Marwari Wedding Rituals

Flamboyance, resplendent and grandiosity marks a Marwari wedding ceremony. Large number of people attends the marriage parties and a festive mood prevails in the wedding place. Right from the lavishly decorated and adored marriage banquet hall to the huge list of eateries, every aspect of a Marwari wedding is reflect the grandeur of the event. Royal and majestic, the wedding is a replication of ostentation and pomposity. One of the most glittering affairs, there are a number of traditions, rituals and rites that are performed on the Marwari wedding day. To get details about the traditional ceremonies that take place in a Marwari wedding, explore through the following lines.

Marwari Wedding Customs

Granthi-Bandhan
In the granthi bandhan, the cloth tied to the waistline of the groom is opened and one of its ends is tied to the chunni of the bride. This is symbolic of the union of two individuals into oneness. The sister of the groom or the priest generally ties the two cloths together.

Paanigrahan
The granthi bandhan is followed by the 'paanigrahan' ceremony, wherein the grrom takes the hand of the bride in his hand. The union of two hands symbolizes that the two would be together in both the good and bad times.

Pheras
In the mandap, while the purohit recites the mantras, the bride and the grrom circle around the sacred fire. Mostly, only four 'pheras' are circled in the mandap while the rest three were performed right after the var mala. Traditionally, in the first two pheras, the girl leads and in the next two pheras, the boy leads.

Ashwahrohan
In this ceremony, the bride puts her foot over the grinding stone to symbolize her courage to face all the challenges of life. Thereafter, the brother of the bride puts some 'kheel' or puffed rice in the bride's hand, which are passed to the groom's hand and then offered to the fire. This ritual symbolizes the brother's wishes for prosperity for his sister and her husband.

Vamang-Sthapana and Sindurdaan
During all the earlier performed rites, the bride sits on the right side of the groom. In the 'vamang-sthpana' ceremony, she changes position and sits on the left side of the groom. This is symbolical and states that the groom accepts his bride and establishes her in his heart (since the heart is on the left side of the body). Thereafter, sindurdaan ceremony is performed, wherein the groom fills the bride's centre hair parting with sindoor or vermillion. Sindoor is one of the most propitious signs of the Marwari married woman.

Saptapadi
Lastly, the saptapadi or the seven steps are taken, which signify their togetherness and oneness from now on. Simultaneously, the bride and the groom speak seven sentences, which are in fact promises, they make regarding their conduct towards each other. Thereafter, 'sargunthi' or adorning of the bride's hair is performed, which indicate the acceptance of bride by the groom's family.

Aanjhala Bharaai
In the 'aanjhala bharai' tradition, the father in law of the bride puts a bag full of money in the lap of the bride to signify her future responsibilities and errands. Thereafter, the family blesses the new couple for their future life.