This tradition takes place in three Gujarati villages.
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Indian marriages are often celebrated as festivals where extended families and friends unite to witness the union of two individuals. With a rich history of fun rituals and traditions, the bride and groom, along with their families, create lasting memories. However, in Gujarat, there exists a village where a unique twist is added to the conventional wedding narrative – the groom’s sister assumes his role in the wedding vows.
In India, weddings are considered sacred unions not only between two individuals but also between their families. While various traditions and rituals add charm to the occasion, certain regions, like three tribal villages in Gujarat—Surkheda, Sanada, and Ambal, follow an extraordinary custom. In these villages, the groom’s sister plays a pivotal role in the wedding, standing in for her brother to safeguard his life.
As per this distinctive tradition, the groom’s unmarried sister or any unmarried woman from his family becomes his proxy in the marriage ceremony. She executes the rituals on his behalf, allowing the groom to remain at home with his mother while the sister takes charge of the ‘baraat,’ solemnising the marriage with the bride, and escortsr her to their home.
A resident of Surkheda village, Kanjibhai Rathwa, sheds light on this practice, stating, “All the rituals that a groom traditionally does are conducted by his sister. She takes the ‘mangal phere’ with the bride instead of her brother.”
The head of Suekheda village, Ramsinghbhai Rathwa, emphasises the significance of this tradition, noting that deviating from it has been associated with unfavourable outcomes. He explains, “A couple of times some people have tried to not follow the tradition,” adding, “It is seen that either they end up with broken marriages or their family life does not go well, or several other types of problems also arise.”
According to additional reports, although the groom may not physically attend his wedding, he gets to dress in a sherwani, don a safa (turban), and carry a traditional sword, waiting patiently at home. This practice is rooted in the belief that the male deities of the village were bachelors, prompting grooms to stay home as a mark of respect.
