Gujarati Wedding Photography
Pre-Wedding Rituals: The Build-Up to the Big Day
The celebrations begin days before the actual wedding, filled with prayers, laughter, and bonding.
- Chandlo Matli (The Engagement): This marks the official announcement of the wedding. The bride’s father and male relatives visit the groom’s house. The bride’s father applies a Chandlo (vermilion mark) on the groom’s forehead and gives him a Matli (a gift of sweets and money), cementing the alliance.
- Gol Dhana: Meaning “Jaggery and Coriander seeds,” this is a formal engagement party. These items are distributed to guests as a symbol of a sweet and healthy bond. The couple exchanges rings, and families bless them.
- Mandva Mahurat and Griha Shanti: This is a deeply religious ritual performed separately at both houses. The families pray to Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles from the wedding ceremonies. Griha Shanti is a planetary peace puja conducted to ensure a prosperous and harmonious married life for the couple.
- Mehendi: The bride’s hands and feet are adorned with intricate henna designs. It is a lively celebration filled with music, where female family members also get henna applied. Traditionally, the groom’s name is hidden within the bride’s design for him to find later.
- Santh and Pithi: The Pithi ceremony is highly energetic and fun. A paste made of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is applied to the bride and groom at their respective homes. It is believed to bring a natural, radiant glow to their skin before the wedding.
- Garba and Dandiya Raas: No Gujarati wedding is complete without this. It is a massive musical night where both families come together to dance Garba (graceful circular dance) and Dandiya (dance with decorated sticks) to traditional folk music. It acts as an ice-breaker for the two families.
The Wedding Day: Arrival and Welcoming
The wedding day is an absolute visual spectacle, showcasing stunning traditional attire. The groom usually wears a royal Sherwani with a Dhoti or Churidars, a safely tied turban (Pheta), and carries a ceremonial sword. The bride looks breathtaking in her traditional Panetar (a white saree with a red border) or Gharchola (a rich red saree woven with gold zari squares), often accompanied by heavy gold and kundan jewelry.
- Varghodo (The Groom’s Procession): The groom arrives at the wedding venue on a decorated horse or a luxury car, accompanied by his family and friends dancing to the beats of live Dhol (drums) and a brass band.
- Ponkhana (Welcoming the Groom): The bride’s mother warmly welcomes the groom at the entrance. She performs an Aarti and playfully tries to grab the groom’s nose (a ritual called Naak Khichana) to remind him to stay humble as he asks for her daughter’s hand. The groom then crushes earthen pots with his feet, symbolizing his strength to overcome any obstacles in life.
The Mandap Rituals: Sacred Vows and Unions
The core wedding takes place inside a beautifully decorated Mandap (canopy) and is guided by a priest reciting Sanskrit hymns.
- Jaimala: The groom enters the mandap first. The bride is then escorted to the mandap by her maternal uncles (Maman). The couple exchanges flower garlands, signifying their mutual acceptance.
- Madhuparka: The bride’s father washes the groom’s feet and offers him a drink made of honey, milk, ghee, and yogurt as a mark of respect and hospitality.
- Antarpaat and Kanya Aagaman: A silk curtain (Antarpaat) is held between the bride and groom so they cannot see each other. As the priest chants prayers, the curtain is lowered, and they look at each other, capturing a highly emotional moment.
- Kanyadaan: The bride’s parents place their daughter’s hand into the groom’s hand, officially giving her away. They request the groom to love and cherish her throughout life.
- Hasta Milap: The priest ties the groom’s shawl to the bride’s saree, while their hands are joined together. This symbolizes the eternal union of their souls.
- Mangal Pheras: Unlike many Indian cultures that do seven rounds, a Gujarati wedding traditionally involves four Mangal Pheras around the sacred fire. Each round represents one of the four human goals: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation). The groom leads the first three, and the bride leads the final one.
- Saptapadi: The couple takes seven steps together, touching seven betel nuts with their toes while reciting seven sacred vows of companionship, health, fidelity, and mutual respect.
- Sindoor and Mangalsutra: The groom applies Sindoor (vermilion powder) to the parting of the bride’s hair and ties a Mangalsutra (sacred black-beaded necklace) around her neck, completing the wedding rituals.
Post-Wedding Rituals: Playful Games and Farewell
After the serious religious ceremonies, the atmosphere becomes lighthearted again.
- Aeki Beki: A fun ice-breaker game played at the groom’s house or the mandap. A bowl is filled with milk, water, rose petals, and a few coins and a ring. The bride and groom must find the ring using only one hand. Whoever finds it the most times out of seven is said to “rule the household.”
- Vidaai (The Farewell): This is the most emotional part of the wedding. The bride says a tearful goodbye to her parents and childhood home. As she walks away, she throws handfuls of rice or puffed rice over her head toward her mother, symbolizing that she is leaving behind prayers for prosperity and wealth for the home that raised her.
- Ghar Nu Laxmi: When the bride arrives at the groom’s house, she is welcomed as the goddess of wealth (Laxmi). She gently kicks a small vessel filled with rice with her right foot, spilling it into the house to bring good fortune, before stepping into her new home.
Gujarati Wedding Cuisine: A Royal Feast
A Gujarati wedding is incomplete without its legendary Gujarati Thali. The food is strictly vegetarian but incredibly diverse, balancing sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavors. Guests are treated to delicacies like Khaman Dhokla, Khandvi, Samosas, and rich main courses like Undhiyu (a seasonal mixed vegetable dish), Kadi-Khichdi, and various Shaaks served with hot Puris. The desserts are the highlights, featuring Shrikhand (sweet strained yogurt), Basundi, Mohanthal, and Jalebi.
Conclusion
In essence, a Gujarati wedding is a beautiful tapestry woven with vibrant colors, deep-rooted traditions, warm hospitality, and unbridled joy. It perfectly reflects the spirit of the Gujarati community—deeply religious yet incredibly fun-loving, ensuring that everyone who attends walks away with a full heart and unforgettable memories.