Punjabi Chooda Guide: Ceremony, Colours and Sizing

A chooda is the set of bangles a Punjabi bride wears on both wrists from the morning of her wedding. Most are red and ivory. It is one of the clearest signs that a Punjabi woman is newly married, in both Sikh and Hindu Punjabi families.

If you are planning a Punjabi wedding, the chooda is often the first piece of bridal jewellery you need to sort out. It has to arrive before the ceremony, it has to fit, and it has to match the rest of your look.

What the chooda ceremony is

The chooda ceremony usually happens at the bride's home on the morning of the wedding. Her mama, her mother's brother, traditionally gives her the chooda. Customs vary by family, but a few things are common.

• The bangles are often washed or dipped in milk, or in milk mixed with water, before the ceremony.
• In many families the bride does not look at her chooda until it is on. Her eyes are covered or the bangles are wrapped.
• The mama and maami, or other elders, slide the bangles onto her wrists.
• Family and friends then tie kaleeras to the chooda.

Kaleeras are the gold or silver hanging ornaments, often shaped like domes, that dangle from the bangles. After the wedding the bride shakes her kaleeras over the heads of unmarried friends and cousins. The saying goes that whoever a piece falls on will be the next to marry.

Every family does this a little differently. Ask your mother or an older relative what your family usually does. It saves confusion on the day.

Colours

Red and ivory is the classic chooda. Red is linked to marriage across much of South Asia, and the ivory or white bangles sit between the red ones.

Many brides now pick a chooda to match their lehenga. Common choices include:

• Maroon and ivory, a deeper version of the classic look
• Pink and ivory, softer and popular with pastel outfits
• Red with gold detail, for a heavier look
• Plain red, with no ivory bangles

Some choodas have stones, kundan or small prints on a few of the bangles. Plain choodas are lighter on the wrist and easier to wear for weeks.

How many bangles

There is no single rule. Some families keep to a large traditional set on each arm. Many brides now choose a smaller set, often to suit a slimmer wrist or a lighter outfit. A fuller set looks bolder in photos. A smaller set is more comfortable once the wedding is over.

How to find your bangle size

Chooda bangles are rigid. They do not stretch and they have no clasp, so the size has to be right. Bangle sizes are usually written as 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 and 2.10. These are inches written in sixteenths, so 2.4 means 2 and 4/16 inches across the inside. Our bangle size guide has more on measuring.

A tip from brides who have done it. Try on a bangle you already own that slides on with a bit of effort. Measure the inside of that bangle. That is often your chooda size. A chooda that slips off easily will move a lot during the pheras and photos. One that is too tight will hurt after a few hours.

How long brides wear it

Traditionally, a Punjabi bride wore her chooda for a long time after the wedding, often quoted as 40 days, and in some families much longer. The end of that time is often marked by a small family function where the chooda is taken off.

Today it depends on the bride. Many wear it for 40 days. Some wear it for a few weeks. Some keep it on only for the wedding events and the first days after. If you will go back to work soon after the wedding, talk to your family about what feels right.

How to choose your chooda

• Start with your outfit. Bring a photo or fabric swatch of your lehenga to match the red or pink.
• Decide how long you will wear it. For weeks of wear, pick a lighter set with smooth edges.
• Check the size twice. Measure, then measure again with someone helping you.
• Think about your kaleeras. Big kaleeras look best on a full chooda. Our kalire guide shows the styles.
• Order early. All sales are final, so check your size before you order.
• Keep the box. You will want to store your chooda safely when you take it off.

How Outbox House can help

• Shipping is free across Canada on orders over $150, and across the US over US$200.
• Book a free appointment, in studio or on video, to see pieces up close and ask about sizing.
• Our studio is at 47 Humberstone Crescent, Brampton. See how to reach us.

We stock choodas and bangles in classic red and ivory and in other colours, and we can help you check your bangle size over video before you order.