Gujarati Wedding Guide 101 – Wedamor
After the amazing pre-wedding rituals, it is finally time for the D-day. Gujarati weddings are mostly like all other weddings in the Hindu Community. But there are a few different traditions and rituals that make it a bit different from others. Gujarati weddings are fun to watch because of a variety of different rituals. So we bring to you a basic 101 of Gujarati wedding.
Here is a complete wedding guide to a Gujarati wedding, in case you are marrying into a Gujarati family:
Jaan Prasthan/Jaan Aagman
Now, if you are from the groom’s side then you should brace yourself for the ‘Jaan Prasthan’ which means the Baarat is going to the bride’s place for the marriage. If you are on the bride’s side then you have to wait for the Jaan Aagman ceremony before the marriage begins.
Samaiyaa
When the Baarat is about to enter the bride’s place or the Mandap, the sister in law of the groom goes for the welcome of the Baarat. The sister of the bride carries a ‘Kalash’ with a dry coconut in it on the head and applies tilak to her brother in law. This is to protect him from any evil eye and wedding jitters.
Ponkhvu/Jaan Swagat
When the ‘Jaan’ or the Baarat finally arrives at the doorstep, the mother of the bride comes to welcome the groom and his family members. This ritual is called ‘Phonkhvu’ in Gujarati. The mother in law welcomes the groom with Aarti ki Thali and garland. Once she finishes with the Aarti she pulls the groom’s nose. This is to remind him to honor and value the family of the bride as his own.
Madhuparka
The mother in law takes the groom to the Mandap. After that, the parents of the bride wash the groom’s feet with rose water. This is because the groom is considered to be Avatar of Lord Vishnu who has come to take his bride. Then the groom is given ‘Panchamrit’ which is considered as one of the purest drinks made of five ingredients.
Kanya Aagman
This is the time when the bride arrives at the Mandap. The priest says these three words,” Kanya Padhravo Savdhan,” which means, the bride is coming to the mandap. In recent times, various trends have come up related to the bride’s entry in the Mandap. But, traditionally in a Gujarati wedding, the maternal uncles of the bride carry her to the mandap.
Antarpaat
After the bride has arrived in the mandap, an opaque cloth is placed in between the bride and groom. This is to avoid seeing each other before the chanting of auspicious mantras. As soon as the chanting of the Shlokas is over the cloth is removed. And the bride and the groom are finally able to see each other.
Varmala/Jai mala
This ceremony is common in all Hindu weddings. The bride and the groom exchange garlands made of flowers. During the Varmala ceremony, relatives of the bride and groom play a game. They lift them on the shoulders so that they are not able to put Varmala in each other’s neck. The first one to put the Varmala wins the game.
Cheda Chedi & Kanyadaan
In this ritual, the dupatta of the bride is tied with the cloth of the groom. The knot is tied by the groom’s sister. Then the parents of the bride follow the ritual of Kanyadaan. It is said that Kanyadaan is one of the purest things in Hindu Mythology.
Hastmelap
After the Kanyadaan, the father gives his daughter’s hand to the groom. This shows that the father of the bride trusts the groom to keep his daughter happy. The hastmelap symbolizes that these two hands will never leave each other no matter the circumstances.
Jav Tal & Magal Phera
Mostly Hindu weddings have seven Phera. But the Gujarati wedding has only four pheras which depict the four goals of life. And the goals of life are Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. The Mangal Pheras symbolize the togetherness of the bride and the groom through all the goals of life. Before the couple starts the phera, the brother of the bride gives ‘Jav Tal’ in her hands. And Jav Tal is put into the sacred fire.
Saptpadi
Seven betel nuts are placed in the row for the seven sacred wedding vows. The couple recites each vow and with the thumb of the right feet touch each betel nut as a count. These seven sacred vows are considered to be the base of the marriage. And they help the bride and the groom to build their happily ever after.
MangalSutra & Sindoor Daan
After the seven vows are recited, the groom applies Sindoor on the forehead of the bride. And puts a mangal sutra around her neck. MangalSutra and Sindoor are considered the accessories of a married woman. After this ritual, the priest declares the couple as husband and wife. He says three words, ‘Vivah Sampan Hua.’ And that means all the rituals of the wedding ceremony are finally over and the wedding is completed.