Marriages in Rajasthan are usually traditional and elaborate affairs. Royal Marwari weddings tend to become larger than life and even more flamboyant.

In fact, even a simple Marwari wedding in Rajasthan is just as elaborate as tradition and customs take precedence over everything else.

Rajasthani/Marwari Matrimony:

Rajasthani families take utmost care for the perfect alliance.  First and foremost, the status of both the families has to be at par, also, the Marwari clan must be taken into consideration since the bride and the groom should hail from separate clans. Then, the families get the horoscopes approved and tallied by the family astrologer. Marwaris, as a custom, marry only within the community. However, some exceptions are there where royal families or love is involved.

Ceremonies:

The official engagement ceremony

It takes place at groom's home. This is a strictly all male affair and it is attended by only the bride's father, brother and other close relatives. No ladies, not even the bride, are allowed to accompany the menfolk for the tika. During the ceremony, bride's brother applies a tilak to the groom's forehead and makes the alliance or engagement official. A sword, other presents, clothes, fruits, sweets etc., are given to the groom by the bride's family.

Ganapati Sthapna & Griha Shanti Ceremony:

Ganapati sthapana & griha shanti is the second most important ceremony, which is performed usually a few days before the wedding. A havan is performed by the groom or bride's parents to propitiate the gods and an idol of Lord Ganapati is worshipped.

Pithi Dastoor:

The Pithi Dastoor is one of the first important ceremonies in Marwari Weddings, it involves the bride & groom and continues till the day of the wedding. The ceremony consists of application of turmeric and sandal wood paste to the bride/ groom. Also, they are not allowed to leave the house once the pithi starts. At the bride's place, the pithi dastoor is an elaborate affair. The bride dresses in an orange poshak (Rajasthani dress) and is brought under a silken canopy by four ladies who must belong to the same clan as the bride. She is then brought to the gathering, where the sandal wood paste is applied on her.

Mahira Dastoor:

The Mahira Dastoor is yet another important ceremony, performed at both the bride and the groom's families. This ceremony is usually performed by the maternal uncle of the groom/bride, who comes along with his wife and family and is received by the bride/groom's mother with the traditional welcome. He then distributes clothes, jewellery, sweets etc., to the entire family. This ceremony depicts a brother's love for his sister, who helps her to curb the expenditure.

The Marwari Baraat:

The procession to the bride's house is regal as there is absolutely no dancing on the streets by the baraatis. The Baraat is mainly commenced by the male members of the groom's family. All members, including the groom who rides an elephant or a horse, carry swords.

The Wedding ceremony:

The wedding ceremony is similar to a Hindu wedding. However, during the Rajasthani wedding, the bride must all through the ceremony cover her face with a veil.

While the wedding is in progress, the Baraat is entertained outside by the male members of the bride's family. Therefore, it is mostly the female members of the bride's family who attend the wedding ceremony.

Leaving certain unique rituals, all other ceremonies and other rituals, including the bidai, are similar to other Hindu marriages. For example, at the time of the bidai (when the bride leaves her parent's house), a coconut is placed under the wheel of the car before the ride lifts her veil for the husband after the wedding. At this stage, the groom usually gives a piece of jewellery to the bride.

Post Wedding Ceremony:

Grihapravesh

After all the marriage rituals, the baraat returns with the newly weds and the grihapravesh takes place. The bride and the groom play a few gameswhich are also common to other Hindu weddings.

Pagelagni

The day following the grihapravesh, the pagelagni takes place. During this ceremony, the bride is formally introduced to all the main family members of the groom who bless her and give her various gifts. And finally, the veil is removed.

______________________________________________________________