The bridalhood phase begins with the preparation period of the bride, including the ritual washing and combing, as well as the ritual dressing in bridal attire. The ritual combing - unbraiding and re-braiding the hair specifically for her new status as a bride-was performed by her close friends or skilled women from the village.
The ritual dressing in bridal garments took place on Sunday morning, before the wedding procession arrived to fetch the bride. This was also when the wedding shirt was put on for the very first time. Symbolically, this ritual dressing marked the initiation and transition from maiden to bride, ushering her into a new cycle of life. Bridalhood also signified parting from her parents and home to join a new family. The duration of bridalhood as a status was not strictly fixed; it typically lasted anywhere from one to three years, or until the birth of the first child. The end of this phase was marked by permanently setting aside the wedding shirt, which was carefully preserved for the afterlife so that the couple could recognize and find each other once again.