Quick Answer
What is chero pakariyo?
Chero Pakariyo ("holding the hem") is a playful Gujarati wedding ritual in which the bride's sisters and female cousins hold onto the groom's clothing (traditionally the hem of his sherwani or dupatta) and demand a gift or money before letting him proceed toward the mandap — similar in spirit to the joota chupai shoe-hiding custom in North Indian weddings.
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Last updated:
What is chero pakariyo?
Also called: chero pakadvu, holding the hem ritual.
Chero Pakariyo is the moment the groom learns that arriving at his own wedding is not going to be entirely free of negotiation — a cheerful blockade by the bride's sisters and cousins, holding onto his clothing until he pays up, usually amid a lot of laughing bargaining.
In Gujarati — ગુજરાતીમાં
ચેરો પકારિયો એટલે "છેડો પકડવો" — ગુજરાતી લગ્નમાં કન્યાની બહેનો અને પિતરાઈ બહેનો વરરાજાના કપડાનો છેડો પકડી લે છે અને તેને મંડપ તરફ જવા દેતાં પહેલાં પૈસા અથવા ભેટની માંગણી કરે છે. આ ઉત્તર ભારતના જૂતા ચુપાઈ જેવી જ રમૂજી, સોદાબાજીવાળી પરંપરા છે, જેમાં કોઈ નિશ્ચિત રકમ નથી હોતી — મજા મુખ્યત્વે હસી-મજાકભરી રકઝકમાં હોય છે. રકમ નક્કી થાય પછી જ વરરાજાને આગળ જવા દેવામાં આવે છે.
How chero pakariyo plays out
- •As the groom approaches the mandap, the bride's sisters and female cousins playfully hold onto the hem of his clothing.
- •A round of good-natured bargaining follows, with the groom (or his side) offering money or small gifts to be released.
- •Once a settled amount is agreed, the groom is let through to continue the ceremony.
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Try the wedding checklist tool →Frequently Asked Questions
Is chero pakariyo similar to any North Indian custom?
Yes — it is comparable in spirit to the joota chupai (shoe-hiding) ritual in North Indian weddings, where the bride's sisters hide the groom's shoes for a "ransom." Both are playful, bargaining-based customs performed by the bride's side.
Is the amount negotiated in chero pakariyo fixed?
No — it is a playful, informal negotiation without a fixed amount, often more about the fun of the bargaining than the actual sum involved.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated