Happy Anniversary in Punjabi: Varegandh Mubarak, Wishes for Parents and Couples, and Jodi Bani Rahe
Happy anniversary in Punjabi is Viah di varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਵਿਆਹ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) — varegandh means anniversary — or the Urdu-flavoured saalgirah mubarak. Twelve anniversary wishes for your parents, your partner, friends and grandparents, with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, the blessing jodi bani rahe, and how to say first, tenth, 25th and 50th.
"Happy anniversary" in Punjabi is Viah di varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਵਿਆਹ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) — viah is wedding, varegandh (ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ, "year-knot") is anniversary — or simply Varegandh mubarak (ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ). On the Pakistani side and in Urdu-flavoured speech you'll hear Saalgirah mubarak (ਸਾਲਗਿਰਾਹ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ). What makes an anniversary wish Punjabi, though, is the blessing that follows it: Jodi bani rahe (ਜੋੜੀ ਬਣੀ ਰਹੇ), "may the pair stay together". Here are the wishes for parents, partners, friends and grandparents, and the words for the milestone years.
Happy Anniversary in Punjabi
| Wish | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viah di varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan | ਵਿਆਹ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | vee-AAH dee vur-hay-GUNDH dee-AAN lukh lukh vuh-DHAA-ee-aan | Happy wedding anniversary (the fullest form) |
| Varegandh mubarak | ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ | vur-hay-GUNDH mu-BAA-ruk | Happy anniversary (short) |
| Saalgirah mubarak | ਸਾਲਗਿਰਾਹ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ | saal-gi-RAAH mu-BAA-ruk | Happy anniversary (Urdu-flavoured; also used for birthdays) |
| Happy anniversary ji | ਹੈਪੀ ਐਨੀਵਰਸਰੀ ਜੀ | — | What most people actually say |
| Jodi bani rahe | ਜੋੜੀ ਬਣੀ ਰਹੇ | JO-dee BUN-ee ra-HAY | May the pair stay together — the essential blessing |
| Rabb tuhadi jodi salamat rakhe | ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜੋੜੀ ਸਲਾਮਤ ਰੱਖੇ | rubb tu-HAA-dee JO-dee sa-LAA-mut RUK-khay | May God keep your pair safe |
| Tuhada pyaar sada vadhda rahe | ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਪਿਆਰ ਸਦਾ ਵਧਦਾ ਰਹੇ | — | May your love keep growing |
| Sau saal jeeo te ikatthe raho | ਸੌ ਸਾਲ ਜੀਓ ਤੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਰਹੋ | sau saal JEE-o tay i-KUT-thay ra-HO | Live a hundred years, and together |
| Rabb tuhanu hamesha ikatthe te khush rakhe | ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਤੇ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ ਰੱਖੇ | — | May God always keep you together and happy |
| Tusi sade layi misaal ho | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਹੋ | tu-SEEN SAA-day la-EE mi-SAAL ho | You are an example for us (to parents or grandparents) |
Wishes for Parents, Partners and Friends
| For | Punjabi | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your parents | Mummy ji, Daddy ji, varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan. Tuhadi jodi sada salamat rahe — tusi sade layi misaal ho. | ਮੰਮੀ ਜੀ, ਡੈਡੀ ਜੀ, ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ। ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜੋੜੀ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤ ਰਹੇ — ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਹੋ। | Happy anniversary, Mum and Dad. May you always be safe together — you're our example. |
| Your partner | Meri jaan, varegandh mubarak. Tere naal har saal pehle ton sohna hai. | ਮੇਰੀ ਜਾਨ, ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ। ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਹਰ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਹੈ। | Happy anniversary, my love. Every year with you is better than the last. |
| Grandparents | Dada ji, Dadi ji, varegandh diyan vadhaaiyan. Rabb tuhadi chhaan sade sir te banai rakhe. | ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ, ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ, ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ। ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਛਾਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਸਿਰ 'ਤੇ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖੇ। | Happy anniversary, Grandpa and Grandma. May God keep your shade over us. |
| A friend and their spouse | Yaar, varegandh mubarak tuhanu dovaan nu! Jodi bani rahe. | ਯਾਰ, ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ! ਜੋੜੀ ਬਣੀ ਰਹੇ। | Happy anniversary to you both! May the pair stay together. |
| In-laws | Varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan ji. Rabb tuhanu sehat te lammi umar deve. | ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜੀ। ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸਿਹਤ ਤੇ ਲੰਮੀ ਉਮਰ ਦੇਵੇ। | Happy anniversary. May God give you health and long life. |
| A 25th or 50th | Pachchi / panjaah saal poore — kamaal hai! Rabb eh jodi sada banai rakhe. | ਪੱਚੀ / ਪੰਜਾਹ ਸਾਲ ਪੂਰੇ — ਕਮਾਲ ਹੈ! ਰੱਬ ਇਹ ਜੋੜੀ ਸਦਾ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖੇ। | Twenty-five / fifty years complete — amazing! May God keep this pair forever. |
To reply: Shukriya ji, tuhadi dua naal (thank you, with your blessing) or Tuhadi mehar hai. The names for everyone in the family — sohra, sohri, kurm — are in Punjabi family words.
First, Tenth, Twenty-Fifth, Fiftieth
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| First anniversary | Pehli varegandh | ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ |
| Fifth / tenth anniversary | Panjvin / dasvin varegandh | ਪੰਜਵੀਂ / ਦਸਵੀਂ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ |
| Twenty-fifth (silver) | Pachchivin varegandh | ਪੱਚੀਵੀਂ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ |
| Fiftieth (golden) | Panjaahvin varegandh | ਪੰਜਾਹਵੀਂ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ |
| Engagement anniversary | Kurmai di varegandh | ਕੁੜਮਾਈ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ |
| How many years has it been? | Kinne saal ho gaye? | ਕਿੰਨੇ ਸਾਲ ਹੋ ਗਏ? |
"Silver jubilee" and "golden jubilee" are usually said in English. The ordinal numbers follow the pattern in Punjabi numbers 1–100.
A Cultural Note
Older Punjabi couples rarely marked anniversaries at all — many parents and grandparents don't remember the exact date, because the wedding was fixed by the family and the viah was the celebration, not its repetition. The anniversary party is a diaspora habit, usually organised by the children, often with an Akhand Path or a Sukhmani Sahib reading at the gurdwara for a 25th or 50th, followed by a meal. So when you wish an older couple, the words that land are the blessings — jodi bani rahe, tusi sade layi misaal ho — more than "happy anniversary" itself. How the wedding itself goes is in Punjabi wedding traditions; birthdays are in happy birthday in Punjabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy anniversary in Punjabi?
Viah di varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਵਿਆਹ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) or Varegandh mubarak (ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ); many people say happy anniversary ji.
What does varegandh mean?
Varegandh (ਵਰ੍ਹੇਗੰਢ) means "anniversary" — literally "year-knot", from varha (year) and gandh (knot). A wedding anniversary is viah di varegandh.
How do you wish your parents a happy anniversary in Punjabi?
Mummy ji, Daddy ji, varegandh diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan. Tuhadi jodi sada salamat rahe. — "Happy anniversary, Mum and Dad. May your pair always be safe." Add tusi sade layi misaal ho, "you are an example for us".
What does jodi bani rahe mean?
Jodi bani rahe (ਜੋੜੀ ਬਣੀ ਰਹੇ) means "may the pair stay together" — the standard blessing for a couple at a wedding, an anniversary or whenever they're seen together.
Give the Blessing, Not Just the Greeting
Jodi bani rahe is three words — and the whole family will notice you knew them. Alfaazo teaches everyday Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day. Free on iOS and Android.
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