No matter your religious or cultural beliefs, your wedding day is an important event that requires careful planning. A Bharat ceremony, or Baraat ceremony as it's more commonly spelled, is a tradition for many Hindu and Sikh weddings. At CrystalView Weddings and Events, we can help you incorporate a Baraat ceremony into your special day. If you're not quite sure what happens during an Indian Baraat wedding ceremony, you've come to the right place. This article provides all the information you need about this Indian wedding tradition so you know why it happens and how it works.

The Baraat Ceremony: Understanding Its Significance

A man riding on the back of a white horse by Abhishek Sharma is licensed with Unsplash License

Although the Indian Baraat wedding ceremony has its roots in Hindu traditions, this Indian wedding procession has spread to other cultures as well, including Sikh, Rajput, Punjabi, and Muslim. Each of these cultures may put its own twist on how this wedding procession looks, but there are many similarities. We can help you incorporate these into your own wedding when you work with us.

Baraat means groom, and the Indian Baraat wedding is a procession led by the groom, his family members, and groomsmen. The procession is meant to signify the groom's journey to unite with his bride and bring the two families together. Baraat ceremonies are happy affairs full of joy and excitement. There's music to add to the atmosphere of the ceremony, and the procession ends when the groom arrives at the wedding venue, where he meets the bride's family.

The Baraat Ceremony Process From Start to Finish

So what happens in an Indian wedding ceremony? Well, the Baraat procession usually kicks off the event, and it starts with a ritual called Sehra Bandi. This is when the groom's friends and family tie a decorative veil, or sehra, to his turban. The veil covers his face to ward off evil and demonstrates his humility. 

Then, the groom climbs onto his Ghodi, which is traditionally a white horse adorned with decorations and embellishments to match his wedding attire. As he makes his way to the wedding venue where his bride awaits his arrival, there's a lively procession that follows him with music and dancing along the way.

At the wedding venue, the bride's family welcomes the groom and his Baraat procession. This part of the ceremony is called Milni, and the two families often exchange garlands to show unity between the families. After the exchange of garlands, the bride's mother performs the Aarti ceremony. She uses light to ward off evil spirits and then puts a ceremonial red dot on the groom's forehead as a blessing of the marriage union.

Finally, the bride and groom exchange garlands, a part of the ceremony known as Jaimala. This part of the ceremony represents their acceptance of one another and ends the Baraat portion of the Indian wedding. After the Baraat, the bride and groom enter the Mandap, which is where the main wedding ceremony takes place.

Key Elements of the Baraat Ceremony

At CrystalView Weddings and Events, we can ensure you have all the key elements of a Baraat ceremony for your special day. Our wedding venue offers plenty of space to accommodate all your needs and desires for your wedding day. Whether you want to stick with the traditional Indian wedding horse for your ceremony or put a modern touch to the procession with a stylish car to serve as your Ghodi, the area around our building makes the ideal procession grounds. You could forgo the Ghodi and use our spacious interior to perform a walking Baraat ceremony, too.

Our covered entryway is the perfect stop for the groom to get the reception he deserves from the bride's family. With our all-inclusive approach to planning your wedding, we'll also provide the right music for the Baraat ceremony. This means you'll have the ambience you want, so the excitement and energy will flow.

Understanding Cultural Variations in Baraat Ceremonies Across Regions

Across regions, the Baraat ceremony may look different, but the central idea remains the same. The clothing the groom wears, for instance, can vary based on styles in the region. He may wear silk, linen, or other material for his traditional garment. How the groom travels during the Indian Baraat procession may also vary, depending not only on tradition but also on how extravagant or modern the procession is. While a white horse is the most common Ghodi, some grooms choose an elephant or an elegant vehicle for their transportation.

Smaller Baraat ceremonies may choose to skip the white horse or other type of Ghodi, opting to keep things simple and walk to the location of the bride and her family. Our venue is able to accommodate any type of Baraat ceremony you choose to incorporate into your wedding day.

Planning a Modern Baraat Ceremony: Tips and Ideas

CrystalView Weddings and Events can help you plan the perfect Baraat ceremony for your special day. Here are some ideas that could make your Baraat ceremony more memorable:

• Make personalized signs and banners with the names of the bride and groom for members of the Baraat procession to hold.
• Hand out sparklers and party poppers to everyone in the procession if the wedding takes place at night.
• Get family and friends to choreograph a dance to make the procession cohesive and elegant.
• Swap the white horse Ghodi tradition for a decorated golf cart, tractor, motorcycle, or other unique set of wheels.
• Ask everyone to wear a specific color or piece of clothing to help the group have a unified look.

Let CrystalView Host Your Baraat Ceremony

CrystalView in Fairfax, Virginia, is the perfect location for your Indian wedding ceremony. We take care of everything, from the Baraat ceremony to the afterparty. Our expert planners can ensure your wedding goes exactly as you desire, to help you seal your union without worry. Contact our wedding planners today to start creating your ideal ceremony.