Khatri Matrimony

About Khatri Matrimony

The Khatri belongs to trading and mercantile community of India. They were originated in Punjab and eventually spread to many states like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir etc. Their wedding customs are very similar to that of Punjabi. They celebrate their weddings as a big fat occasion. Khatri community matrimony is filled with different colors of celebration, delicious food, and soulful rituals.

Let, I take an opportunity to give you a glance of Khatri community matrimony, with my words. Here we go, to the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

The wedding starts with finding a perfect match within the community. After the parents of the boy and the girl agree on all the aspects of marriage, the wedding celebration is announced.

Sagaai/ Kudmai

After acceptance of the alliance between the families. The would-be bride, and her parents along with other close relatives go to the groom's house. They offer him lot of gifts as a sign of welcoming him to the family. The priest applies Tilak, on the groom's forehead. Then an auspicious date for the wedding is fixed and announced to all the family members. This engagement ceremony is known as Sagaai or Kudmai in the local language.

Godh Bharai

This ritual takes place one or two days prior to the wedding. In this ritual, the groom's family visits the bride's house. They shower her with lots of gifts like jewelry, clothes, cosmetics, accessories, sweets for the bride. All these gifts are kept on a silver platter and the groom's mother places this platter on the bride's lap. The married women of the groom's family also apply Tilak on the bride's forehead.

Kangana

This is an important ritual officiated by a pujari (family priest). Kangana is made by tying a betel nut, tamarind and tiny shells to a red sacred thread called 'mouli'. then the Kangna is blessed by the priest and tie on the wrist of the bride and groom. they are supposed to wear this till the conclusion of the wedding. These 'Kangana are a symbol of protection of the bride and the groom from any evil eyes during the wedding ceremony.

Mehndi

Henna is one of the important parts of the bridal attire which she supposes to wear for the purpose of bringing luck and prosperity in her married life. During this ritual beautiful designs of henna is applied on the hands and feet of the bride. This is a purely ladies' function. They sing and dance on folk wedding songs during the whole function.

Seedhe Haath Tanni Kadai

This ritual is observed in both the houses separately. In this ritual, the married relatives of the bride and the groom apply mustard oil and a paste of chickpea flour, mustard oil, fresh milk curds and turmeric on the face, arms and feet of the couple. After the conclusion of this function, the holy bath ceremony is performed.

Chooda

This is an important ceremony held at the bride's house. In this ceremony, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt slip a set of red and ivory bangles with the beautiful design on the bride's wrists. This is a symbol of prosperity in married life of the newlywed.

Wedding Rituals

The marriage ceremony starts with the departure of baarat.

Baraat(the wedding procession)

The full-fledged goom wearing an off-white or cream color sherwani suit, a headgear, 'safa' and a jeweled sword, leaves for the wedding venue mounted on a decorated mare. He is accompanied by family members and close friends. At the entrance of the venue, the bride's family gives them a warm welcome by garlanding them.

Jaimala

Then the groom sits on the mandap and the pujari performs a small 'puja'. this is followed by exchanging of garlands between the couple. Then the remaining wedding rituals are performed.The Khatri weddings the wedding rites are performed only after midnight and lasts until the early hours of the morning. The wedding dinner is served to the guests after the jaimala ceremony.

Havan

The two priests (one from each family), officiates the ceremony. They perform a special puja (prayer) for the groom as he enters the Mandap. The 'Havan' or the sacred fire is lit by the priest amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. Then he offers prayers to the god of fire to bring long healthy, prosperous and happy life for the newlyweds.

Kanyadaan

In this ritual, the bride's father touching the joined hands of the bride and the groom asks the groom to accept his daughter as his wife for which the groom, grasping her hands, promises to protect his new wife.

Gath Bandhan

In this ritual, a wedding knot is tied between the ends of the garments of the bride and the groom this is known as Gath Bandhan. Following this, the couple walks around the sacred fire taking their seven marriage vows. This is known as mangal phera.

Post-Wedding Rituals

Bari Palang

It is a unique custom among Khantri's in which the couple is taken to the room having the nuptial bed and made to sit on it. After a small prayer, the bride throws a handful of rice it over her head. The ladies, at the back, try to collect as many rice grains as they can. It is believed that good luck will come to the one who gathers the most.

Vidaai

In this last ritual, the bride bids a tearful goodbye from her parents, friends and all her childhood memories. The bride departs from her home in a decorated car.

Grihpravesh

The newlywed bride is welcomed by her mother in law. She performs an arti and greets her in. All the family members of the groom's family wish for the good luck of the bride.

Reception

The groom's family hosts a grand reception in the honor of the newlywed. All the family members of the groom celebrate this last ceremony with full joy and happiness.