Chura, a set of bangles, is usually a combination of white and red. The Punjabi and Sikh community mostly follows the custom of wearing chura. The bangles traditionally made of ivory with inlay work, used to encase the entire arm of the bride up to the elbow. She is expected to wear the bangles till up to a year of the wedding after which the bangles are taken off ceremoniously and replaced with glass bangles. However, nowadays, usually the husband is allowed to take off the chura after 40 days of the wedding. Traditionally, married women, regardless of roots, are not supposed to be bare armed or be without any ornaments of any sort.
The chura not only is an indicator that the girl is newly-wed but also is a deterrent to her immediately taking up heavy tasks in her new home β works as a sort of a βhoneymoonβ period after which she has to shoulder most of the household tasks.
The churas come in various designs and and help a bride look gorgeous on her wedding day and most girls look forward to wearing them. But then like all things they come with their own baggage. Here is one such hilarious account from a frustrated bride which is worth a read.
Come on how about it – anything weird, funny, strange wedding customs that you would like to share? I would love to hear about it or indeed anything at all! Feel free to exercise your fingers π
Quote of the day: βMy dad used to say makeup was a shallow girl’s sport, but it’s not. It’s armor.β
β Courtney Summers
Until tomorrow then. And oh for readers of Moonshine here’s Chapter 50 – hope you like! And just in case any of you is interested in grasping the essence of this blog, please click here
Stories and more 
They sound beautiful π
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They sure are ! Have a look at the links in the post Thanks for dropping in π
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I was so enchanted by these churas that I asked my soldier to get them for me after our wedding. I wore it for two weeks, but then it became difficult! π Thanks for sharing this!
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How cute – two weeks is a long time π Thank you for sharing π
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Hey Shalzz, share the picture if you did click while you wore them. I am eager to see your churas. Do you still have them or you disposed it?
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I still have them but is packed in one of his boxes and is now with him! He is out for posting and we are living apart since nine months π¦ Let me see if I can get a pic from my archives. Thanks, dear β€
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Glad you still have it. If you find a picture from your archives, good enough or else whenever you happen to get hand on the boxes, do click the picture.
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Apart for nine months! That was a major downside when I wore a uniform too.
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Lovvvve bangles in all forms and designs, though can’t wear them on a permanent basis. Very interesting was the varying viewpoints and perspectives in that link π … so one need not be frustrated but can even learn to adapt to it.
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Few hours or even days is okay but in Delhi summers, I do wonder how the new brides manage! But yes, the comments of the others were an eye opener…
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Chura….I had no idea that that’s what they’re called! I find the whole advertising of the ‘new bride’ most annoying. The red and white shakhas, the dollop of sindoor, the wedding ring. …bloody hell, you can tell (and apparently hear!)a newly wed girl from miles away, while the guy gets away without even wearing a ring sometimes. Grrrr! On an appreciative note though, nice topic, and I enjoyed the link. Guess I should let her know too….:)
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True – but then I have seen most newly wed girls are very much keen to show off their married status! It’s only later that they begin to chafe…Interestingly, I read somewhere that in the earlier Vedic texts both the bride and groom had to wear holy threads on their wrists and that was it. The other customs of bride symbols and jewelry came in much later – not difficult to guess why…oh and thanks π
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“Chura” does look beautiful, but one yr seem to be a very long time…..and a deterrent from doing heavy tasks at home…is that real??!!…I had thought it’s more of a symbolic way to say “she is off limits” π
Enjoyed reading the writer’s take on the subject(the one in the link)…thanks for sharing
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Yeah apparently they dont want to scare her off right in the beginning…
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This post of yours has brought back so many lovely memories π
–Nimi
http://www.NimiArora.com
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You won my heart with this post. Yes C for choora.
I am waiting since a teenager to wear my choora (as in chura or chooda). It is a rule to dispose them in flowing water (in a pond or lake, after 40days or 1.25years of wearing) but I would prefer keeping them forever with me and just like the wedding suit this can be worn again on occasions.
Find time do read my post on the same topic
https://thewhitescape.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/the-splendorous-chooda/
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Thanks so much! More than happy to read yours, thanks for the link π
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Never heard of this custom. Not sure if I could deal with wearing churu. I’m sure it looks beautiful but if they make noise banging together, that might drive me crazy…lol I absolutely LOVE reading your blog posts and learning so much. I probably would have never known about any of this, if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Cheryl
Plucking Of My Heartstrings
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Thanks so much for the kind words Cheryl π
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This is a great theme. I enjoyed learning something new. I feel like the origin story of these wedding bangles must be very interesting.
Robin from
WriteOnSisters
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Yes of course – thanks for the visit π
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Interesting! I knew brides in China wear red, I did not know red was worn by brides in other countries.
I love these wedding/ culture lessons! ππ°
Sir Leprechaunrabbit
@leprchaunrabbit
yourrootsareshowingdearie.wordpress.com
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Glad you liked π
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In Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are not supposed to see each other for a week prior to the wedding. I have no idea whether there’s a religious reason for this, or if it’s just superstition. But for those who adhere to it (I didn’t), it must really enhance the pleasure of seeing your partner on the big day!
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Hi Susan! Thanks for dropping by – surely a telepathic connect! Been trying to find your site since yesterday – and voila here you are π
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