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On the wedding dayBaraat: The Groom's Wedding Procession Explained
The baraat is the groom's wedding procession: his family and friends travel with him to the bride's venue, dancing to a band, and are formally welcomed on arrival.
What is a baraat?
The baraat is the procession that takes the groom from his home, or from a meeting point, to the wedding venue. Its members are called baraatis. It is a central part of North Indian Hindu, Sikh and many Muslim weddings, and has counterparts across India: jaan in Gujarat, bor jatri in Bengal, and janavasam or mappillai azhaippu in Tamil Nadu.
Meaning and symbolism
Historically, the groom's party often travelled from another village or town and stayed for days. The baraat publicly announced the wedding and showed the groom's family arriving to ask for the bride's hand. Today it is usually a short, festive walk — the most visible celebration of the groom's side.
What happens
- After the sehra bandi, the groom sets off on a mare, in a carriage, a car or on foot.
- A brass band, dhol players or a DJ on a cart leads the procession, and relatives and friends dance around the groom.
- Elders may toss money over the groom's head (vaarna), which is then given to the band or to people in need.
- Close to the venue, the procession slows down for a final round of dancing, sometimes for quite a while.
- At the entrance, the bride's family welcomes the baraat. The bride's mother may perform aarti for the groom, apply a tilak and offer sweets.
What follows
The arrival leads straight into the welcome rituals. In Punjabi families this is the milni, where male relatives of both families embrace. In Rajasthan the groom may strike a toran (a decorative hanging) above the door. In Gujarat the bride's mother performs ponkhanu, playfully trying to catch the groom's nose. The jaimala usually comes next.
Regional variations
- Punjabi baraats are known for dhol and bhangra; Sikh baraats usually go to the gurdwara in the morning for the Anand Karaj. See the Punjabi wedding guide.
- Rajasthani baraats may include decorated horses, camels or elephants in heritage settings; read the Rajasthani wedding guide.
- In Bengali weddings, the bor jatri is usually quieter, and the groom's mother traditionally does not accompany the procession.
- In Tamil Brahmin weddings, the janavasam was a groom's procession on the evening before, a custom many families now skip.
Practical tips for families today
- Get local permissions if the baraat will use a public road, and check noise rules and end times.
- Plan the route and a realistic duration. Baraats usually run late; keep a buffer before the muhurat for the pheras, especially if your priest has fixed a precise time from the vivah muhurat calendar.
- Arrange water, umbrellas or fans for elders, and a vehicle for those who cannot walk.
- Avoid firecrackers near animals, children and elderly guests.
- Agree in advance who from the bride's side will welcome which relatives, so no one is overlooked.
- Share gathering times on the wedding invitation so guests know when to assemble.
Common questions
Some ask whether the bride can have her own procession. Many brides now make a grand entrance at the venue, with friends dancing around her or walking under a phoolon ki chaadar (a canopy of flowers) held by her brothers.
Fixing the date?
The muhurat calendar lists every auspicious wedding date month by month, with the hours each one holds.
Wedding muhurat calendar Match kundlis freeQuestions people ask
What does baraat mean?
The baraat is the groom's wedding procession to the bride's venue, made up of his family and friends, who are called baraatis.
How long does a baraat take?
It varies widely, from a short walk to several hours with dancing. Families usually leave a buffer so the main rituals start on time.
Does the groom's mother go in the baraat?
In most North Indian families she does. In some Bengali families the groom's mother traditionally stays home, though this is changing.
What happens when the baraat arrives?
The bride's family welcomes the groom with aarti, tilak and sweets, followed by welcome rituals such as the milni and then the jaimala.
Wedding traditions
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