ਸ਼ਗਨ

Shagun (ਸ਼ਗਨ) is the Punjabi word for an auspicious gift of money or goods given as a blessing at a wedding or another happy beginning. It is not a payment and not a price: it is a token of good luck, offered in an envelope or with sweets, to wish the receiver well.

What does shagun mean in Punjabi?

Shagun means a good omen made into a gift. The word comes from Sanskrit, where it means auspicious or a good omen, and in Punjabi use it names the offering itself: cash, sweets, dry fruits, clothes or jewellery given with a blessing at the start of something new. The gift carries the wish, which is why elders speak of giving shagun, never of paying it.

Money given as shagun usually ends in one: 101, 501 or 1001 rupees, rather than a round figure. The extra rupee is the point of the custom. It says the blessing is not finished or closed, but should keep growing for the person who receives it, like the new life the couple is beginning.

When is shagun given at a Punjabi wedding?

Shagun appears at almost every stage. Families exchange it at the roka and at the engagement, when the groom's parents offer it to the bride as a blessing and a sign of acceptance. On the wedding day itself, Wikipedia's account of the milni notes that the bride's relatives give shagun, described there as a token of good luck, to the groom's close relatives in descending order of age, with cash and clothes gifted. Guests at the wedding also give the couple shagun in an envelope.

How much shagun should you give?

There is no fixed amount, and the intention matters more than the sum. A small envelope given with a real blessing is proper shagun, while a large amount given without feeling misses the point of the custom. In practice people choose by closeness: near family give more, friends and neighbours give a modest amount ending in one, and nobody is judged for giving within their means.