Large Collection of Traditional Punjabi Wedding Songs
With well over one hundred different wedding dholki songs, boliyan, suhaag, etc, Boliyan Book provides a comprehensive collection of traditional Punjabi wedding songs that can be sung during the lead up to the wedding day and for any events that take place after.
Boliyan Book is divided into the following four sections, each one containing a set of wedding songs related to the event taking place. In order to preserve the rich Punjabi culture, events and traditions are explained throughout the book.
Wedding Songs
Within this section of Boliyan Book we have a core selection of traditional songs that can be used during the entire wedding celebration. They are the types of songs that would be sung during sangeets (singing sessions).
- Suhag (Suhaag) – Songs that are sung by the bride’s family
- Ghorhian (Khorhiyah) – Songs that are sung by the groom’s family
- Boliyan (Boliyah) – Short verses of rhyming folk songs that are used to bring crowds together in song and dance
- Dholki Songs – Songs that are accompanied by a dholki (small Indian drum)
- Tappe (Tappeh) – Song verses that are usually sung between groups of boys and girls
Lead up to the Wedding Day
In this section we have traditional songs that can be used during all of the various functions in the lead up to the wedding.
- Kudmai (Kurmai) and Chunni – The Kurmai is the formal engagement ceremony for the groom and the Chunni is the formal engagement ceremony for the bride
- Kadai (Karrai) – Event that kick-starts the wedding celebrations one week before the wedding day
- Maiyan (Maiyah) – The three day lead up to the wedding where the bride and groom are not allowed to leave the house and receive 3 to 5 treatments of Vatna paste to their skin
- Nanakishak – Event where the mother’s side of the family bring wedding gifts for the bride and groom
- Choorha – At this event the bride is given ivory bangles for her wedding day
- Jago (Jaago) – Event where the family sing and dance with a metal jug on their head and share the festivities with their neighbourhood
The Wedding Day
In this section we have traditional songs that can be used on the wedding day. This section is split into the ceremonies and events that make up the day.
- Surma and Sehra – The Surma is the event where the groom has eyeliner applied to him. The Sehra is the event where the groom has a head-dress of garlands tied to his turban
- Baraat Leaving and Ghodi (Khorhee) – When the groom’s side leave their house in the morning to attend the wedding
- Groom Entering Bride’s Home – When the groom goes to collect his new wife from her parents’ house and is confronted by his sister-in-laws
- Vidai (Vidhai) and Doli – The official departure of the bride from her parents’ house
- Before Bride and Groom Enter Groom’s Home and Paani Varna – The newly married couple entering the groom’s parents’ house for the first time
- Bride and Groom Inside Groom’s Home – The festivities that take place within the household of the newly married couple
After the Wedding Day
In this section we have traditional songs that can be used for the event that takes places after the wedding day.
- Mooklava – When the newly married couple go back to the bride’s parents’ house usually the day after the wedding