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Even
a simple wedding in Rajasthan is
just as elaborate as any big affair. Traditions and
customs form an important part of all Marwari
weddings.
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Marwari
clan has to be taken into consideration before any
match is fixed and marriages take place only within
the community as a rule (except for some).
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The
engagement ceremony or the
Sagaai takes place at the house of the groom.
This is strictly an all-male affair. On this day,
the bride’s brother puts tilak on the
groom’s forehead. A sword, clothes, sweets etc.
are given to the groom.
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Ganapati Sthapna and
Grih Shanti is the second-most important
ceremony performed a few days prior to the wedding.
An idol of Lord Ganapati is installed and a havan
is performed. This sthapana
(installation) is important as all ceremonies
commence only after this.
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A
few days prior to the wedding the Pithi dastoor
ceremony starts. It consists of the application of turmeric and
sandalwood paste to the bride and the groom who cannot leave the
house once the pithi starts. This ceremony continues until the
day of the wedding.
Mehfils
are an integral part of every Rajasthani
wedding. ‘Ladies’ mehfils as well as ‘gents’ mehfils are
organised. The traditional dance-‘ghoomar’ is performed in
the ladies mehfil, while men have their own parties.
The
Janeu (sacred thread ceremony) is performed a day before
the wedding. On this day the groom has to be dressed in saffron
robes and perform a hawan before wearing the thread. This
has significance because the groom has two choices of either
becoming an ascetic or accepting the institution of marriage.
After wearing the thread (i.e. acceptance to marriage) the groom
makes a mock attempt to run from the chain of marriage while his
maternal uncle catches him and convinces him into accepting the
marriage.
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The
custom of Palla Dastoor is typical to the
Marwaris. On the day of the wedding or a day prior
to it, the Palla Dastoor is brought to the bride’s
house by the groom’s family. It consists of
clothes, jewellery and gifts from the groom, which
the bride has to wear during the wedding ceremony.
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On the morning of the day of the wedding, Baan
Chadana is performed at the bride’s and the
groom’s house to ensure prosperity.
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A
Marwari barat, consisting entirely of male members, then
proceeds to the wedding grounds. There the groom is taken to the
ladies section where the bride’s mother receives the groom
with the traditional aarti and then taken to the mandap.
The wedding comprises of the saat pheras and kanyadan
like all Hindu weddings.
After
this, the Barat returns with the newly weds, the girl is
bid farewell by her family and is accepted into her new family.
When the bride enters her new home a small ceremony called Grihapravesh
takes place. Puja and other ceremonies also take place on
this day.
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