The Maiyan Ceremony Step by Step

We’ve already shared with you all the supplies that you will need to perform the maiyan ceremony.

Different families may have certain times of the day that they want the ceremony to be conducted, but traditionally it is done in the morning. These days, it’s far more convenient to hold your maiyan ceremony in the evening after everyone has returned from work and is ready to party!

The following steps are a basic description of the ritual, and apply to both the bride and groom.

1. Have you friends and family create a rangoli design (often referred to as a chowk) with rice and chickpea flour, directly in front of the patri (stool) that the bride or groom will sit on.
2. Prepare the vatna and place it on your decorated thali with the dupatta, extra besan flour, and some red threads (gana) to tie on 7 unmarried girls.
3. The bride will carry the thali to the maiyan chowk, and take a seat on the patri. Four women will hold the phulkari dupatta over her head. Someone will tie the auspicious red thread (gana) on her wrist, and she will tie it on the wrist of 7 girls.
4. The relatives take turns applying small amounts of the vatna rub on the girl’s hands, arms, face, and feet.
5. There are many traditional songs that are sung by elder women of the house during this time. If you don’t have an elder in your house that knows the appropriate wedding geet, look into a pre-recorded cassette with suitable songs.
6. Once everyone has applied the vatna on the bride, the phulkari dupatta is bundled up and placed on the brides head. At this time the mother of the bride may also give her a ‘shagun’ of yellow rice (mithay chawal). The bride now leaves the chowk and goes to take a bath.
7. The ceremony ends with the mom cleaning the rangoli design with her hands and some water, and then using her ‘wet’ hand to stamp her hand print onto an exterior wall of the house 5 times.

There are many variations of these traditions, and some families have created their own rituals for the maiyan ceremony. The key to focus on is the rubbing of the vatna and the family members giving the bride and groom their blessings, if the other details change a little it’s okay. One rule many families observance those is confinement. Once the vatna is applied the bride can’t leave the house – so get all your errands done ahead of time!