Rajasthani Wedding Traditions and Customs

“Feel The Royalty With Every Ritual” – Rajasthan is known all around the world for its magnificent lifestyle and rich cultural heritage. Rajputs traditionally have their own distinct individual rituals of marriage. Marriage is considered one of the most important events in a couple’s life.  The traditional dance, music, gorgeous wedding attires, jewelry, and wedding rituals are mesmerizing for any spectator.

Pre Wedding Rituals

Each day will be reserved for specific rituals and functions. Women members of the family of both sides involve themselves in making beautiful patterns with Henna on their hands, rub turmeric & chickpea flour on their bodies and tie a special ornament called Rakori on their heads.

The engagement ceremony is the first ritual it is performed at the groom’s house where the bride’s family visits the groom’s place and put tilak on the groom’s forehead and gives him gifts. after this ceremony comes Pithi Dastoor where the bride and groom are applied turmeric paste.

Then Sangeet Ceremony comes where every family member men or women dances to celebrate the marriage. Mayera Dastoor is the uncle distributing gifts in the house. Then Janev is performed where the groom is made to wear a white thread and similarly the bride worship goddess Gauri.

Suggested Read: Rajasthan – Culture and Tradition

Wedding Rituals

On the day of marriage, the baraat visits the bride’s house, and the mother of the bride does the Aarti and tilak to the groom’s forehead. After warding off the evil eye of the groom he proceeds toward mandap.

Jaimala

When the bride and groom meet they exchange garlands made of flowers and then they proceed to the mandap for the marriage rituals.

Gathjoda

A cloth around the groom’s waist is tied to the bride’s bridal Saree or Vesh. after this bride places her hand in her future husband’s hand and hoy water is poured.

Kanyadan

Where the bride’s father symbolically hands over his daughter to her husband.

Havan

The priest chants marriage prayers. and the bride and the groom do Pheras or saptapadi.

Seer Guth

The husband puts red Sindoor in his wife’s center hair parting (Maang).

Post Wedding Ritual

Vidaai

The bride and the groom leave for their marital home.

Grihapravesh

The groom’s family welcomes the newlywed couple in the house and pagelagni is performed the next day where all the groom’s family members are introduced to the bride.

Suggested Read: Wedding Tradition in India