Folk Songs in a Punjabi Wedding

Feature by Nidhi Arora

This is the most comprehensive list of folk songs sung at a Punjabi wedding. The rituals are listed in the order in which they are performed during the ceremony. A Punjabi wedding usually lasts 4-7 days.

Can you imagine how many different types of folk songs are sung in a standard Punjabi wedding?

Count on….


That a Punjabi wedding is a music and dance riot is hardly news. Apparently, wherever you turn in a Punjabi wedding, there is music and dance to be had. 

But over a period of time, I became aware that much of the diversity of this unique cultural heritage is vanishing. 

So, it is time to record the various types of folk songs that make up the cultural extravaganza that is a Punjabi wedding. 

There are apparently special songs for Roka and Mangni. 

How Weddings Got Fixed 

Traditionally, the father of the groom sought the girl’s hand for his son from the father of the bride. The father of the bride never does the opposite – of requesting an alliance directly from the father of the groom. 

But in practice, usually, it was the nais (नाई )  barbers, or Pundits, who kept an eye out for young girls and boys of marriageable age. They suggested these rishtas (relationships) to the parents or grandparents of the young people. 

Also, until the 1940s, young people did not see each other until after the marriage, so the Munh Dikhai – the time when the groom’s family sees the girl’s face for the first time, was a very big deal. 

To the Songs.. 

Maiyaan / माइयाँ पाना – Maiyaan de geet 

ये रस्म शादी से ४-६ दिन पहले की जाती थी। इस के बाद दूल्हा-दुल्हन अपने घर से निकल नहीं सकते थे। इस समय, उन से कोई काम नहीं कराया जाता था। उन्हें पुराने कपड़े पहन कर घर पर बैठना पड़ता था। 

इस से दोनों को आराम करने का समय मिलता था। शादी के बाद अमूमन बहुत थकान हो जाती है। 

पुराने कपड़े पहनने से नज़र नहीं लगती, और घर के अंदर रहने से सुरक्षा बनी रहती है। 

Maiyaan paana is the first tradition related to a wedding. 

On this day, the bride and groom wear old clothes and are, from this point on, not allowed to do any work or leave the house. 

This typically happens 4-6 days before a wedding. 

Maiyaan de geet are songs sung at this time. 

Here are some Maiyaan songs: 

Jaago 

After this, every morning, Jaago go around the village, with a lantern, waking people up. Jaago is the song sung by these Jaagos. Usually, they are village women. Jaagna means to wake up. 

Jaago: 

This is a Jaago by Surinder Kaur ji: 

This is the Jaago being done by a family: 

This is a Jaago song from a 2013 song: 

Malkit Singh’s Jaago: 

A rare Jaago from the boy’s house: (its from a film) 

Sithniyaan te Swaang 

Usually, in the evening, it would be time for some gup shup and music. 

Swaang – is a kind of folk theater in which a relative dresses up and acts as a funny character. In the one that I have seen, it was a relative who has come to the wedding from the village and brought “things” for the bride and groom. She gave handkerchiefs as “suit pieces” etc. Swaang is done by both men and women and leads to much laughter. 

Sithniyaan, on the other hand, is a very specific type of folk song. 

At the wedding, the nanke (mother’s side) and dadke (father’s side) of the groom/bride meet and there is a competition on who is more enthusiastic about the wedding. Also, general insults are thrown at the other side about their mannerisms, actions etc. These gaalis between the Nanke and Dadke are called Sithniyaan. They get super creative and super funny. 

Sithniyaan and other boliyaan of Sangeet: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajX4AkW4Bc8 – from a Toronto wedding 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgRfPUvsRE – 

This is your dance challenge

Malkit Singh’s version is my favourite. 

Sangeet Ceremony: Boliyaan, Tappe, Gidda 

Boliyaan, Tappe, Gidda, and Bhangra were the songs (Boliyaan, Tappe), and dances (Gidda, Bhangra) performed on the Sangeet ceremony. 

One special type of bolis are the kind where each relative is called by turns. Here is an example: 

And another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBhdN2gKPvk

This song is usually a part of the Sangeet at the boy’s side: 

Madho Rama Penchan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArHtJkgqeSU

Sangeet Songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cG1pibBRH0

More Bolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZRNj4vqNxY

Suhaag , Ghodi 

Suhaag is the wedding song for girl’s side. Ghodi is a wedding song for the groom’s side. 5 suhaag and 5 ghodis started off the sangeet ceremony. The dancing started after the Suhaags, Ghodis, and other songs. 

Suhaag and Ghodi are not accompanied by any dancing. 

Some of the famous Suhaags and Ghodis are: 

Suhaags typically talk about the life of the girl after marriage – largely sad. Ghodis are happy songs because they talk about the new member joining the family. 

Suhaags: 

Madhaniyaan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhWsUkPxMps

Bibi Chandan de ole ole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqLtWa0Hos

Fullaan di bahaar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GKTdSI3ZKU

Chitta Kukkad Banere te: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiRDDGt4Fu0

Ajj di dihari rakh Doli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-2RJh8-fk

Niki niki boond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noyo6ELBeUo

Aaya Ladiye ni tera Sehrayaan vala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceyvjobiU1g

Ghodiyaan: 

By far the MOST popular Ghodi in Punjab is: 

Matthe te chamkan vaal mere Bande de: 

Jado lagiyaan veera tainu maiyaan: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdyTMauKVOs

Another version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5yAHJ_utk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHn0g7vsIOM

Surjana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw1DONgJE6g

Veda Bharya Shagnaan da: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I9BMaHdnFw

Gaun 

Gauns are just songs that are sung at weddings. 

Kala Doria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1w4vU-BmOs

This one was my grandma’s favourite song:  

Sadke Sadke jaande mutiyaare ni:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQaKoITbxCs

Jutti kasuri: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3HNYhK5Oc

Harshdeep Kaur version: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhrRxtJaJsM

Latthe di chadar: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFMxhu-n0sA

Baajre da sitta: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-cNCWOXgw

Nai jaana: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE0vCcnk1H0

(these are Tappe) 

Ghadoli 

These are songs sung when the bhabhi goes to the well neaby to get water. 

Though after the original Ghadoli, regular bolis and tappe take over and people just dance. 

This water is then used to bathe the bride/groom. After this the singaar for the wedding begins for both sides.  

Earlier, this bath used to end “Maiyaan” but now, the maiyaan ends before Haldi, which is usually just before the sangeet. 

This is the Harshdeep kaur version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OirACRebqZw

The bhabhi who brings the ghadoli and other bhabhis are all given gifts at this time. 

Sehrabandi

Sehrabandi – the tying of the Sehra, to the groom, is done the night before the wedding. The groom is then expected to keep the Sehra on all night and proceed to the wedding venue in the morning. 

This is an old song to be sung at the time of Sehra bandi: 

Milni 

These songs are sung at the time of the Milni (meeting) of the relatives of the two sides. 

Typically, they would only meet at the wedding. 

Sehra 

The Sehra is sung when the Baraat enters the venue. 

It is sung by a friend of the groom, his father, brother, sister, etc. 

Chhand 

The groom sings Chhand right after the pheras. 

Chhand is the same as Hindi छंद – a 4 line piece of poetry. 

After the pheras, the groom sings Chhand, the groom’s mother gives kalicharis to the salis of the groom, and then the joote chhupai money is also given, and the groom’s shoes are returned. 

Sikhya 

Sikhya was given to the girl by her family just after the pheras, before Doli.  

Sikhya was meant to teach the girl to adjust at her in laws place. 

It could be sung by the bride’s mother, grandmother, sisters, or friends. 

I found one example of Sikhya from a recent film. 

This one is nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkC5LERBbNs

Doli 

The best known Doli song is 

Sadda Chidiyaan da Chamba oye..

Here it is in the voice of Mussarat Nazir, one of the best known Punjabi folk singers: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdTIJf6fQF0

And by Runa Laila: 

What is remarkable

What is remarkable is that ALL these rituals are followed in all 3 major religions of Punjab – Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Only the main wedding ceremony is different.

By the way, did you count how many types of songs there are? 16.