Quick Answer
What is the sugar cone ceremony?
During the aghd ceremony, two happily married female relatives hold a fine cloth or shawl above the heads of the bride and groom while rubbing two sugar cones together over it, letting fine sugar sprinkle down onto the fabric. It's a wish for a sweet, happy start to the marriage, performed as the marriage contract is read.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is the sugar cone ceremony?
Also called: ghand saii, sugar rubbing ritual.
If you've seen a photo of a Persian wedding, you've probably seen this moment: two women standing behind the seated couple, holding up a shimmering cloth, sugar drifting down as they work two hard sugar cones together. It's one of the most visually striking parts of the aghd, and it happens at the exact moment the couple is being married.
Who performs it and what it means
Two women from the couple's families — typically married women whose own marriages are considered happy ones, as a good omen — stand behind the bride and groom and raise a decorative cloth or fine shawl above their heads. As the officiant reads the marriage contract, the two women rub a pair of sugar cones together above the cloth, letting the sugar fall like a fine snow. Some families refer to this as ghand saii ("sugar rubbing"), though naming and exact staging vary between families and regions.
Planning notes
- •Confirm with family early who the two women holding the cloth will be — it's a role people are often honored to be asked for.
- •Position this moment for photographers and videographers in advance; the sugar-shower shot is one of the most requested from a Persian ceremony.
- •Check the venue floor or table for stray sugar afterward, especially if the ceremony space flows straight into a reception area.
Keep ceremony roles on the checklist
Track who is holding key ceremony roles — like the sugar cone ceremony — on Weddingkart's shared wedding checklist so nothing is left to chance.
Try the wedding checklist tool →Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the cloth during the sugar cone ceremony?
Two female relatives, usually chosen because their own marriages are seen as happy and stable — it's considered a good omen for the new couple.
What does the sugar symbolize?
Sweetness — the ritual is a wish that the couple's marriage will be as sweet as the sugar being showered over them.
When during the ceremony does this happen?
It typically happens while the officiant reads the marriage contract at the sofreh aghd, alongside or shortly before the honey ritual.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated