Shagun (Gifts and Invitation)

The shagun ceremony holds an important place in pre-wedding rituals. Once the girl and boy consent to the marriage, he elders in the family choose an auspicious date for the shagun ceremony; this date may be calculated by the astral calender. On the day of the Shagun, groom’s mother visits the bride’s house with gifts, clothes, betel nut, rice and incense. Jewelry and sweets are also added to the Shagun. Acceptance of the shagun by the bride signifies her formal consent to be the daughter in law of the family.