The wedding event which has the maximum attendance of youngsters and adults alike is the baraat. It’s the most anticipated event for the groom’s family and one that is filled with great music, lots of dance, and in some parts of India, alcohol too! From dressed-up grooms seated on horses surrounded by family and friends dancing on the streets to being welcomed like royalty by the bride’s family, the baraat ceremony has its fair share of fun and excitement.

But, what is baraat?

Though we don’t know the actual history of baarat ceremony or where it originated, we do have stories of similar practices found in the early Vedic societies in ancient India. Weddings became more ceremonious then and all customs and rituals had deep meanings in society. The baarat ceremony was one such were the groom’s journey to marriage was celebrated by his family and friends. In those days, this wedding procession was ideally from the groom’s house to the bride’s, where the wedding would take place. But since the advent of wedding venues, the baarat generally begins from a few meters away from the venue entrance where the band leads the procession of a dancing family with the groom in the center.

The Evolution of the Baraat

Over the years, we have seen all the factors around the baraat ceremony change except the celebratory procession accompanying the groom to his wedding. Traditionally, the groom was seated on a horse, and a band was hired to play baraat music to lead the wedding procession. Though this form of baraat is still widely seen, the advancements in technology and cultural changes in society have changed the way baraat ceremonies are performed. At The Tamarind Tree, our grooms have entered their weddings in diverse manners ranging from a vintage Rolce Royce, to sitting on top of a BMW, cruising in an auto, to riding on a bullock cart. In an ideal grand Indian wedding, though, you can still see a baraat horse or if you’re lucky, a baraat elephant to carry the groom.

Who is the baraat for?

If you’re the one to follow tradition, then the baraat is for the groom. His immediate family members including his parents, sisters and brothers, uncles and aunts, and his close friends accompany him in a procession to the wedding venue. This wedding procession is led by a band playing traditional baraat music. However, in modern weddings that are more inclusive, even the bride has her own baraat. Just like in the groom’s baraat, the bride becomes the focal center of attention while her wedding party has their own celebration and meets the groom’s party midway.

When is a baraat held?

In most weddings, the baraat is held on the day of the wedding, just before the main ceremony begins. This could be in the early hours before the wedding for morning weddings or late evening for evening weddings. The timing of the baraat changes based on region and timing of the wedding ceremony. Though there is no set time for the baraat unlike the other rituals in a wedding, the procession tends to begin during the auspicious time window in a day (non-rahu time zones).

What is the duration of the Baraat

As a wedding venue in Bangalore that is home to diverse weddings, we have seen multiple cross-cultural weddings with customized baraats for the groom. Generally lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, our baraats end when the groom is greeted by his to-be mother-in-law and the bridal party at the double doors of our venue.

What are the customs and rituals involved?

Baraats are more about having fun and sending the groom off in style, but they do have a few rituals and customs based on the region of celebration. In the South of India, the welcome of the groom happens in more subtle ways. The band, or in this case, the nadaswara, plays traditional music as the bride’s family welcomes everyone with garlands. There is no wedding procession and the dance is very rare. The baraat is a bigger deal in North Indian weddings, where a lot of importance is given to every aspect of the baarat from dressing the groom to dressing the ride (horse, elephant, car, and so on). Not only does the groom wear a headdress (Sehra Bandi), but strands of ornaments are also tied on the horse. The procession begins when the groom seeks the blessings of elders, and ends when he is greeted by the bride’s family. A commonly seen practice is to give money to the band members and the horse owner as a token of appreciation to have been a part of their celebration and is also believed to be a form of protection from the evil eye.

What happens at a Baraat?

The groom, after taking blessings from his elders, alights on the baraat horse, while his friends and family surround him. The band begins to play music, signaling the procession and the dance to begin. This procession continues till the dancers and band members are tired, or when they reach the wedding premise. More often than not, it’s the latter. 

Who arrives with the groom and baraat?

During the baraat, the groom is generally accompanied by a young male member of the family. This young boy is referred to as Savaari. He acts as a companion to the groom and even sits with him on the horse, elephant, or car, whatever the choice of ride the groom makes for his baraat. There are no specific relational rules on who the boy must be. It’s generally someone close to the groom, could be a nephew or a young cousin.

Where are the brides during a baraat?

Just like weddings in general have seen a large shift in trends over the years, the baraat ceremony also has. At The Tamarind Tree, we are fortunate to witness a lot of cross cultural weddings where ceremonies are merged for inclusivity, and this also includes brides being a part of the baraat. For brides who are not sure how to participate, the options would be to either do a joint baraat ceremony that is more symbolic than traditional or to have a separate baraat and meet the groom half way. If the procession is not an option, then the bride also partakes in the welcoming of the groom’s family. This often results in a bonding ceremony for both families.

Horse, Elephant, or a Baraat on wheels?

Being true to tradition would mean choosing the horse as a baraat vehicle, but nothing says a grand Indian wedding like a baraat elephant. Do keep in mind that there are a lot of permits required to bring an elephant to a wedding. If you’re an animal lover and prefer to ride on horsepower, there are innumerable options of cars – from vintage to sport, to luxury cars that can be rented to be your ride. A couple of off-beat options that we have seen include cycles, autos, and bikes of all kinds. Nothing says romance like a joint baraat of the couple on a bicycle.

Latest Entry songs you could use in baraat

Cinemas have surely made their way into baraats and there isn’t a wedding without Bollywood music. Here are the top 10 songs we often hear during baraats. Though the infusion on latest music is subjective, there are some original classics that one might hear in most weddings.

• Ainvayi Ainvayi – Band Baaja Baaraat
• Sadi Gali – Tanu Weds Manu
• Galla Goodiyan – Dil Dhadakne Do
• Tenu Leke – Salaam-E-Ishq
• Nachde Ne Saare – Baar Baar Dekho
• Tunak Tunak Tun – Daler Mehndi
• Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
• Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai – Aadmi Sadak Ka
• Gal Ban Gayi – Yo Yo Honey Singh
• London Thumakda – Queen

Conclusion

Though baraats are an event largely celebrated in the North of India, we have seen its infusion into the South. Cross-cultural weddings and societal influences have merged the best of both worlds. Considering the diversity of India, the procession of baraat, the customs, and the baraat music does differ based on region. But the symbolic commitment that the groom arrives with, promising his life to his bride, remains constant throughout.