Jain Wedding

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Following are the pre-wedding rituals that are said to be the essential part of a Jain wedding. Pre-wedding rituals such as Tikka and Sagai mark the beginning of the wedding festivities and bring the families of both sides a spirit of joy and unity. But the actual Jain marriage ritual begins with a small 'Ganesh Pujan'. In this ceremony, the groom's and bride's side perform a small puja, 'yagna,' to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha so that he takes care of all the obstacles and hurdles in the way.

Khol Barana and Tikka

If the groom's side of the family likes the bride, they officiate the relationship by giving her shagun. The Khol Barana ceremony is a way of officiating the relationship between the bride and the groom.The groom's side gifts cash and coconut to the bride making it official. Once it's done, now is the time for the bride's side to officiate the relationship between both the families. This is done when the bride's family members do a tilak ceremony indicating that they are ready to welcome the groom to their clan.Both Khola Barana and Tikka are considered essential rituals in a Jain marriage symbolizing the couple's commitment to each other and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Lekhan

In marriage, two families come together rather than two individuals. When the two families decide to go along with the relationship, it becomes necessary to set an auspicious time and date for the marriage. This ceremony is done by the priest, based on the kundali of the bride and the groom.

Lagna Patrika Vachan or Lagna

Next in the line of Jain wedding rituals is the 'Lagna Patrika ceremony'. This ritual is performed after the wedding day, and the time ( shubh muhurat) is fixed by the pandit( priest). Then, the bride's side of the family informs the groom's side about the fixed time and date of the wedding in an exciting way. Lagna Patrika Vachan includes every detail about the wedding's date and time. Once done, all this information is drafted in the form of a document( called Lagna Patrika Vachan) and sent to the groom's side of the family.

Sagai or Engagement

Exchanging rings is not what a typical Jain sagai is all about. In Hindu marriages, the to-be bride and to-be groom exchange rings with each other on their engagement day. Engagement embarks the new journey of the to-be-wedded couple and shows commitment. However, in Jain sagai, the bride and groom sides of the family arrange a small function where the bride's brother welcomes his brother-in-law (jijaji) with a tilak. Instead of rings, both families exchange sweets, cash, gifts and much more.

Bana Betai or Haldi Ceremony

The rituals performed in the Bana Betai of a Jain wedding is somewhat similar to the typical Hindu haldi ceremony. During Bana Betail, the married women from both bride's and groom's sides of the family apply ubtan made of chickpea flour (besan). In Hindu tradition, this ceremony symbolises beauty, purity and auspiciousness. Moreover, this ceremony is performed to ward off evil spirits and bring positivity and happiness to the couple's lives. However, the Bana Betai ritual is prominent in Marwari Jains.

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Mada Mandap

The Mada Mandap ceremony is usually performed in the presence of a Jain monk or priest, who performs the necessary prayers and rituals to bless the couple and their union.

Bandola Ceremony

The last ritual on the list of the Jain wedding rituals is ‘Bandola function’. In some Jain families this ritual is also known as ‘bandori’ function. In this ritual, the close relatives of both the sides host a small lunch or dinner, for the to-be-bride and groom just the day before the wedding.

Wedding day rituals

The first comes the ‘Jaimala’ ceremony. The ritual starts with the exchange of flower malas between the couple . After this ceremony, the next important ritual in a Jain wedding is ‘Kanyadaan’. In Hindu culture and tradition, ‘Kanyadaan’ is said to be the ‘mahadaan’. Let us talk about what rituals take place in this ceremony. During this ceremony, the bride’s father gives her hand to the groom and says that now he transfers his duty as the protector and provider of the bride to the groom. After the Kanyadaan ceremony, the groom performs the ‘Sindoor Daan’ ceremony in which he applies sindoor on the bride's forehead.

The next step is when the groom ties the mangalsutra around the bride’s neck, signifying that she is now married and part of his family. Jain mangalsutra ceremony is typically a necklace with black gold and beads, and a pendant that represents the union of two individuals into one.

Post-wedding rituals:

Grihapravesh

After the wedding, the couple visits the groom's home for the 'Grihapravesh' ceremony, where they enter their new home for the first time. Some families call this ritual 'sva graha aagamana'.

Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana

The newlywed couple then makes their way to the Jain temple to seek God's blessing. Some families even follow the Jain wedding rituals of 'Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana'. Finally, after seeking the blessings of the Almighty, the groom's family donate food and gifts to the poor.

Reception

This is followed by the 'Reception', where the newlyweds are formally introduced to their friends and family. Reception is also an opportunity for the newly wedded couple to extend their thanks to their guests for attending the wedding.

Food and Attire:

The food served during a Jain wedding is typically vegetarian, reflecting the Jain principle of non-violence. Dishes include 'Roti', 'Rice', 'Dal', 'Sabzi', and 'Sweets'. A Jain wedding is incomplete without its delicacies such as Jain mixed vegetable handvo, Dhokla, Kela Methi nu shaak, etc. Now hoping on to the Jain wedding dress, the bride and groom wear traditional attire, with the bride dressed in a red or golden saree and heavy gold jewellery and the groom dressed in a 'Sherwani' and 'Turban'.

Back in the day, minimalism was at the forefront. But, unlike now, the groom's first choice for their attire was Kurta-pyjama. But now, 'sherwani' has taken the place of simple Kurta-pyjama in Jain wedding rituals. The bride's wedding attire choice will be solely based on her family traditions and customs. Jains from different cultures follow different customs regarding attire for the bride and groom.

Music and Dance:

Music and dance play a significant role in a Jain wedding, with traditional music and songs being played during the ceremony and reception. A Jain wedding ceremony is incomplete without the celebration of the union of bride and groom. Both the sides of the family come together and enjoy the function by playing Jain traditional music.