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Engagement Ceremony
The engagement ceremony usually takes place at the bridegroom's residence. It is attended by the bride's father, brother and other close relatives. None of the ladies including the bride accompany the men folk for the tilak ceremony. In this ritual, the bride's father applies tika on the groom's forehead. Clothes, fruits, sweets, sword and other gifts are presented to the bridegroom.
Ganapati Sthapna & Griha Shanti Ceremony
Ganapati sthapana & griha shanti takes place a couple of days before the wedding. A havan is conducted by the bride/groom's family, which involves the installation of the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Pithi Dastoor & Mehfils
In Pithi Dastoor ritual, paste of turmeric and sandalwood is applied to the bride and groom in their respective homes, after which they cannot move out of the house. The bride wears an orange color poshak. She is then brought under a silken canopy. It is held by four women belonging to the same clan as the bride, using swords in the four corners. The bride is then applied the paste.
Separate Mehfils are conducted for gents and ladies, in which people share joyous moments together. They play dholak and sing traditional pre wedding songs. In ladies mehfil, females wearing dazzling dresses perform special folk dances called ghoomar.
Mahira Dastoor Custom
Wedding is the occasion that demands lavish spending. In the ceremony called Mahira Dastoor, the bride as well as groom's maternal uncles come amidst the celebrations and give gifts and cash to the people of the house.
Janev & Palla Dastoor
In the Janev ritual, the bridegroom dresses up in saffron clothes. Before wearing the thread, he is asked to perform the havan. The purpose behind wearing saffron color clothing is that he is given two options. He can either becomes an ascetic or else choose to assume the responsibility of a householder. After the completion of havan, the groom tries to escape from the institution of marriage. While his maternal uncle tries to persuade him to assume his responsibility.
On the wedding day, or one day before it, some of the groom's relatives bring the palla dastoor to the bride's home. The palla dastoor encompasses clothes, jewelry and presents from the bridegroom. The bride wears this at the time of her wedding ceremony. Traditional poshak is usually red in color. However, it can also be in the colors of orange, gold yellow or pink. In the jewelry section, there is rakhri (jewelry for the forehead), ear danglers, timaniyaan (choker necklace studded with diamonds), chooda (a set of ivory and gold bangles), gold armband, gold anklets and gold toe-rings and stone-studded nose-ring.