Marwari couple tie the knot in Malaysia

MARRIAGES in Rajasthan are usually traditional and elaborate affairs and Royal Marwari weddings tend to become even more extravagant affairs.

In fact, even a simple Marwari wedding in Rajasthan is just as elaborate as tradition and customs take precedence over everything else.

Recently, a Marwari wedding held at the JW Marriott in Putrajaya was over four days and if both families had followed all the rituals, it would have gone on for over seven days.

There are so many rituals but the families who chose to have the wedding with family members and close family friends, had just the mehendi and sangeet ceremonies.

About 370 guests attended the four-day wedding ceremony of Vigan Lodha and Poorvi Rara, two prominent Marwari families of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

According to Regal Events managing director Sunita Peters, whose company is coordinating the ceremony locally, said Marwaris as a custom, marry only within the community.

The official engagement ceremony takes place at the groom’s home.

This is strictly an all male affair and it is attended by only the bride’s father, brother and other close relatives.

No women, not even the bride, are allowed to accompany the menfolk for the engagement or what is known as the tika.

During the ceremony, the bride’s brother applies a tilak on the groom’s forehead and makes the alliance or engagement official.

A sword, other presents, clothes, fruits, sweets and more are given to the groom by the bride’s family.

The wedding ceremony is similar to a Hindu wedding. However, during the Rajasthani wedding, the bride must cover her face with a veil throughout the ceremony.

The newly-weds then take part in a few games, which are also common in other Hindu weddings.

The ceremony ends with the bride being formally introduced to the groom’s main family members and who bless her and give her gifts. Only then is the veil removed.

Nitin Dubey, who is co-ordinating the ceremony for the family in Rajasthan said the family chose to have the wedding ceremony in Malaysia after considering various other locations like the Maldives, Bali, Macau and Hong Kong.