Gujarat is a melting pot of myriad cultures and communities who have made this region their home. Apart from the indigenous local Gujarati people, the Jain community too has a very strong presence in this state. Hence one can easily spot the different types of weddings in Gujarat with the two most prominent types being the Gujarati and the Jain weddings. Each community has its own sets of marriage rituals that make for interesting viewing.

Gujarati Weddings

PRE WEDDING GUJARATI RITUALS

Mandap Mahurat
Mandap Mahurat involves praying to Lord Ganesh and is considered one of the most auspicious events. It is performed in the homes of both the groom and the bride.

Griha Shanti
The Griha Shanti Puja is performed in both the groom and bride's homes at a particular chosen time that is conducted by a Brahmin priest.

Jaan
Jaan involves the boy arriving at his prospective wife's home to seek her mother's blessings, who performs a small ritual to ward off the evil eye. A fun ritual, it involves the mother trying to pull her son-in-law's nose while he tries his best to avoid it.

WEDDING DAY GUJARATI RITUALS

Kanya Daan
It refers to the ritualistic handing over of the girl by her parents to the groom, who also wash their son-in-law's feet on that occasion as they believe him to be none other than Lord Vishnu.

Hasta Milap
The ritual of Hasta Milap refers to the tying of the groom's scarf with the bride's saree as a symbol of their holy union amidst the chanting of scared verses and showering of rose petals.

Pheras
Pheras involves circling around the ceremonial fire by the couple. The groom also recites mantras which express his heart's desire and seeks the loving support of his wife

Saptapadi
Saptapadi involves the couple taking seven steps around the fire where each step symbolizes a promise that the couple makes to each other.

POST WEDDING GUJARATI RITUALS

Reception
The wedding reception, held immediately after the wedding gives the chance for the newly weds to get acquainted with relatives and friends and receive blessings from the well-wishers.

Vidaai
This ceremony marks the departure of the bride from her home as she sets out for her new home in a beautifully decorated car.

Ghar Nu Laxmi
Ghar Nu Laxmi refers to the first step that the new bride takes in her house. At the threshold, there is a vessel full of rice, which the bride is supposed to tilt over with her right foot as she enters the house.

Jain Weddings

PRE WEDDING JAIN RITUALS

Vagdana / Pradana
Vagdana refers to the informal agreement between the parents of the prospective bride and groom regarding their marriage that is followed by the ritual of Pradana where the bride is gifted ornaments.

Laghana Lekhan
The Laghana Lekhan ritual involves a puja held at the girl's house during which the auspicious time of the marriage is determined.

Sagai and Lagna Patrika Vachan
It refers to the engagement ceremony where the groom performs the Vinayakyantra puja.
And he is gifted with a gold chain, a ring, clothes, coconut, sweets and money

Matruka Sthapan/ Kulkar Sthapan
Matruka Stapan/ Kulkar Sthapan are prayer sessions held in the bride/ groom's homes respectively to seek the blessings of the heavenly bodies to ensure the happiness and the fertility of the couple.

Mandapa-Vedi Pratishtha
It refers to the construction of the mandap at the bride's home from where it is usuallu transported to the marriage venue.

WEDDING DAY JAIN RITUALS

Ghudhchadi
Before the barat procession begins, all the ladies of the house, including the groom's mother apply tilak to his forehead after giving him a headgear.

Vara Ghoda
It refers to the groom sitting on the horse and leading the barat procession.

Torana Vidhi
Torana Vidhi are the rites of welcome performed for the reception of the groom at the marriage venue. After being garlanded by the bride, he enter the mandap stepping over two earthenware bowls

Paraspara Mukh Avalokana
The bride and groom are allowed to take a look at each other's faces in this ceremony.

Varmala
Varmala refers to the garlanding ceremony where the boy and the girl sit next to each other as the priest chants a series of prayers.

Kanyavaran
The father of the bride publicly presents his daughter to the groom while the priest pours water on the hands of the bride and groom while chanting a mantra three times during the Kanyavaran ceremony.

Hasta Melap
Jhasta Melap involves the placing of a single cloth garland around the couple's necks after which the bride's parents wash the groom's feet, wipe them, dress them with flowers and places auspicious items such as sandalwood in his hands. The priest then places the bride's hand into the groom while reciting the auspicious prayer of Aum Arham

Toran Pratishtha
The Toran Pratishtha ceremony is held in the honor of Goddess Lakshmi, where the bride's parents throw a mixture of sandalwood, rice, and flowers on the arch of the mandap, the Toran.

Vedi Pratishtha
The ritual of Vedi Pratishtha honors the god of Kshetras.

Agni Sthapan
Agni Staphan refers to the lightinh up of the ceremonial fire while a prayer is recited. Then offerings of ghee, betel nuts and certain grains and seeds are made to the Fire God.

Abisheka
Abhisheka refers to the couple's heads being anointed by holy water as sacred prayers are chanted in the background.

Gotrachar
Gotrachar ritual involves the priest stating the ancestral lineage og the groom and the bride. The couple is then given rice, flowers, incense and mithai (sweets) to offer to the Fire God in a Puja.

Agni Pradakshina
The bride's brother gives the couple handfuls of rice that they alternately give to the priest as they pass. The priest offers the rice into the fire. Specific mantras are spoken for each round.

Granthi Bandhan
Granthi Bandhan takes place when the bride's sari is tied to the groom's shawl by a married woman to the accompaniment of sacred mantras, after which they encircle the fire three times.

Kanyadaan
The Kanyadan ritual marks the giving away of the bride by her father to the groom after which the fire is circled for a fourth and final time.

Vakshepa
The Vashkepa ritual refers to the sprinkling of the water and tal on the bride and the groom one by one.

Kar-mochan
Kar Mochan is the final wedding ritual during which the couple's hands are released as the priest chants a prayer.

POST WEDDING JAIN RITUALS

Ashirvada
Ashirvada ceremony refers to the blessings showered by the elders on the newlyweds

Sva Graha Aagamana
This ritual marks the welcome accorded to the new bride as she steps into her new home.

Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana
Alms are given in the jain temple in accordance with this particular ritual to express their thanksgiving

Reception
A reception is hosted by the groom's family where the wife is introduced to family friends and others acquaintances.

Nikhil Bhide-The Wedding Planner is based in Mumbai, and offers wedding planning services for all of India, with a special focus on Mumbai and Goa.

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