Indian traditional wedding kalira
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Kalira are historically worn by Sikh brides, however, Indian brides from any state are now wearing them because of their hip new styles. The bride typically wears 21 red and cream bangles and kalira. Kalira are then tied to the bangles by the bride's maternal aunt and uncle during the Chooda ceremony. (The purpose of kalira is to make housework impossible!) These bangles and kalira are worn throughout the wedding ceremony and 40 days afterwards. Throughout India you will see newly married brides adorned with armfuls of red bangles.The maaiyan of the bride starts three days before the wedding, which means she is now not supposed to leave the house until the big day. These days are meant for complete relaxation. She is not even supposed to meet the groom (if he can stay away!). The morning of the wedding, batna, a paste of flour and turmeric, is applied to the face, hands and legs of the bride. This is believed to beautify the skin. She then has a bath and sits for the puja, after which she is made to wear the bridal 'chura', red and white ivory bangles that signify her status as a bride. Her relatives then tie a kalira (jingle) on these churas, which convey their good wishes and blessings. The eligible girls line up and the bride lightly bangs her kaliras on their head. It is believed that by doing this, these girls would be the next to get married.Similarly the groom's relatives also apply batna, more as a jest than a serious ceremony. This is followed by a puja, after which his mother ties a sehera (veil of flowers) on his turban, praying that his life ahead will be as beautiful and fragrant as the flowers. (And if the groom is ugly, the more of his face covered, the better!) He is then seated on a female horse and his sisters tie a mauli (sacred thread) on the reins of his horse. They also detain the horse in the tradition known as baagpakdai, saying that they won't leave it's reins unless their brother bribes them. Once they are satisfied with the cash or jewellery bribe, they release the reins so the groom can gallop off to fetch his bride. Once this is done the boy's father sprinkles water on the newly-weds to say that if there are misunderstandings between them, he will help calm them down - not add fuel to the fire. The bride then makes a tearful farewell to her new home in what is known as the 'bidai'. Traditionally she would sit in a doli (palanquin) which would be carried by the bride's brothers. Even now some brides sit in a doli, which takes her to the getaway car, where the groom and a few members of his family are waiting to escort her home. She gets in, and zooms off to her new home - and new life.