Tilak Ceremony

Among the pre wedding functions the ceremony of tilak holds an important position. The Tilak ceremony is performed in most of the family according to the family tradition and culture. The ceremony is held in different styles according to different culture and caste. Mostly the ceremony is held at the groom's residence or at any temple and in Sikh religion the ceremony is performed by a preacher or bhaiji from the Gurudwara who first recites the hymn and after that offers the groom a date and applies the tilak or tika on his forehead, marking the engagement. That's why it is known as a tilak ceremony. After all the rituals the bride's father offers gifts to the groom and his family members. The gifts include clothes, sweets and fruits and other items for the groom and his family members. Following the ceremony, the groom's father sends gifts of sugar, coconut, rice, clothes, jewelry and henna to the bride. Friends and relatives from the groom's family carry those gifts for the bride and her family members.

The tilak ceremony is held mainly at the groom's residence because according to the Hindu custom only the groom is formerly engaged so the tilak ceremony is only for the boy and not for the girl but gifts are exchanged between both the families. In some caste it is called the Chenkai Ceremony. Traditionally, the bride and her mother do not attend this ceremony; mostly the male family members and relatives of the bride attend the function. In many families they celebrate both the tilak and engagement ceremony together. The Indian wedding celebration is an elaborate and formal process. There are many rituals and customs associated with different wedding ceremony. Traditionally the bride's father looks after all the ceremonial activities. The ceremony of tilak brings together both the families where the elders of both the families blesses the girl and boy and offers them gifts. Different regions of the country celebrate it in different manner. But the actual reason behind its celebration is the bonding not only between the girl and boy but also between the two families.