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On the wedding daySehra Bandi: Meaning of the Groom's Sehra and Rituals
Sehra bandi is the tying of the sehra — a veil of flowers, pearls or tinsel — on the groom's turban just before he leaves with the baraat.
What is sehra bandi?
The sehra is a headdress of strings of flowers, pearls, beads or gold tinsel that hangs from the groom's turban or safa and covers his face. Sehra bandi literally means "tying the sehra". It is found in Punjabi Hindu and Sikh, Rajasthani, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar families, in Sindhi weddings and in many Muslim weddings in North India and Pakistan, where the sehra is also worn by the groom on his way to the nikah.
Meaning and symbolism
The sehra is traditionally believed to protect the groom from the evil eye on an auspicious day when everyone's attention is on him. It also adds to the drama of the bride and groom seeing each other's faces properly only later in the ceremony. For many families, tying the sehra is the moment the groom is formally ready to leave for his wedding.
Who does what
- The groom, dressed in his wedding clothes, sits on a low stool or chair at home or at the venue.
- A short prayer or puja is offered; Sikh families may say an ardas.
- His turban or safa is tied, sometimes by the father, an uncle or a family elder.
- The sehra is then tied over it, traditionally by his sister's husband (jija), a brother-in-law or another elder. Sisters may tie a kalgi (an ornamental plume) to the turban.
- Female relatives perform aarti, apply kajal or a small mark behind the ear against the evil eye, and sing songs called ghodiyan.
- In some families, the sister-in-law (bhabhi) applies surma to the groom's eyes and receives a gift.
Ghodi chadhi
After the sehra bandi, many grooms mount a decorated mare (ghodi) — the ghodi chadhi. Sisters and cousins often feed the mare chana dal or grain and hold her reins, and the groom gives them money in return. A young nephew or child may ride with the groom as his sarbala, a companion who accompanies him through the day. Some families use a horse-drawn carriage, an elephant, a vintage car or simply walk.
When it happens
The sehra bandi comes on the wedding day, after the groom's own pre-wedding rites and before the baraat sets off. On the bride's side, this is roughly when the chooda ceremony and dressing are being completed.
Regional variations
- Rajasthani grooms often wear a safa with a sehra or a sarpech (a jewelled turban ornament), and Rajput grooms carry a sword. See the Rajasthani wedding guide.
- Punjabi grooms often wear a turban with a kalgi and a sehra; read the Punjabi wedding guide.
- In Bengal, the groom traditionally wears a topor, a conical headdress made of shola pith, instead of a sehra. Bengali brides wear a matching mukut.
- In South Indian weddings the sehra is not traditional, though some grooms wear a turban or mundavalya (in Maharashtra, a string of pearls tied across the forehead of both bride and groom).
Practical tips for families today
- Fresh-flower sehras wilt; order them for the morning itself, or choose pearl or beaded ones that can be kept.
- Practise tying the safa or turban the day before — it takes longer than people expect.
- Many grooms now wear a shorter sehra or tie it back so they can see and be photographed.
- If a mare is booked, confirm the handler, route and timing; animals need calm surroundings and should not be stressed by loud fireworks.
Fixing the date?
The muhurat calendar lists every auspicious wedding date month by month, with the hours each one holds.
Wedding muhurat calendar Match kundlis freeQuestions people ask
Who ties the sehra on the groom?
Traditionally the groom's brother-in-law, often his sister's husband, ties it. In some families the father or another elder does so.
Why does the groom wear a sehra?
It is traditionally believed to shield him from the evil eye on his wedding day. It is also a decorative part of North Indian wedding attire.
What is a sarbala?
A sarbala is a young boy, often a nephew or younger cousin, who accompanies the groom through the wedding day, sometimes riding with him on the mare.
What do Bengali grooms wear instead of a sehra?
They wear a topor, a tall conical headdress made from white shola pith, while the bride wears a matching crown called a mukut.
Wedding traditions
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