Traditional Jain Wedding Rituals and Functions That’ll Capture Your Interest!

What we love about Jain weddings is the combination of simplicity, sanctity as well as colourful cheer of the traditional rituals and functions. Let’s take a look at them:

JAIN PRE – WEDDING RITUALS AND FUNCTIONS

Lagana Lekhan

This Jain wedding ritual is a small ceremony where close family members gather at the bride-to-be’s house along with a priest to decide the auspicious date and time of the wedding. Also known as determining the muhurat.

Sagai

This Jain wedding function is similar to an engagement ceremony. A puja is conducted at the groom’s place where the bride’s brother applies a tikka on the groom’s forehead and offers him gifts like clothes, money, sweets, etc. 

Lagana Patrika Vachan

This Jain wedding ritual takes place during the sagai. After the lagana lekhan, the information of the date and time of the wedding is sent to the groom’s house. After he performs the Vinayakyantra puja, the priest reads out the auspicious lagan patrika for all to hear.

Mada Mandap

Yet another Jain pre-wedding ritual. This ceremony is held separately in both the bride and groom’s houses. It involves a few sacred pujas that the priest conducts.

JAIN WEDDING RITUALS AND FUNCTIONS

Baraati and Aarti

This refers to the groom’s procession on the way to the wedding venue. The groom is accompanied with people singing, dancing and celebrating along the way.

Once they reach the wedding venue, the groom is greeted by the bride’s brother who applies a tikka on his forehead and the groom does the same. The bride’s brother also presents him with more gifts. Married ladies perform aarti and sing mangal geet.

Kanyadaan:

The father of the bride performs the kanyadaan ritual: He places 1 rupee and 25 paise along with rice in his daughter’s right hand and then gives her hand to the groom.  
While chanting the vedic mantras, the priest pours holy water on the couple’s hands thrice.

Granthi Bandhan

In this Jain wedding ritual, a married woman ties the pallu of the bride’s saree to the shawl of the groom.

Mangal Pheras:

The couple then takes seven rounds (pheras) around the holy fire. During this, ladies sing mangal geet. After this, the bride is regarded as Vamangi as she becomes the better part of her husband. 
The couple then exchange garlands.

JAIN POST – WEDDING RITUALS AND FUNCTIONS

Aashirvad:

After the wedding rituals are complete, elders of the family come forward and give the couple their blessings for a prosperous new married life.

Sva Graha Aagamana:

When the newly married couple arrives at the entry of the groom’s house, the bride is greeted with a huge, warm welcome by her marital family. This Jain wedding ritual is called Sva Graha Aagamana. 

Jine Grahe Dhan Arpana:

As an act of gratitude, the entire family goes to a Jain temple and gives donations, charity and offers gifts to the less fortunate.

Reception:

This is a large event held by the groom’s family to celebrate the occasion of the wedding and formally introduce the bride to family and friends. It is an event of dancing, singing and enjoying.

Image credits: pinterest.com; Lin and Jirsa