Discussing about Gujarati wedding, all we can think of is the colourful and unique rituals that make Gujarati wedding stand out of the crowd. Gujarati wedding rituals are really abide by, and followed with whole heartedness.

The first of the Gujarati wedding rituals is antarpaat. According to this custom, the bride is carried to the mandap by her maternal uncle. There the curtain, antarpaat, is lowered and the couple puts garlands to each other. This exchanging of garlands is called jaimala. Followed by madhurparka, wherein the groom’s feet are washed at the mandap and is offered milk and honey.

Hast milap is performed afterwards where the bride’s sari border is tied to the groom’s scarf or shawl which symbolises union of the couple. Prayers are performed to ask blessings from goddess Lakshmi and goddess Parvati for the good luck of the bride. Under the rain of flowers and rice, the Gujarati wedding rituals are then performed in front of the sacred fire.

The kanyadaan is performed thereafter to give away the bride to the groom’s family. Parents of the bride keep themselves empty stomach so as to ensure purity of their mind and body for the occasion. The bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet. This is done just because they consider their son in law to be lord Vishnu. They handle to him the goddess Lakshmi in their daughter’s form. And keep their hands folded and hope that their son in law will take good care of their daughter. After this, the couple takes pheras, around the sacred fire according to Gujarati wedding rituals. With each step, the groom takes vows and seeks his wife’s support, and makes a particular request to her at each step. After the pheras the couple seek blessings from all the elders present there and from the priest as well.