Jutti Chhupai
The bridesmaids play a key role in this game. It is
the norm that both the bride and the bridegroom have
to remove their shoes before they enter the mandap
for performing their wedding ceremonies. Here, the
bridesmaids get in action to steal the groom’s shoes
and hide them. When the wedding ceremonies are
complete and the newly married couple leaves the
mandap, the bridesmaids surround the groom him and
put a demand for a preposterously high amount of
money before they return his shoes. There is lot of
cajoling and pleading and the groom is trapped as he
has to pay good amount in exchange for his shoes.
Searching the
Name
Traditionally, the bride gets her
Bridegroom’s name tattooed on her hennaed hand.
Since the name is intertwined in the intricate
patterns of the bride's mehndi, so he has to trace
it. This playful ceremony gives the newly weds a
welcome opportunity to hold hands and feel
closeness.
Okhli
This game involves hiding the bridegroom’s wedding
ring in a vessel containing colored water. Here the
bride and her brother are given three chances to
look for the hidden ring, which is moved vigorously
in the colored water.
Groom's House
This game is played when the newly wed couple
arrives at the groom’s house. His sisters block the
entrance door when the bride arrives at her
husband's house. The sisters point to a covered heap
which is supposedly the family deity and ask the
bride to bow her head before it and uncover it
before entering. The bride dutifully bows her head
while all the surrounding women burst out laughing
as the cover is pulled off which reveals a pile of
old footwear arranged in the form of a mound. The
game leads to much laughter and everyone becomes
friendly with the bride.
Knotted Strings
In this game the bride is given a knotted string to
unwind and this tradition is an attempt to predict
the married life of the couple. The newly wed couple
uses only one hand each to unravel the knots. It is
believed that the speed with they open the knots,
they will tide over the difficulties and struggles
of life together. The groom’s sister is given the
role of the "knot-tier" and it is in her
indiscretion to make it easy or difficult. Further
in some castes, both the bride and the groom are
traditionally made to a sacred thread with dry
turmeric which is knotted around their right wrists.
Both are supposed to untie the other’s thread using
only their left hand.
Pillow Talk
In this game, a pillow is placed
between the shoulders of the bride and groom who are
made to sit with their backs to each other. After
that, there is a round of questions and they have to
only reply in "Yes" or "No" just by nodding their
heads. They are lighthearted questions such as,
"Will you pamper your partner if he/she gets
angry", "Is he/she your dream partner" or "Who will
the boss at home" etc. the gathering enjoys this
session whether the bride and groom answers
similarly or differently to each query. On the basis
of scores, they are given the title - "I want to
know you better - couple" in case the score is low
or "Two hearts yet one soul - couple" if score is
high.
Varmala
This game is played at the beginning of the ceremony
to tease the bride. When the bride and the groom
arrive at the altar, they are supposed to put
garlands around each other's necks. Since the groom
is usually taller than the bride, he stands erect
and doesn’t bend in order to express to the to-be
wife that he will not compromise in the marital
relationship.
Wedding Puja
Here, the wedding ring is placed
and moved around in a bowl of milk. The bride and
the groom put their hands into the bowl, and find
the ring. One who pulls out the ring is believed to
be the dominant partner in the relationship, who
will take all the decisions in the married life.