Gujarati weddings are celebrated with great pomp and splendor and  are organised on a grand scale.  The marriage ceremonies are re-known for the colorful clothing, beautiful dance, numerous scrumptious cuisines and grand ambience.  The wedding itself is a ritualistic ceremony full of various poojas (prayers) and fascinating traditional customs. 

Remarkable, the dowry does not play a significant role in the weddings of Gujaratis.   The bride is often accepted by the groom with no expectations of wealth from the bride’s father. This is called kanku-kanya, meaning that only with a vermilion mark on the brides forehead, she is excepted by the grooms and his family.

Wedding Attire:

Gujarati brides are attired in traditional garbs, such as sarees (which is the  ideal ethnic dress for a bride) draped in a Gujarati style and bridal lehangas (draped in the Gurathi sari style), accompanied by traditional jewelry pieces. There are two basic traditional Gujarati saries, viz. Panetar (this is a white sari with red bandhini border) and the Gharchola (a  red bandhini sari crisscrossed with woven gold squares, enclosing bandhini motifs). Red is considered as the most auspicious color for the bride, however trendy brides are choosing more  contemporary colosr and designs. Traditional bandhini saris in old rose, jade green, peach etc. with zari borders are becoming very popular. Designer bridal lehangas which are stylish and chic looking in different shades are also very trendy., these lehangas are luring more and more girls into wearing them for their wedding attire.

Traditionally Gujarati grooms often wear  dhoti kurta with a colored Bandhani dupatta draped around his neck. However, in present times, more grooms prefer wearing formal suits or  indo western kurta suits with embroidery. 

Prenuptials:

The pre-nuptials usually begin with the Sagaai ceremony (engagement). The subsequent ceremonies are: Griha Shanti Pooja; Pithi; Mandap Muharat; Mehndi;  and Garba dance.

Sagaai: This is initiation ceremony of the wedding and the approval of marriage by the Gujarati community. It is a traditional ceremony which is hosted by the grooms family to solemnize the marriage. The bride gifts the groom with ‘Matli’, (a package that represents good luck. The matli is a container which is made of steel and contains sweets and gifts for the groom and his family). This symbolizes the bride’s family’s acceptance of this union.  Thereafter a ritual is performed by five women from each side of the families.  This ritual signifies a promise between the two families and blessing are showered onto couple.

Griha Shanti:  This pooja is performed to the nine planets seeking the blessings for a happy and peaceful married life for the couple. It is performed by a Pandit (priest) and the date and time of the marriage is chosen by matching the horoscopes of the prospective bride and groom. This prayer is conducted with the bride and groom’s family members and relatives.

Pithi: This is a ceremony performed individually by both the bride and groom at their homes.  The bride and groom are cleansed with the turmeric paste which is considered auspicious and beautifying. Turmeric paste is believed to brighten and soften the skin to produce a healthy glow at the wedding.

Mandap Mahurat: This ceremony takes place at the outset of most auspicious events to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu God who is believed to remove all obstacles. The families of the bride and the groom perform this ceremony in their homes a few days before the wedding.

Mehndi:  The Mehendi ceremony is celebrated by bride and her female friends and family members. This is a colourful ritual where  the bride’s hands and feet are adorned with beautiful mehendi  motifs and fine patterns. The female guests are also invited to have their hands decorated. While the mehendi  is applied in fine patterns on the palms and feet of the bride, songs specific to the occasion are sung.

Garba: Gujarati weddings are renown for their Garba ceremony.  Both the families of the prospective bridal couple celebrate Garba  usually  the night before the wedding day at the wedding venue.  This provides the opportunity for interaction between both families. The fascinating aspect of Garba is the Raas. This is a stick dance which fills the atmosphere of the marriage venue with vibrancy and enthusiasm. The dance involves hitting your partner's sticks while following the rhythm of the music. The pre-wedding rituals end with Garba as the next morning begins with the wedding rituals.
                       
The Wedding Rituals:
The wedding ceremony encompasses numerous traditional rituals  and customs and are as follows:
Ponkvu: The arrival of the groom, or the Ponkvu, is the official commencement of the Gujurati wedding. The groom is welcomed by his mother-in-law at the entrance of the wedding venue and she performs aarti. She also playfully tries to grab his nose at the entrance. This tradition is practiced to remind the groom that he has come rubbing his nose at their door asking for their daughter’s hand in marriage.

Jaimala: Jaimala ceremony  is the formal introduction of bride and groom on a stage where they will  exchange of garlands twice. Traditionally, the groom is lifted higher than the bride during the first exchange, while, the second time, they are at an equal level. In modern times this is done by the groom’s friends to show that the bride cannot take the groom away from his friends and family.

Madhuparka: Subsequent to the Jaimala ceremony, the  Madhuparka ceremony is performed. The groom is welcomed to the mandap (wedding alter) by his future mother-in-law. The groom’s feet is then washed and he is offered honey and milk as a token of love. While this ceremony is going on, the the saalis (bride's sisters) try to steal the groom's shoes, known as 'Juta Churai'. Traditionally, the  groom must leave the wedding venue with the same pair of shoes that he entered with. If his shoes are stolen, he must offer the sisters money in order to get them back.

Kanya Agamana: This is  beginning of the marriage ceremony at the mandap (wedding alter).  The bride is escorted by her maternal uncle to the mandapy. At the Mandap, there is an antarpaat (curtain) which separates her from her groom. As the Pundit begins chanting the mantras, the antarpaat is lowered and the couple exchanges garlands which is witnessed by the sacred fire.

Kanya Daan: This is a very significant wedding ritual.  Kanya daan is the ceremony in which the bride's father washes the groom's feet and gives his daughter's hand in marriage to the groom in the hope that he will protect and care for her.  The bride’s parents do not eat (fast) before the wedding to make themselves pure for the ritual. The brides hands are placed in the groom’s hand by the bride’s father. The bride is considered to be a form of Goddess Laxmi and the bridegroom is considered to be Lord Narayana. Kanya daan is performed in front of the sacred fire, facilitating the pious union of the boy and girl.

Hasta Milap: This ceremony is performed after Kanya Daan.  In this ritual, the groom's scarf or shawl is tied to the bride's sari signifying  the union of two souls joined together in holy matrimony. The right hands of the couple are tied with a thread that has been blessed with religious incantations. The tying of the hands signifies an eternal bond that will unite them forever. The priest  chants mantras to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati for the bride. The family and relatives present also come together to bless the couple and shower grains of rice and rose petals on them.

Varmala: This is a tradition where  a cord is tired around the couple’s necks to protect them from evil. These cords are traditionally tied by the elders of the bride and groom.
Mangalpheras: The bride and groom circle the sacred fire four times, signifying the four basic human goals of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha while the priest chants sacred mantras. The groom also recites mantras and seeks the loving support of his wife. 

Saptapadi: This ritual entails  the groom helping the bride in touching the seven betel nuts with her right toe, while both of them recite the seven vows for their commitment towards each other.   At each step of the Saptapadi, the groom asks for support from his bride throughout his life.

Saubhagyavati Bhava: In this tradition seven married woman from the brides side of the family must whisper  blessing in the right  ear of the bride. This is considered auspicious  and  ensures that the bride remains a Saubhagyavati  i.e. fortunate throughout her life.

Chero Pakaryo: The Chero Pakaryo is a custom exclusive to Gujaratis. This tradition allows the groom to tug the sari of his mother -in- law as she passes from the Mandap which seems like he is requesting more gifts from his brides family.

Shubh Ashirwaad: The Gujurati wedding concludes with the Ashirwaad (blessings)  in which the couple asks for the blessings of their elders. They are then blessed with gifts and other auspicious items.
Post-Wedding rituals: The post wedding ceremonies consist of:  ‘Vidai’ (biding good bye to bride);   ‘Ghar Nu Laxmi’ i.e. welcome ceremony of the bride at groom’s home and; ‘Aeki Beki’, a fun-filled game to find out who will rule the household.

Vidaai: Vidaai is when the bride is bid farewell by her  family and friends, before she leaves for her new home with her husband. This is very emotional time  for the bride and her family. Generally the brother of the bride accompanies her to the main exit of the home along with other relatives and finally gives her hand in her husband’s hand. This ceremony marks the beginning of a completely new life for the bride with her new family.

Ghar Nu Laxmi: The bride's first step into her new home is considered auspicious.  As the bride is considered to be “ Ghar Ni Laxmi”  (a form of Goddess Laxmi), she is welcomed with aarti performed by her mother-in-law.  At the entrance of the house, a pot filled with rice is placed. The bride is asked to knock down the vessel with her right foot, spilling some rice. This ritual is said to mark the entrance of Goddess Laxmi in the home. The rice is a symbol of wealth and by following the ritual she conveys her full understanding of her duties and responsibilities towards her new home.

Aeki Beki: This is a game that is played by the bride and groom.  Several coins and a ring are placed in a tray of water covered by milk and vermilion. It is believed that the person, who finds the ring four times out of seven , would be the ruler of the house. The day is concluded with prayers to God requesting happiness and love for the newly married couple.