A RAJPUT WEDDING

The Rajputs do everything including their weddings in a unique style. Their swords, royal jewellery, Rajputana poshaak, and traditional customs make everything about their style of weddings regally distinctive and grand. Here is a glimpse into the happening weddings of the Rajputs.

Rajputana wedding is all about colours, celebrations, lots of dance and music, and also oozing resplendence owing to the royal touch. There is no wedding as regal as a Rajput wedding. The bride dresses up like a queen and the entire ceremony is carried out with utmost grandeur. The amount of colours, lights, and drama in the Rajput wedding matches to none. The groom is presented with grand gifts and reception. From the colorful Ganpati sthapana to the traditional dhukav ceremony — the royal Rajput wedding is all about celebrating each aspect of the wedding to its fullest.

Like the roka ceremony, the tilak ceremony also marks the seal of approval on the wedding. This ceremony marks the beginning of the auspicious celebrations. For the tilak ceremony, the bride’s family (usually male members) visit the groom’s house to seal the upcoming wedding with the boy. The bride’s elder brother or his maternal uncle applies the felicitous tilak on the groom’s forehead. Since it is a Rajputana custom, it also involves offering a sword, gold jewellery, food items and other gifts to the groom as presents.

In a Rajput wedding, every ritual is carried out according to the destined tithis (dates in astrology). So, once the wedding dates are fixed according to the mahurat, that is, the auspicious dates decided for ceremonies according to astrological calculations, the families start preparing for Ganpati sthapana. In this ceremony, Ganesha idol is installed, and the griha shaanti ceremony which is a havan to propitiate the Gods, is performed. This is a must do for the Rajputs, as any new beginning without the blessings of Lord Ganesha is considered to be futile. Both the families (that is, the bride’s and the groom’s) perform this sacred ritual at their individual homes to seek the pious blessings.

Mel is another beautiful Rajputana ceremony. After the wedding proceedings are fixed, both the families throw a community feast for their respective guests. This is a ceremony in which the wedding is officially announced among the community friends and a grand feast is thrown to celebrate the amalgamation of the two souls. The feast, usually dinner, is enjoyed with musical and dance processions. The entire festive mood for the grand wedding among the Rajputs is set with the mel ceremony.

Rajputs also celebrate baan with great pomp and show, which is a kind of a haldi ceremony, in which the closer members of the family come together to apply a paste of haldi (turmeric) and sandalwood on both the bride and groom’s face, arms, and legs individually at their respective homes. The celebrations are marked by a group of women singing ceremonial songs and performing ritualistic dances.

Here is some marwari rituals

As per Marwari wedding traditions, the groom and his family visit the bride's home for Mudda Tikka or Sagai ceremony. During this occasion, both families exchange gifts and sweets while the couple exchange engagement rings. Sometimes a Roka and a Sagai are merged together to one big function.

The engagement party or the Sagai ceremony is held a few months before the actual wedding. It is usually a simple function with close family members in attendance.

According to Marwari Wedding traditions, the auspicious day for marriage is marked by a family puja for the well being of the couple.

Both families then seek permission from their elders and proceed toward the wedding venue in a procession called Baraat which is followed by dancing, singing and music.

The groom's mother performs an aarti before washing his feet with water containing saffron and vermilion. After this, she ties a band made of red flowers on his wrist.

The groom is welcomed with tilak and garlands before he enters the mandap to get married.

Section: Once he sits down, he recites a mantra called 'savitri' that asks God to bless his wife with long life and prosperity.

An important ritual at any Marwari wedding is "Mangal Phere" where the bride and grooms walks around fire seven times as it symbolizes seven lives.

Around this time, different functions are also organized for relatives and friends.

This is a some intersting rituals rajput and marwari weddings.