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Grand, vibrant, lavish, and glamourous- these are the terms that precisely define a Marwari wedding. Drenched in culture and traditions, Marwari weddings are known for their prosperous and colourful celebrations. From grand musical sangeets to rich wedding outfits and over-the-top decor, you get to witness the best parts of the Marwari culture during their wedding celebrations. 

But just like Hindu weddings or Marathi weddings, Marwari weddings consist of a tonne of rituals that are significant to their traditions that date back to the era of kings and queens of Marwar. So, to help you trace the intricacies of these Marwari wedding rituals here's an in-depth look at all the rituals and practices that make these weddings stunning. 

Scroll down and learn all you need to know about Marwari wedding rituals!

Marwari Weddings Rituals

Just the thought of Marwari weddings brings the picture of a grand, colourful and lavish wedding. And honestly, Marwari weddings are about the festivities. So, if you're about to tie the knot with a Baniya or Marwari family, it's a good idea to get a little accustomed to the Marwari Wedding rituals that will play a major role in your wedding celebration.  

1. Roka

Just like other North Indian cultures, a Roka ceremony in Marwari culture is the official agreement and union between the two families that finalised the couple's betrothal. The parents of the future bride and groom get together and perform a small Tilak ceremony while exchanging gifts and blessing the couple for their upcoming wedding.

Check Out: The Best Labels To Buy Your Roka Outfit Under 10K For Your Small Wedding!

2. Byah Haath & Naandi Ganesh Pooja

The Byah Haath is a ceremony held preferably a week before the wedding date is finalised. During this, the women of both families prepare sweets made with lentils and jaggery called Mangodi while singing Mangal geet. This is followed by the Naandi Ganesh Pooja for a smooth sailing wedding, where Lord Ganesha and other family deities are worshipped.

3. Bhaat Nyotana and Bhaat Bharna

The Bhaat Nyotana is a celebration on the maternal side of the bride and groom. Basically, the mothers of the bride and groom host a celebration to invite the maternal side of the couple to the wedding. This is followed by a ritual called Bhaat Bharna, where all her relatives and family members give the mother gifts.

Also Read: Mother Of The Bride & Groom - Outfit Inspo From Celebrity Mothers! 

4. Mehndi

A vibrant and fun function, the mehndi celebration is where the bride gets henna applied to her hands in the shapes of gorgeous mehndi designs. During the mehndi, her relatives sing, dance and relish in merriment. interestingly, in Marwari weddings, grooms often get mehndi applied on their hands too!

5. Mudda Tikka

Also known as Sagai, the Mudda Tikka (engagement) ceremony normally takes place a day or two before the wedding. The groom along with his family visits the bride's family and then rings are exchanged between the couple followed by the ritual of giving gifts and sweets to one another. These days, the Roka and the Sagai are clubbed into one function, due to restricted timelines.

6. Geet Samelan & Ratri Jaga

Traditionally called Mehfil and often held just before the wedding, Geet Samelan is a Marwari Bachelor or Bachelorette party. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Well, it's a night full of dancing, testing and entertainment that the bride and groom enjoy with their respective entourages. On the bride's side, only women are involved in the Geet Samelan, whereas on the groom's side, only men are involved in the function.

On the other hand, the Ratri Jaga is an auspicious ceremony held to ward off any evil which is held the night before the wedding. At the same time, the blessings of the family's ancestors are invoked for the couple's happy future life. 

Know More: 31+ Dance Performances That You Can Recreate For The Sangeet Night

7. Telbaan & Pitthi Dastoor

The wedding day begins with the Telbaan ceremony. In this, the bride and groom are fed jaggery sweets called ghunghra, given shagun money by their maternal uncles and doused with mustard oil and curd. The function is held at the respective houses of the bride and groom. This is followed by the Pithhi Dastoor or the Haldi function. During this, the bride and groom are covered in turmeric paste which is then washed with holy water. The haldi paste is something that's been used for centuries to add some extra glow to the bride and groom before their wedding ceremony.

Also Read: 65+ Fun & Unique Haldi Outfits We Spotted on Real Brides

8. Thamb Pooja

Performed by a priest at the bride's home, the Thamb Pooja is a tradition that's unique to Marwari weddings. During this, the priest performs a pooja specifically by the pillars of the house. These strong pillars are symbolic of the future marriage of the couple, blessing them to be strong and long-lasting, just like the pillars of the house. 

9. Korath & Ganpati Pooja

During Korath, all the male members of the bride's family along with a priest visit the groom's family to formally invite them to the mandap. In turn, they're welcomed with food and sweets. Following this, the groom's family performs a Ganpati Pooja just before they leave their home for the wedding venue and the mandap. 

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10. Nikasi

The Nikasi ceremony is a ritual performed by the groom's sister before the baraat sets off for the venue. Here, she ties the sehra on the groom's head followed by a golden thread on the decked-up mare (Ghodi) he mounts. The sehra and the golden thread are a way to ward off any evil eye on the groom. Then, the priest performs a small pooja and then the mother of the groom feeds a mix of lentils, rice, sugar and ghee to the mare before they set off.

11. Baraat, Toran & Baraat Dhukaav

So, once all the rituals are done, the groom and his brigade set off towards the wedding venue, dancing and singing in high spirits. Before entering the venue, the groom hits a neem tree with a stick to ward off evil energies. Finally, before entering the venue, he touches the Toran, which is a decorative arch around the entrance. Upon their arrival, the baraat is received by the bride's family at the entrance of the wedding venue. Here, the mother of the bride performs aarti and feeds the groom sweets and water in a gesture to welcome him to the mandap. 

Trend Alert: Brides Are Having Their Very Own Baraat!

13. Jaimala

Once the groom reaches the mandap, the bride arrives shortly after. Then, the bride puts seven suhalis (a type of snack) over the groom's head. Following this, they exchange jaimalas and are showered with love and flower petals by their family and friends. 

14. Granthi Bandhan

Before the wedding processions around the holy fire are carried out, the Granthi Bandhan takes place. Here the ends of the groom and bride's dupattas are tied together, a symbol of their souls joining together as one.

15. Kanyadaan & Panigrahan

Like all other Indian cultures, the Kanyadaan ceremony is where the father of the bride officially gives his daughter's hand in marriage to the groom. He asks the groom to accept his daughter and take care of her from that day on. Similarly, the bride is also asked to accept the groom, his surname and family. The father then places his daughter’s hand in that of the groom’s, which is further connected with a scared thread bound around their hands. 

Read: Everything You Need To Know About Dia Mirza & Vaibhav Rekhi's Dreamy Wedding

16. Phere

During the pheras, just like any other North Indian culture, the couple takes seven rounds of the holy fire while chanting their vows to one another. For the first three pheras, the bride walks ahead of the groom. Later, for the last four rounds, the groom walks ahead. 

17. Ashwarohan, Vamang Sthapna & Saptapadi

The bride then puts her foot on a grinding stone and pushes it forward seven times. Known as the Ashwarohan, this ritual symbolises her will to face any obstacles that may come in the way of her marriage. Following this, the Vamang Sthapna takes place where the bride's brother hands her a handful of puffed rice three times, which the bride and groom offer to the holy fire. The couple then takes seven steps marking the beginning of the married journey, following which the bride sits on the left side of the groom.

18. Sindoor Daan & Aanjhala Bharai

During the Sindoor Daan, the groom applied sindoor or vermillion on the bride's head, which is a symbol of marriage in Indian culture. The groom's mother then gifts the bride a nath (nose ring) that the bride is supposed to wear after the wedding ceremony. The Aanjhala Bharai is one of the most important Marwari wedding rituals. During this, the father of the groom drapes a chunari around the bride which is considered holy and she is to keep this with her after the wedding. He also gives the bride a bag of money that she has to divide equally between her sister-in-law and her husband. This is a symbol of the acceptance of the bride into her new family and her taking responsibility for managing the family’s finances as their daughter-in-law. 

Do Read: Just 20 Photos that prove Sindoor Moment is the most Soul-stirring of all!

19. Paharavani & Sir Guthhi

Finally, once the wedding ceremony is over, the groom is showered with gifts by the bride's family and the couple is blessed by their relatives. The bride also performs a small pooja at the threshold and breaks an earthen clay lamp with her foot, to pay her respects to her paternal home. Finally, an elder woman of the family combs the bride's hair and freshens her up. 

20. Joota Chupai

Just like most North Indian weddings, Joota Chupai takes place during a Marwari wedding as well. It's a moment of bonding between the bride and groom's families. Sometime during the wedding, the bride's sisters steal the groom's shoes. In order to get his shoes back, the groom has to give them money. Of course, the negotiation is hilarious in every way.

Also Checkout: Here Are The Most Fun Wedding Games & Rituals To Follow For Indian Weddings 

21. Sajjan Goth

The bride’s family puts up an elaborate feast with some of the most delectable Rajasthani delicacies, including Dal Baati Choorma, Ker Sangri, Gatte ki curry, and more. The eldest family member on the bride’s side feeds a sweet called Shank Jalebi to their counterpart on the groom’s side, signifying the preserving a sweet bond between the two families for life.

22. Jua Khilai

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Before the bride's vidaai, a few fun wedding games are played at the bride's home known as Jua Khilai. These quirky and fun games are accompanied by a tonne of laughter and humourous teasing, all meant to test the newlywed's compatibility. 

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23. Vidaai

During the Vidaai, a thali pooja is performed for the couple in the kitchen of the bride's home. During this, a dried coconut filled with coins and sugar is given to the bride which she is supposed to give to her mother-in-law. The couple then bid goodbye to the bride's family. While leaving, a coconut is broken beside the wheel of the car and then they depart to the groom's house with the bride. 

24. Griha Pravesh, Muh Dikhai & Chura

When the couple arrives at the groom's house, they're welcomed by his aunt who performs an aarti at the door. The bride then proceeds to topple a copper jar filled with rice and steps into auspicious red dye, thereby walking into the house and leaving her footprints. Then, she is told to touch ghee, jaggery and a bag of money which symbolise prosperity, following which the couple lights a lamp in the house's temple and distributes sweets. During the Muh Dikhai, an elder lady from the house unveils the bride's face by listing the veil over her head. Then she is introduced to the entire family and showered with gifts. The groom's mother then gifts the bride a set of traditional lac choodas which symbolise the beginning of her married life. 

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25. Pag Phera

A few days after the wedding, the newlyweds visit the bride's parental home. This is known as Pag Phera, where the couple is once again showered with lots of gifts and the celebration is adorned with delicious meals and lots of excitement. 

Final Thoughts

There's no denying that Marwari weddings are the combination of various elements that come together to form a celebration that's lavish, exuberant and downright entertaining! Even though the list of wedding traditions may look long, it really isn't. The rituals pass by breezily one after another and all the fun and merriment are an absolute blast to be a part of. Ultimately it is about having a joyous time and enjoying the wedding celebration to the fullest with your family and friends!

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Marwari Wedding Rituals - Your A to Z Guide

by Shivani Singh

Marwari Wedding Rituals - Your A to Z Guide