Baniya Matrimony

About Baniya Matrimony

Baniya community is considered as one of the most wealthy communities of India. However, when it comes to the marriage they like it in a bit lavish manner. The parents actually start their savings right from the day their child is born. And they finally showcase these savings during wedding thus they believe in long wedding celebrations. The Baniya community matrimony takes place for about a week. If you witness a Baniya community matrimony you will surely find lots of fun, laughter, the bride and the relatives loaded with the gold jewelry and lots and lots of entertainment.

Let us have a look at enthralling rituals of Baniya matrimony.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Fixing The Marriage Date

According to Baniya community marriages are made in heaven but they are fixed by parents. Thus, arrange are most prominent traditions among them. The search of the parents ends once they find a perfect match. Then the wedding date of marriage is fixed by matching the horoscope of the girl & boy. This astrologically auspicious fixed date is then announced by both the families among relatives and friends.

Ring Ceremony

It is also known as Sagai ceremony, which marks the beginning of all the wedding celebrations. During this ceremony, the would-be-bride and groom exchange the rings. Gifts and sweets are also exchanged between the families. It is a kind of formal announcement of the alliance and the wedding date as well.

Ganpati Puja

In India, most of the wedding ceremonies start with Ganpati puja. This ceremony takes place separately at both the houses. This ceremony is popular as the mandav ceremony among Baniya's and is performed to seek the divine blessing of God Ganpati for the new couple who are about to start a new life.

Visiting The Porter

This ceremony is typically a ladies only type of ceremony. Ladies of both the houses take part in this ceremony. They carry a procession to the porter's house and they sing and dance in their way. At porter's place, they sprinkle water, sandalwood, and flowers on the porter's wheel. They purchase various pots from the porter which are to be used for various purposes during the different wedding ceremonies.

Exchanging Gifts for Weddings

This ceremony is not attended by the would-be couple. It takes place a day or two prior to the actual wedding day. Both the families exchange the wedding gifts including the wedding dress for the couple.

Mehendi Ceremony

Any Indian wedding is incomplete without this ceremony. It is conducted separately for both the families. The ladies in the house smear mehendi on their hands. The beautiful Mehendi designs are painted on the bride's hands and feet. Even the groom apply mehndi on their hands among Baniyas.

Wedding Day Rituals

Haldi Ceremony

Haldi ceremony takes place on the morning of the wedding day. This ceremony is also conducted in both the families. The married females of both the families apply haldi on the face, hands, shoulders, and feet of the bride and groom. After this, the bride and the groom take a holy bath with the same pot brought by the ladies. After this, all the succeeding ceremonies of the wedding day begin.

The Wedding Procession

In the latter part of the day, the full-fledged groom seeks blessings from the elders. After this Sehrabandi ceremony takes place during which Sehra (decorated turban) is tied by the father on the groom's head. The groom then rides a decorated white mare to set off for the wedding venue along with his procession.

Feet Washing Ceremony of Groom

The groom and his procession are welcomed warm-heartedly by the bride's family. The mother in law of groom performs an arti then he is allowed to enter the venue. Once the groom entered the venue, the bride's mother washes his feet with honey, curd, milk, ghee, and sugar.

Marriage Rituals

After feet washing, the groom steps up on the stage followed by the bride. The bride and groom exchange the garlands. This takes place amidst lots of Fun and laughter. After that, they proceed towards the Madap for further rituals.

Kanyaadan

During this ceremony, the bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom. Now, all the financial, physical, and emotional responsibility of the bride is transferred to the groom. The groom also promises to take care of her until the end.

Saat Phera

The bride and the groom stand up for the ritual. The priest asks them to circumambulate around the holy fire seven times. These seven rounds signify the seven sacred vows of marriages. These vows are meant for happy and prosperous married life of the couple.

The Sindoor and Manglsutra

All the non-stop wedding functions, concludes when the groom puts the red sindoor on the bride's forehead and ties mangalsutra around his neck. It marks the start of a happy married life.

Aashirwad

After completion of all the wedding ceremony, the couple seeks the blessings from all the elders of both the families.

Post Wedding Rituals

Vidai

After a whole lot ceremony loaded with fun and laughter, its now time to say a hard-hearted goodbye to the bride. The bride has to leave her paternal life in order to start her new life with his husband. Thus she bids a tearful goodbye from her family and sets off for her new home.

Grihpravesh Ceremony

After an emotional vidaai ceremony, the groom's family tries to ensure that it makes the bride feel welcome by continuing the celebrations with joy and enthusiasm. Thus, all the family members welcome her at the threshold of the house. The aarti is performed by the mother in law. Then the bride enters by dismounting a pot filled with rice.

Mooh Dikhai

The Indian bride among Baniya has to cover her face with her bridal veil or Ghoonghat. Then the mothers-in-law lift up this veil to reveal her beauty among relatives and friends. Every member takes his/her turn to offer gifts to the brides.

Reception

A full-fledged reception party is thrown by the groom's family in the honor of the newly-wed. the party if full of all kinds of celebrations. The delicious food, musical bash, the laughter and fun all are part of a Baniya reception party.