Pakistani wedding glossary
Joota chupai
جوتا چھپائیJoota chupai A playful Pakistani wedding tradition where the bride's sisters and friends hide the groom's shoes after he removes them at the venue, then negotiate a cash ransom for their return.
Joota chupai (literally "shoe-hiding") is the lighthearted counterpart to the otherwise-formal baraat. When the groom removes his shoes (as is customary in many Pakistani venues with carpeted stages), the bride's sisters and her female friends snatch them and hide them. The groom can't leave the function without them; negotiation ensues. A cash ransom is paid (the amount varies wildly — anywhere from PKR 5,000 to PKR 100,000+ in modern urban weddings) and the shoes are returned. The exchange is theatrical and well-photographed.