Roka

The Roka traditionally signals the end of the matchmaking process and the formal commitment between two families, rather than between the two individuals alone, reflecting the family-centered nature of many Indian marriages. In its classic form, the bride's family visits the groom's home (or the families meet at a neutral venue) to seek agreement, after which gifts such as clothes, jewelry, dry fruits, and sweets are exchanged as a token of acceptance.

In contemporary practice the Roka is often combined with or followed closely by the engagement (sagai) ceremony, and the distinction between the two has blurred in many urban celebrations. Some families treat the Roka as a small, blessings-focused ritual and reserve ring exchange for a separate engagement party, while others merge both into a single event.

The ceremony usually includes a tilak applied to the groom's forehead, recitation of prayers, and the participation of a priest in more traditional households, though many modern Rokas are secular family lunches or dinners. Regional names and customs vary widely across India, and the Roka as described here is most strongly associated with Punjabi and broader North Indian communities.