RITUALS IN JAIN WEDDINGS | NAKSHATRA WEDDING

The Jain community in India are the oldest followers of the Sramana traditions, following the faith laid down by the 24 Tirthankars. They also have a powerful presence abroad. We know the group for close-knit and strong family ties and simple approaches to life.

So, when a Jain marriage ceremony takes place, it is a strong celebration of family and friends - simple in ethos and yet expansive in scale. Here are some of the more common traditions that one would see during a wedding from the community. While the traditions and customs may differ by region, but their essence remains the same: So, let’s see what it is all about!
Pre-wedding Ceremonies
1. Khol Barana and Tikka
Khol Barana is the inauguration of the Jain marriage ceremonies. As a custom, the groom’s family gifts a silver plate with the auspicious coconut and some cash as a Shagun. While this is called the Khol Barana, the tradition of the bride’s family going to the groom’s home with gifts is known as the tikka or the Tilak ceremony.

2. Lagna lekhan
The Lagna Lekhan is a Jain marriage ceremony in which the date of the wedding is decided after a Puja being conducted at the bride’s place. The precise date and time of the wedding are decided on this day.
Lagna Patrika Vachan

You will find this ceremony quite interesting and unique to the Jain community. Here, a letter, usually formal, is drafted. The letter contains the Muhurat of the wedding and is sent out to the groom’s family. The groom’s family opens and reads this letter in front of close relatives after a small puja.
Sagai
The Sagai or the engagement ceremony doesn’t involve the couple exchanging rings, like in most other communities. In the Jain community, Jain marriage is announced through a tilak. The bride’s family visits the groom’s family and gifts and sweets are exchanged along with a tilak ceremony of the groom.

Mehendi
While the intent and timing for the Mehndi ceremony during a Jain marriage are quite similar to one across the country, we do see subtle differences here. The mehndi function here is more of a homely affair, with the women coming together to apply mehndi designs to the hands of the bride and dab some for the groom as well.

Bana Betai
A Jain marriage has its own version of the Haldi ceremony, called the Bana Betai. Here, however, instead of the common turmeric paste, the bride and the groom get a dab of chickpea paste or besan, followed by a ritualistic bath.

The Jain Marriage
Mada Mandap
The Mada Mandap is the ritual of sanctifying the Mandap where the wedding is to take place. It’s one of the first rituals performed on the day of a Jain marriage.

Ghudchadi
And something similar once again! The Ghudchadi is the ceremony in which the groom initiates with the Barat on his horse. The females of the house tighten the headgear and apply tilak on the groom’s forehead before the procession starts.

Barati
In simple language, we understand Barati as the procession with the groom but as per Jain rituals, Barati is the welcome of the procession by the bride’s family. The bride’s brother also gives a welcome gift to the bride which contains coconuts, sweets, clothes, and other things.
The traditional folk song is then sung by the bride’s mother and other married females of the house while welcoming the groom with a tilak. Quite a traditional scene, isn’t it?
Kanyavaran
And then comes the most emotional custom of all, the giving away of the bride! The parents of the bride present the bride to the groom and make a declaration of their daughter being married to the groom. The groom takes the bride’s hand (which comprises a rupee and a quarter along with some rice) and the pundit chants the mantras.


Post-Wedding Ceremonies
Sva Graha Aagamana
And after a tearful ending, arrives a happy beginning. The bride is welcomed to her in-laws' house with rituals, which differ as per the region and local sects. After that, a ritual is performed in which the couple visits a Jain temple and distributes alms to the poor.
Reception
Organised after a day, or a couple of days after, the reception is held by the groom’s family where relatives and friends come and bless the couple for a happy married life

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