Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Baraat?
Also written: Barat, jaan, बारात
The baraat is the groom's wedding procession from his place to the wedding venue, with family and friends dancing to a band or dhol ahead of him.
- Who keeps it
- North and West Indian Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Muslim families, under different names.
- When
- On the wedding day, after the ghudchadi, before the varmala and the pheras or nikah.
About Baraat
What should you know about Baraat?
The groom rides a mare, a car or walks, and the baraatis dance through the streets or the venue driveway. When the baraat reaches the venue, the bride's family welcomes it with aarti, garlands and milni.
In Gujarati weddings the baraat is called the jaan. A late baraat is a running joke at Indian weddings, so many families build a buffer into the muhurat.
In the order of functions
Where does Baraat come in an Indian wedding?
On the wedding day, after the ghudchadi, before the varmala and the pheras or nikah.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Baraat?
Baraat assembles at 6 pm at Hotel Raj Palace and reaches the venue by 7:30 pm.
Related words
Words that go with Baraat
- Ghudchadi
Ghudchadi is the ritual where the groom mounts a decorated mare (ghodi) before the baraat, with his sisters and sisters-in-law performing small customs around him.
- Milni
Milni is the Punjabi welcome where relatives with the same relation on both sides, such as the two fathers and the two maternal uncles, meet, embrace and exchange garlands and gifts when the baraat arrives.
- Toran
A toran is the decorated hanging over the door of the wedding home or venue, and in many Rajasthani families the groom ceremonially touches it before he enters.
- Varmala
Varmala, or jaimala, is the exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom, which marks their acceptance of each other in front of the guests.
- Sehra
A sehra is the veil of flowers, pearls or beads tied over the groom's turban so that it hangs across his face, put on at the sehra bandi before he leaves for the wedding.
Questions
Baraat, answered
What is Baraat?
The baraat is the groom's wedding procession from his place to the wedding venue, with family and friends dancing to a band or dhol ahead of him.
Which families celebrate Baraat?
North and West Indian Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Muslim families, under different names.
When does Baraat happen in the order of wedding functions?
On the wedding day, after the ghudchadi, before the varmala and the pheras or nikah.
What do families write on the invitation for Baraat?
Baraat assembles at 6 pm at Hotel Raj Palace and reaches the venue by 7:30 pm.
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