The Gujarati community is full of lively people and they have a habit of celebrating all functions and festivals with splendor, colours and dance. Gujarati weddings are laced with dazzling décor and they are very vibrant and colourful. The marriage rituals are full of traditional ritualism, fun and dance.

Gujarati Hindu Marriage Rituals and Customs

Pre-Wedding Functions

• Sagai (સગાઇ) - This is the formal engagement ceremony where both the families enter into a commitment of relationship. The bride has to visit with a Matli which is a container containing gifts and sweets for good fortune.

• Mandap Muhurat (પેવેલિયન ક્ષણ) - This is a ceremony under the supervision of a Pandit or priest and a small Puja is performed. This ritual is performed a couple of days before the marriage.

• Griha Shanti (ઘર શાંતિ) - This ceremony is also performed by a Pandit who completes a small Puja for the good fortune of the couple and blesses the house where they will stay and the prayer is done on a selected date and time as per the zodiac signs of the groom and the bride.

• Garba (ગરબા) - This is a traditional Gujarati hand-sticks dance that is performed by family members of the couple a night before the wedding. This ceremony allows both families to greet and meet each other so that they get to know themselves well.

• Pithi (સમારંભ) - This ceremony is held by both the families a day before the wedding where close relatives are invited and yellow turmeric paste is applied on the bodies of the bride and the groom at their respective houses.

Wedding or Lagan (લગ્ન) Ceremony Functions

• Barat (વેસ્ટ) - On the day of the wedding, the groom arrives usually on a horse in his traditional attire along with his family members and entourage to the accompaniment of a live band playing film songs related to the wedding function.

• Ganesh Puja (ગણેશ પૂજા) - Once the groom is made to sit at the mandap near the sacred fire place, the ceremony begins with a prayer to Lord Ganesh who is known as `Aradhya Daivat’ or the God of Prosperity.

• Madhuparka (લગ્નો માટે હની) - The father of the bride will wash the feet of the groom with honey, ghee and yogurt. Usually, this is the time when the sisters or cousins of the groom steal his pair of shoes and he has to offer them money to take his shoes back.

• Kanya Agman (કન્યા આગમન) - This is the arrival of the bride on the mandap. She is separated from the groom by means of an `Antarpath’ or a curtain.

• Jaimala (જય માલા) - The priest begins the ceremony after the arrival of the bride by reciting `Mangalashtak’. The Antarpath gets lowered so that the couple can exchange flower garlands.

• Kanya Daan (<span">કેન્સર ચેરિટી) - This ritual is the giving away of the daughter by the bride’s parents to the groom. Goddess Laxmi is given away to Lord Vishnu. They give their daughter’s hand into the hands of the groom.

• Var Mala (અપરિણીત સાહેલી લગ્ન ઘસવામાં) - A cord is tied around the neck of the groom and the bride and it is looped around twenty four times by the elders in the family. This signifies that the couple is protected from negative or evil energy.

• Hasta Milap (કલાઈ જાણીતી મિશ્રધાતુ) - The scarf that is worn by the groom is tied to the scarf worn by the bride and this signifies the meeting of their souls. Flower petals and rice grains are showered on them during this ritual.

• Mangal Phere (મંગળ રાઉન્ડ) - Rice is placed in the hands of the bride and the groom; they have to hold hands and extend them to pour the rice in the sacred fire. The couple then takes four circles around this hawan or sacred fire signifying that they will protect each other.

• Saptapadi (सप्तपदी) – During this ritual, the groom helps the bride to touch seven betel nuts with her right toe and mantras are chanted for the groom’s request for support from his bride during ups and downs of life.

• Sindoor Daan (વર્મિલિઓન ધર્માદા) - The groom puts vermilion or sindoor on the parting of the bride’s hair and ties the `Mangalsutra’ around her neck to symbolise that she is now married to him.

• Akhanda Saubhagyavati Bhava (અખંડ અશક્ય બ્લેસિડ) - Seven women are called towards the mandap to bless the newly married couple. These blessings are for the long life and the togetherness of the couple.

 Post-Wedding Functions

• Vidaai (આડિયર) - This ceremony indicates departure of the couple amidst tears of sadness and joy exhibited by the family of the bride as their daughter leaves for her new home.

• Ghar Nu Laxmi (ઘર લક્ષ્મી) - The bride is made welcome in her new house as Laxmi who ushers happiness and prosperity. Her mother-in-law places a steel vessel or Matka filled with rice and asks the bride to enter the house by touching that vessel with her right foot.

Gujarati Muslim Marriage Rituals

Pre-Wedding Rituals

• Mehndi (મહેન્દી) - This ceremony takes place at any time during the week before the marriage. The ladies are invited to the house of the bride. Traditional `Khichda’ food is served which involves barley broth and meat. The ritual involves artistic drawing of floral patterns by henna or Mehndi on the hands, feet and neck of the bride along with her relatives and friends.

Wedding Rituals

• Nikaah (પરણિત) - This is the actual wedding ceremony and it is attended by men at the selected mosque. The bride is seated separately in a place assigned for `Zanana’ or females in the mosque. The bride is formally asked of her acceptance of the groom’s proposal by his representative maulvi or priest. Once the proposal is accepted, the Nikaah is performed by accepting through `Qubul’ ritual three times. Then, sweets are distributed to the guests; this is followed by dinner and the departure of the couple to the groom’s house.

Post-Wedding Rituals

• Valima (મુસ્લિમ લગ્ન રિસેપ્શન) - The next day after the marriage, the family of the groom hosts a reception dinner and on this occasion, the couple is presented with gifts from all attendees.

Gujarati Christian Marriage Rituals

Christian weddings in Gujarat are well known for their elegance and their sobriety. The white wedding gown worn by the bride, the decorations at the church, the flower girls and the bridesmaids are all a treat to watch. Christian weddings in Gujarat are a blend of both Indian and Western customs.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

• Engagement (સગાઇ) - This ceremony is the first among the functions related with the wedding. The engagement ceremony is hosted by the parents of the bride and the gathering is limited to close family members and relatives. The couple will exchange rings during this ceremony.

• Roce (પ્રિવેન્ટેબલ) - This ceremony is also referred to as `Haldaat’ and it involves application of turmeric and sandalwood paste on both the bride and the groom.

Wedding Rituals

• Reception of the Bride at the Church (બ્રાઇડ જેથી ચર્ચ ઓફ આવકાર)- On the day of the wedding, the bride will arrive at the venue in car that is arranged and sent by the groom. The Best Man will receive the bride at the church and he will escort her inside.

• Exchanging of Vows (લગ્ન તેમણે) - Both the groom and the bride will write their wedding vows and read them out aloud at the time of the wedding. After the reading of these vows, the priest will ask the bride and the groom if they agree to love and cherish one another in health and in sickness for as long as they live. They have to answer with `I Do’.

Post-Wedding Rituals

• Reception (લગ્ન રિસેપ્શન) - As in the Muslim Gujarati weddings, there will be a reception dinner hosted by the family of the groom and this is held the next day after the marriage. The bride and the groom will go through a rehearsed ball room sequence of a dance.