Bride goes on horse to groom’s house, asks for his hand
27 April 2013 8:17 AM IST
A 25-year-old law student, Rajni, from Satwara village of Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, has revived a fascinating marriage tradition earlier practiced by the Patidar community called ‘Kanya Ghatari’, where she mounted a horse and took her marriage procession (baraaat) to her groom’s house through the village. After the hour long baraat and much dancing on the streets, she went to the mandap and asked the groom for his hand in marriage.
It is an erstwhile practice that has long been forgotten by the ‘Patidar’ community. The standard marriage practice usually follows a process, where the groom takes the marriage procession to the bride’s house, with the onus upon the groom to ask for the bride’s hand in marriage.
The event was marked by the notion of women’s empowerment. Married only two days ago, the bride initially felt that it would be a little awkward, with the idea of riding a horse and taking the baraat to the groom’s place. She said, ‘I realised that the idea was to empower women and this practice would certainly eradicate many evils in the society.’
Her groom, Praveen Patidar, 30, a state government employee, saw the entire event of his bride approaching his house on a horse and asking his hand for marriage, as a matter of pride.
The groom’s father, Ishwarlal Das has said that in their wedding card, a message of women empowerment was articulated. He further added that it was his family’s wish that their daughter-in-law reached the groom’s place upon a horse.
According to the father, the tradition began with coconut offered to the bride by her parents. After this ritual was completed, the girl mounted the horse and led the baraat from her house, which after passing through the village, reached the groom’s place.
After she came on to the mandap, she asked for the groom’s hand in marriage. Family members of the groom then welcomed the bride with open arms. With this, the marriage was solemnised.
The revival of this practice was met with much approval by the elders of her community. In fact praise was lavished upon her for taking this step.
It is an erstwhile practice that has long been forgotten by the ‘Patidar’ community. The standard marriage practice usually follows a process, where the groom takes the marriage procession to the bride’s house, with the onus upon the groom to ask for the bride’s hand in marriage.
The event was marked by the notion of women’s empowerment. Married only two days ago, the bride initially felt that it would be a little awkward, with the idea of riding a horse and taking the baraat to the groom’s place. She said, ‘I realised that the idea was to empower women and this practice would certainly eradicate many evils in the society.’
Her groom, Praveen Patidar, 30, a state government employee, saw the entire event of his bride approaching his house on a horse and asking his hand for marriage, as a matter of pride.
The groom’s father, Ishwarlal Das has said that in their wedding card, a message of women empowerment was articulated. He further added that it was his family’s wish that their daughter-in-law reached the groom’s place upon a horse.
According to the father, the tradition began with coconut offered to the bride by her parents. After this ritual was completed, the girl mounted the horse and led the baraat from her house, which after passing through the village, reached the groom’s place.
After she came on to the mandap, she asked for the groom’s hand in marriage. Family members of the groom then welcomed the bride with open arms. With this, the marriage was solemnised.
The revival of this practice was met with much approval by the elders of her community. In fact praise was lavished upon her for taking this step.
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