Wedding Rituals in Jat Matrimony

The Jat are prevalent in northern India in western UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Although the main profession of the Jat is agriculture, education and politics have changed the lifestyle of the Jat and they are very active in politics, and have good positions in all the fields. Wedding in Jat is allowed within the same community only, however, alliances within same gotra and village are strictly prohibited in Jat matrimony. Jats have very strict norms about wedding and never accept wedding outside the community.

The functions in Jat matrimony commence with chak puja, wherein the boy’s and girl’s families worship the potter’s wheel. The bride is presented with a number of gifts from her maternal side, in a ritual called ‘Bhat Mayero’. In a similar fashion, the groom is also given various presents from the bride’s family, which includes clothes, jewels, clothes, etc.

The wedding procession including the groom, his kin and friends reaches the bride’s home on the wedding day, where the bride’s family welcomes the groom and his family. Like other Hindu communities, the priest performs the wedding rituals, which start with offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. The wedding rituals in Jat matrimony are performed amidst the regional wedding and devotional songs, which make the environment very auspicious and fun-filled.

The rituals involved in Jat matrimony are similar to those of Hindus. The corners of the groom’s dhoti and bride’s sari or dupatta are tied together to form a wedlock, and the couple walks round the sacred fire seven times (‘saptapadi’). The couple takes vows, and the groom puts vermillion in the bride’s hair partition, and the couple is formally recognized as husband and wife. The bride’s father giver away his daughter (Kanyadaan) to the groom and the bride bids adieu to her paternal home, and starts a new life in her new home.

Author: Rashmi Karan