Role of Bride’s Mama in Marwari Weddings

Marwaris are a caste that hails from Marwar region of Rajasthan. In Marwari weddings, the bride’s maternal uncle/mama has a very significant part to play. Marwari women, when they get married, are showered with lavish and expensive gifts from their father; later on, they usually do not claim any more of their father’s wealth, simply because it is assumed that her father’s wealth belonged to her brothers. 

The mama of the bride shows a lot of generosity in the wedding of his niece making the entire family proud. There is a particular Marwari wedding ritual, known as Bhaat, where the mama’s support is acknowledged. This ritual is performed at the respective homes of the bride/groom. 

In the ritual, the mama is personally invited to attend the wedding of his niece/nephew. He and his sister (bride’s mother) participate in a ceremony involving cooked rice and moong (a lentil). Following this, the bride’s mother feeds her brother a bit of sugar. The maternal uncle now gives his sister a traditional tie-dye dupatta, which the sister has to keep with her forever.

 

The Mama also gifts his niece/nephew and their life partner their wedding attire, jewellery and money. There is no steadfast rule on the amount of the ornaments and cash; the uncle gives as much as he can afford. 

Jain Wedding and the many Rituals

Jain weddings are never complete without its series of rituals. Like any other Indian wedding, Jain weddings are also replete with tradition, culture and lots of rituals.

Kanyapradan

A Jain wedding begins with this ritual. In this ritual, the bride’s parents puts some grains of rice and one rupee twenty five paise on her right hand before handing her over to the groom. The bride’s father announces the marriage of his daughter with the groom before the guests at the ceremony. In this ceremony, the priest when chanting the mantras, pours water on the hands of the couple three times.

Granthi Bandhan

This is the ritual where the wedding knot is made. One of the married women from among the guests ties the bride’s sari pallu to the groom’s shawl, as the couple prepares for the pheres.

 Phere

This is ideally the most important part of any Jain wedding ceremony. In Jain matrimony also, an auspicious time is chosen for the pheres. The bride and the groom take four rounds around the sacred fire. In the first round, the bride leads, while in the next three rounds, the groom has to lead.  At the end, the couple has to take seven vows. The exchange of the garlands are made.

Havan

This is the next ritual in line for the Jain wedding ceremony. After the chanting of mantras, offerings are made in the end.

Mangal Geet

The Mangal Geet is sung by the ladies when the pheres take place.