Marwari Pre Wedding Rituals

A Marwari wedding is characterized by lavish decoration, elaborate rituals and sumptuous feasts. Marriage ceremony for the marwari caste is a grand affair and is marked by great festivity and good cheer. Apart from the rituals and customs performed on the wedding day, there are a number of traditional practices done before and after the wedding. The rites performed before the wedding day, lay the foundation for the big day. In both the bride and the groom's family, rituals performed are almost same. The beautification of the bride and the groom, dholak party and the receiving of gifts from the maternal uncle of both the individuals are some of the rites performed before the wedding. To know more about the traditional pre wedding ceremonies and rituals, browse through the following lines.

Marwari Pre Wedding Customs

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
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.

Mehfils
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
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.

Palla Dastoor
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.

Rajput Baraat
In the Rajput baraat, there are only male members. The groom usually wears a gold achkan and churidar or jodhpurs along with an orange turban. Footwear consists of traditional jootis. Baraatis also wear achkans or sherwanis with jodhpurs and safas (colorful turbans). The groom's marriage procession looks royal and majestic. There is street dancing by the baraatis. Everyone including the bridegroom rides an elephant or a horse. They also carry swords in their hands.

Toran
The entrance of the wedding place is adored with toran. In this ceremony, the bridegroom has to hit the toran with a stick of neem. The act of 'toranachar' signifies warding off of evil eyes.

Traditional Aarti & Var Mala
When the marriage procession of the groom arrives at the bride's residence, the bridegroom is taken inside by the ladies. He is given a warm welcome by his mother-in-law by performing the traditional aarti. The bride then enters the marriage place and the two exchange wedding garlands. Thereafter, the mama or the bride's maternal uncle holds the bride in his arms and take the first three pheras around the groom.