In the order of functions
Where does Sehra come in an Indian wedding?
On the wedding day before the ghudchadi and baraat.
- 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 Sehra?
Sehra bandi, Saturday, 14 February, 5 pm, followed by the baraat at 6 pm.
Related words
Words that go with Sehra
- Safa
A safa is the tied turban worn by the groom and often by the men of both families at a wedding, especially in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab.
- Ghudchadi
Ghudchadi is the ritual where the groom mounts a decorated mare (ghodi) before the baraat, with his sisters and sisters-in-law performing small customs around him.
- 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.
- Neg
Neg is the customary gift or money given to relatives for their role in a wedding ritual, such as the groom's sisters at the sehra bandi or the bride's sisters at joota chupai.
- 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.
Questions
Sehra, answered
What is Sehra?
A sehra is the veil of flowers, pearls or beads tied over the groom's turban so that it hangs across his face, put on at the sehra bandi before he leaves for the wedding.
Which families celebrate Sehra?
North Indian Hindu, Sikh and Muslim families.
When does Sehra happen in the order of wedding functions?
On the wedding day before the ghudchadi and baraat.
What do families write on the invitation for Sehra?
Sehra bandi, Saturday, 14 February, 5 pm, followed by the baraat at 6 pm.
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