Featured Artist(s): Runa Laila, Madan Bala Sindhu, Sunanda Sharma, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Jasbir Jassi , Harshdeep Kaur, Radhika Chopra, Mannu Kohli, Balbir Chand, & Chorus-

This comprehensive collection beautifully presents songs for each custom of a traditional punjabi wedding - Suhag, Rasmein 1,Rasmein 2 Mehndi, Sangeet 1, Sangeet 2, Cocktail Night and a special Sangeet Karoke(DVD).

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CD 1 - SUHAG
Suhag-s are sung in the bride’s household after the wedding date is confirmed and as the family starts preparing for the impending separation. These soft-lilting melodies are meant to be a medium of expression for the coy bride who is otherwise unable to express her inner turmoil of emotions.

TRACKS
1.Kuey Te Paani Parhendiye(4:59)
2.Chidiyan Da Chamba – Traditional(6:40)
3.Nikki Sui Vatva Dhaga(2:12)
4.Van Van Peela Pakhiyan(4:59)
5.Maavan Te Dheeyan(3:10)
6.Mera Aj Muklava Tor De(6:23)
7.Chidiyan Da Chamba(10:18)
8.Channan De Ole Ole(5:01)
9.Hariye Ni Ras Bhariye(5:55)
10.Aaya Ladiye(5:43)
11.Tappe (Classical )(10:02)
12.Lang Aaja(5:46)
13.Madhaniyan(8:19)

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CD 2 - RASMEIN 1
This album is a collection of traditional punjabi songs for all rituals like Shagan, Chakki Chungna, Churha, Maiyan, Vatna, Baar Rukai, and Doli/Vidaai.

Shagan – The bride and groom’s families come together on this happy occasion to seal their acceptance of the alliance between the girl and the boy. The bride’s family also gives gifts to their daughter’s future in-laws to mark the auspicious beginning.

Chakki Chungna – A very significant custom, this marks the start of the wedding preparations in the bride’s house. Wheat from the chakki of 7 different houses is brought in by 7 married women, who grind it in the bride’s house and signifies the contribution of the community to the holy bond.

Churha – Churha is a set of red and white ivory bangles, brought in by the girls’s maternal uncle who adorns the bride with this set on the morning of her wedding. The custom signifies that the girl is ready to be married. The Churha is accompanied by Chhak, which includes gifts from the mother’s family as part of their contribution and blessings to the bride. A highly important custom, a Churha is normally worn by a new bride for 40 days to a year.

Maiyan - After the bride is woken up by her mother on the day of the wedding to get ready for the big day, the girl is seated on a small chowki placed next to a gharha (an earthen water container used traditionally for storing water) and a diya (an earthen lamp). The girl is then not supposed to do any work in that house as this marks the end of her responsibility towards her parents’ home and her parents’ responsibility towards her.

Vatna – This custom is observed in the households of both the bride and the groom on the day of the wedding. A Ubtan, (a paste of turmeric, besan (need English word) and curd) is applied to the girl and the boy to beautify them for the wedding

Baar Rukai – This is a light, fun-filled custom before the marriage procession (baraat) leaves the groom’s house to go to the bride’s house for the wedding ceremony. The groom’s sisters stop him at the threshold of the house and ask him for gifts before they give him permission to proceed for the wedding on the customary horse (ghodi).

Doli/Vidaai – This is the most poignant moment of any wedding. Marking the end of the wedding celebration and the bride’s life at her parents’ home, the bride bids farewell amidst tears to her family who bless her for the new journey she is about to embark upon. The family and loved ones of the bride accompany her to the threshold of her house where she joins her groom for the vidai.
Suhag-s are sung in the bride’s household after the wedding date is confirmed and as the family starts preparing for the impending separation. These soft-lilting melodies are meant to be a medium of expression for the coy bride who is otherwise unable to express her inner turmoil of emotions.

TRACKS
1.Wadhai Ni Wadhai(3:13)
2.Mangni - Do Banjare / Amba Heth(7:08)
3.Sat Suhagana(5:54)
4.Jaag Ni Rukman(8:11)
5.Rata Rata Rangla Churha(3:41)
6.Meri Lado Nu Pa Deo Maiyan(3:53)
7.Aavo Saiyo Ni Ral Gaavo(2:54)
8.Jeeja Kalrha Kyun Aaya(3:18)
9.Lado Meriye4:38)
10.Aj Di Dihadi Doli(4:56)

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CD 3 - RASMEIN 2
This album is a collection of traditional punjabi songs for all rituals like Jago, Gharholi, Ghodiyan, Sehra,and Paani Vaarna.

Jago – This was a traditional way of communicating to the neighbours and the community about the wedding once it was fixed. The women of the house would wake up early morning and sing these songs to spread the information.

Gharholi – After the Ubtan, the women of the bride’s house collect water from 7 houses in ghara-s (an earthen water container used traditionally for storing water) to bathe the bride. This also signifies the blessings of the community she belongs to.

Ghodiyan - These are playful songs sung in the groom’s house as they prepare for his wedding. These songs detail the various small ceremonies followed at the groom’s house.

Sehra – The gardener’s wife picks flowers to weave the sehra (veil of the groom), which is then tied around his forehead by his sisters. The sisters-in-law of the groom apply surma (traditional black paste for the eyes) to his eyes.

Paani Vaarna – A very important custom in the groom’s house, this takes place when the groom brings his newly wedded bride to his house for the first time on the wedding night. The groom’s mother welcomes the newly wedded couple at the threshold of the house. She applies oil to the corners of the door and circles an earthen pot filled with water around the couple’s heads. This signifies her blessings to the couple before they embark upon their new life together.

TRACKS
1.Jago(2:59)
2.Wah Wah Ni Gharholi(3:11)
3.Jeeve Banra(4:14)
4.Puchhdi Puchhdi Malan(4:23)
5.Heere Ni(6:51)
6.Matthe Te Chamkanwaal(6:19)
7.Nikki Nikki Boondi(2:45)
8.Paani Vaar Banne Diye Maye(6:29)

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CD - 4 MEHNDI
The night before the wedding henna is applied to the bride and the groom respectively in their houses. The dark colour of the mehndi signifies the deep bond between the girl and her future husband and vice versa.

TRACKS
1.Mehndi Ni Mehndi(4:57)
2.Aao Saiyo Gholo Mehndi(5:38)
3.Lao Mehndiyan(4:21)
4.Veera La Shagana Di Mehndi(2:46)
5.Mehndi Taan Sajdi(3:26)
6.Boliyan - Wari Warsi(5:33)
7.Chhand(5:46)
8.Sithniyan(4:08)

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CD 5 - SANGEET 1
As friends and relatives of the bride and the groom gather in their respective houses days before the wedding, they sing songs every evening to celebrate the festive spirit of the occasion. These songs are normally sung by groups of women who weave in the details of customs and mocking jokes about the in-laws of the bride or the groom in the songs.