Pre-Wedding
Shagun
ਸ਼ਗੁਨ
Cash, sweets, and symbolic gifts pass between households.
Not always a separate event — sometimes folded into the chunni or mangni. Shagun is the formal exchange of gifts: cash in odd numbers (₹501, ₹1,001, ₹5,001), sweets, dry fruits, and seasonal items that ‘seal’ the relationship.
A little history
Odd numbers are considered auspicious in Punjabi tradition because they cannot be divided evenly — symbolising an unbreakable bond. Even today, almost every shagun envelope ends in ‘1’.
Who attends
Both families — usually combined with another ceremony.
Typical guests
Varies
What to plan
- Cash shagun in odd amounts (501, 1001, 5001)
- Mithai box for each visiting family unit
- Dry fruit thaals
- Seasonal fruit basket
- List of who-gets-what so nothing is missed
Avoid these mistakes
- Track shagun given AND received — you’ll need it for thank-you notes later
- Always odd numbers — never end in 0
- Brief the elder hosting the table so distribution is graceful
Ready to plan?
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