Welcome to the World of Gujarati Weddings: Vibrant, and Soulful!

December 4, 2019 / in Planning & Inspiration /by Poonam

Welcome to the world of Gujarati weddings with thanks to Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace, India.

The region of Gujarat, India has such a rich tapestry of cultural traditions. Synonymous with colourful clothing, flavoursome vegetarian food, soulful music and garba of course, Gujarat is fast becoming a popular destination for weddings.

Gujarati weddings consist of a plethora of traditions, customs and rituals, both pre-wedding and post-wedding too.

Of course, all of these elements make up the very threads that bind the great culture.

Let’s take a sneak peek into the world of Gujarati weddings with thanks to the Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace.

Grand Wedding Venues

If you have ever dreamed about the ultimate fort or palace wedding, then Gujarat no doubt is the ideal state for you to find jaw-droppingly magnificent locales.

Whether you are opting for the grand palace wedding or indoor reception ballroom venue, sourcing a wedding venue within your budget in this region isn’t at all challenging. Host your Gujarati weddings and celebrations in style.

Welcome to the world of Gujarati wedding food with thanks to Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace, India.

Delicious Vegetarian Food

For lovers of vegetarian delicacies, Gujarat is home to some incredible thali meals and lip-smackingly good snacks.

From appetizers to dessert, Gujarati weddings have a wide variety of signature foods on offer for their guests. There’s nothing quite like the unique taste of starter dishes such as dhokla or handvo, kachori and patra. Main course menu items will include a mixed vegetable curry such as undhiyu, served with hot puri or bhindi (okra) and a side of spicy curd soup called, kadhi. Finish off the grand wedding feast with sugary mithai (or sweets) such as son papdi or ghoogra.

Beautiful Wedding Customs

A Gujarati wedding is a full-blown grandiose affair, beginning with the mandap mahurat. Prayers to Lord Ganesh are offered on both sides of the families. A priest will perform a puja (or religious ceremony) and seek blessings to remove all obstacles for the couple.

After paying respects to Lord Ganesh are offered on both sides of the families. A priest will perform a puja (or religious ceremony) and seek blessings to remove all obstacles for the couple.

The next step is the grah shanti or satak which is a brief ritual to once again provide newlyweds with happiness and prosperity.

Now comes the fun events and that includes the all-important mehndi party for the bride’s side followed by a sangeet which sometimes doubles up as a dandiya or garba (traditional folk style of Gujarati dance) night. Gujarati families also have a cleansing style ritual for both bride and groom to partake in, called the pithi ceremony. Aunties, uncles, parents and extended family gather around to apply a yellow paste which consists of turmeric, sandalwood, rosewater and herbs on the bride and groom’s face, hands and feet.

Vibrant Outfits

For a Gujarati bride, her wedding trousseau holds immense significance.

Traditionally, a bride is draped in a simple panetar saree or ghagra choli and the traditional colours are white with a red border. The panetar saree typically has gold zari work across the face of the saree and there are also bandhani style motifs as well.

The saree drape also varies depending on the style, the quality of fabric and design variations too.

Nowadays, Indian fashion designers are reinventing the wheel and the more traditional bridalwear is taking on a new form. Most recently we saw socialite, Isha Ambani dressed in a striking Sabyasachi lehenga choli combination, paired with a classic odhni which beautifully depicts a traditional panetar style saree.

Other family members will also be dressed to the nines in colourful, vibrant outfits.

The groom as well will wear an embellished dhoti kurta or sherwani suit.

Shopping

Wedding shopping is unbelievably good in Gujarat. There are so many great cities such as Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad. Surat is the textile and diamond hubs with people traveling from all over India to shop for wedding attire and jewellery.

Lovers of beautiful and unique handicrafts and handloom items will also be in luck. Gujarat is a treasure trove with traditional decorative wooden items, leather, paintings, silverware and hand block printed clothing and accessories.

Yes, Gujarati weddings are vibrant and soulful, but why not consider the state as a potential destination for your big fat Indian wedding.

With beautiful locales, delectable cuisine and world-famous shopping, it’s not hard to see why Gujarat is fast becoming a popular destination to get married.

A huge thanks to Rishi Kamra for contributing this valuable content for our readers. If you are considering getting married in Gujarat, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Rishi Kamra works with Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace. He has over a decade of experience in the hospitality and event management industry which allows him to create value-driven content for his readers.

0 replies

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!