Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

Or is it Sharbala?

You know, when a little kid is dressed up just like the groom, either a young nephew or cousin or someone, and sits on the stage. What’s the significance behind it? It looks so adorable!

Re: Groom’s Shabala

i always heard it called “sarbala”… i’m not sure if there is a significance. I know its supposed to be the “best man” but the best man in other weddings is an adult male wiht many responsibilities.

either way its adorable. I just dont think its fair brides dont have their sarbalis :naraz:

So adorable!! :smiley:

Although… i remember being a little girl and not understanding why there wasn’t a “choti dulhan” at my mamu’s shaadi. My cousin was the “sarbala”… his sister and I thought it was soooooooo unfair. Especially since no one was paying attention to us. Everyone was oohing and aahing over how cute he looked :naraz:

lol.

Re: Groom's Sarbala

I think you're right about 'sarbala', that's the right term.

Re: Groom's Sarbala

Shahbala in urdu
Sarbala in punjabi

Re: Groom's Sarbala

i thought its was a shahbala.
and as far as i knw the kid is suppose to be the youngest boy from the guy side.

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

sarbala sounds totla. its sarvala

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

we have sarbala and sarbali

the sarbala is usually another single guy that sits with the groom until the bride comes. He collects the monetary gifts from people when they come up on stage for the Sehra Bandi. I think him or another person will write it down. Also he would be the one doing the most hulla gulla to the bride's side about money.

the sarbali is usually a single girl who is next in line to get married. They would walk down with the girl on her mehndi and sit next to her and most likely eat the next bite of mitthai after its fed to the dulhah (i guess for good luck?). She'll be the one asking the dulha for money during the dhood pillahi and also get money from the dulha after putting mehndi on him.

Re: Groom’s Shahbala/Sarbala

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

^^ awwwwnnnnn

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

i jus went to a wedding last month an they had a sarbala an a sarbali an they both were abt 8-10 years old an it was really cute cuz the had to sit next to the bride an the groom throughout the whole of the wedding.

the sarbala and the groom had the same clothes on an the sarbali and the bride had the same on some occasions cuz on the other u couldnt find the same for kids or it was to heavy for the sarbali.

I think it looks adorable but I’m not too sure what the historical/traditional significance of the role is. Apparently, he’s supposed to be the groom’s ‘protector’ although I’m not sure how much of a good job those lil kids will do. I’ve also heard he traditionally acted as a ‘replacement groom’ in case the real groom disappeared/ did a runner :omg:
I’m not making that last bit up…I’ve heard that from somewhere :hmmm:

Re: Groom’s Shahbala/Sarbala

Browse this, too:

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/culture-literature-and-linguistics/92662-sarbaala-or-sarwala.html

Re: Groom’s Shahbala/Sarbala

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

The idea behind the sarvala, is that in the old days, baraats used to travel far for their dulhans, without modern conveniences ( eg cars). So the sarvala was like a back up dulha incase anything happened to the arranged dulha on the journey

that's what i've heard anyway, makes sense to me

Re: Groom’s Shahbala/Sarbala

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

**Awwww that's cute !)

I think it's Sarbala.

In our family there's sometime a sarbali who is with the dulhan in the doli. And a sarbala with the groom
**

Re: Groom’s Shahbala/Sarbala

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

That little kid with the oversized turban is soo cute!

The whole thing reminds me of the original purpose of bridesmaids, to confuse evil spirits as to which one is the bride.

Re: Groom's Shahbala/Sarbala

wauw im amazed by the responses here. i was going to start s thread on how to get rid of the shahbala :P (im mean after reading this stuff)...

i guess after reading this i wouldnt mind, but throughout the entire function is not right... i would want pics wid just my hubs aswell... it looks crowded.. and its our day...
i dont like d idea at all, its just a way to draw attention.. i dont understand y?!

so any ideas on how to avoid?