The History and Meaning of the Baraat

Indian weddings are lavish celebrations that host an array of events before, during, and after the big day. Whether a couple opts for an extravagant soirée or an intimate ceremony, these multi-day affairs are rich with traditions designed to make every fête feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not only that, but the customs South Asian couples choose to embrace help reveal the joyous nature of their community and culture—especially the baraat, which has been a long-standing celebratory practice at most Indian weddings.

More specifically, the baraat is a wedding procession for the groom that involves live music and dancing. Though it doesn’t hold any religious significance, it’s performed at almost every wedding to ensure a couple happily enters their marriage with friends and family by their side. This custom also symbolizes the groom’s journey to marrying his wife and the joining of two families into one.

Ahead, we tapped Devika Narain, a premier wedding planner and event stylist in India, to help explain everything you need to know about the baraat, including its origins and modern-day iterations. Read on for more.

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According to Narain, the tradition of the baraat—which originated in North India—was created so that grooms could show off their joy and excitement about getting married. She continues by sharing, “The baraat (a term used to refer to the groom’s family and friends) would go and stay in the bride’s hometown for over two weeks, during which time the various rituals would take place, culminating in bringing back the bride to the groom’s house.” Today, the purpose of the baraat remains the same, though it’s been reduced to only a few hours of singing and dancing.

As for what traditionally happens during this celebratory event? In many communities, the first custom is to tie the groom’s sehra or veil (made of beads or flowers), which is then tied to his cloth turban. (The baraatis all wear matching turbans, too.) Next comes the sawaari, or “the climbing on the horse” (or chosen vehicle), in preparation for the journey. The baraat is then welcomed by the bride’s family—a ritual known as milni—whichtakes place at the venue’s entrance where the groom’s family and the bride’s family meet. Next, the bride’s mother applies a tilak (ceremonial red dot) on the groom’s forehead and performs an aarti to ward off any evil. This is finally followed by the jaimala, or garland exchange, with the bride.

At most modern-day weddings, the groom—who’s decorated in traditional Indian finery—is usually seated on a ceremonial horse, elephant, chariot, or vintage car as his guests lead him to the ceremony location. (This can go on for several hours, depending on the enthusiasm of the group.) At destination weddings where all functions take place within a hotel, the baraat typically starts at the hotel entrance and ends at the lobby or banquet hall entrance.

Additionally, since the festivities rarely stop at an Indian wedding, the baraat has now morphed into another reason to party. Live music—including bands dedicated to baraats that belt out Bollywood chartbusters and Dhol (drum) players—is particularly popular at this event. Live DJ sets and performances are also incorporated into modern-day baraats, and flash mob-style choreographed dances are not unheard of either.

Narain further shares that, over the years, she has witnessed the democratization of the baraat: “As the world is becoming more equal, many brides want their own baraat today. In such cases, the groom’s baraat makes way for the bride’s baraat. In fact, at a [previous] wedding, the bride and groom danced in a joint baraat as both their mothers received them at the entrance!” she adds.

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