Franklin Dean
Pakistani weddings are a vibrant, colourful and extravagant affair, with celebrations lasting up to a week. The Baraat is a big event that takes place after the Nikkah, the formal ritual where the bride and groom exchange vows. During the Baraat, the groom, his family and friends come to take the bride away from her family. This event is arranged and paid for by the bride's family.
The Baraat includes small traditions like the doodh pilai, where the girls from the bride's side make the groom drink milk with several delicious ingredients, and the joota chupai, where the bride's sisters, cousins and friends steal and hide the groom's shoes.
The most important part of the Baraat is the Rukhsati, when the bride is given away by her parents. This can be a sad moment for the bride and her family, as they say their goodbyes. The bride is given away with the Holy Quran over her head, as a symbol of Allah's blessing and protection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To make the bride and groom feel special and celebrate their future marriage |
| Attendees | Family, friends |
| Food | Kabobs, pulao, chicken tikka, tandoori, blended veggies, chicken or mutton qorma, biryani, roasted chicken, barbecue, kheer, halwa, paan, gol gappay |
| Music | Thumping, dholak, bhangra |
| Decorations | Lavishly decorated balconies, overwhelming magnificence |
| Bride's attire | Red or maroon lehenga, gold accessories, yellow mehndi dress, white nikkah dress, anarkali lehenga, sharara suit |
| Groom's attire | Sherwani, shalwar kurta, two or three-piece suit |
What You'll Learn
The bride's family organises the baraat
The Baraat is a significant event in a Pakistani wedding, marking the departure of the bride from her family as she embarks on a new chapter of her life with her husband. This event is organised and hosted by the bride's family, who bear the responsibility of arranging the wedding hall, food, and photography. It is a grand affair with numerous guests in attendance and various rituals performed to add joy and fun to the occasion.
The bride's family plays a crucial role in the Baraat ceremony, ensuring that all the arrangements are in place for a memorable celebration. They select a suitable wedding hall, taking into account the expected number of guests and the desired ambiance. The family also makes provisions for lavish food, reflecting the generosity and hospitality associated with Pakistani weddings. The menu typically includes a variety of rich and flavourful dishes, such as pulao, biryani, chicken curry, and kebabs. Desserts are equally indulgent, with kheers and halwas being popular choices.
In addition to the culinary delights, the bride's family also focuses on creating a visually stunning event. They carefully select and arrange decorative elements, including floral arrangements and lighting, to transform the venue into a magical setting. The family's attention to detail extends to the smallest aspects, ensuring that every corner of the wedding hall exudes elegance and charm.
Photography is another essential aspect of the Baraat, and the bride's family ensures that every precious moment is captured. They hire professional photographers to immortalise the happiness, emotions, and rituals of the day. From the bride's entrance to the small traditions performed throughout the event, the family ensures that every detail is documented through photographs that will be cherished for years to come.
The bride's family also participates in the various rituals and traditions associated with the Baraat. One such tradition is the "Kursi ki rasam," where the women from the bride's side occupy all the seats, leaving none for the groom. This playful ritual culminates in the groom's family offering a small monetary gift to secure a seat for him. Another ritual is "Dudh pilai," where the bride's female relatives offer the groom milk with various delicious ingredients, receiving a token of money in return.
The Baraat is not just a celebration; it is also an emotional time for the bride's family, especially the parents. They experience a mix of happiness for their daughter's new beginning and sadness as they bid her farewell. The father of the bride, in particular, goes through a poignant moment as he walks his daughter down the aisle, entrusting her to her new family. This blend of emotions adds depth to the Baraat, making it a day that is both joyous and bittersweet for the bride's family.
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The groom arrives in a procession
The Baraat is a big event of Pakistani Wedding that takes place after the nikkah. This is the day where the groom, his family, and friends come to take the bride away. This event is arranged purely by the family of the bride. Arrangements of a modern-day Baraat include the wedding hall, food, and photography. The groom usually wears a traditional sherwani on his big day. The Anarkali lehenga dress is the most common among Pakistani wedding dresses to be worn by the bride on her Baraat ceremony.
It is usually a grand event with a lot of guests. Small traditions like doodh pilai or joota chupai also take place to add fun to the glorious day. The women from the bride’s family will have rose petals on plates to throw at the groom’s family near the entrance to welcome them. Later the bride comes out and sits with the groom. Many small rituals then take place.
Kursi ki rasam literally means the ritual of the chair. In this, the women from the bride’s side sit with the bride leaving no place for the groom to sit. The groom’s family has to give some money, and after playing around, they do so, and the groom gets to sit with his queen.
Dudh pilai is also similar to the previous ritual as the girls from the bride’s side make the groom drink milk with several delicious ingredients and thug him with pure swag, meaning they get money from him.
The Baraat comes next, which involves the 'departing ceremony' for the bride following the arrival of the groom in a procession to take her away. This event is held and organised by the bride’s family. The most important part of the baraat is the Rukhsati. It can be a sad moment for the family of the bride, and the bride herself. The food on baraat is usually lavish and rich. Pakistani food items usually include pulao, biryani, chicken curry, kebabs etc. Kheers and halwas are usually part of desserts.
Baraats can be rather stressful occasions for the bride and her family. This is because it is a kind of goodbye between them. Also, stress gets built up from all past preparations and events, which adds to it. Slow music is usually played on baraats. More focus is made on the décor and presentation of the event. Such is done because a lot of pictures are to be taken on Baraat day.
All in all, baraats are fun events with a little touch of teary and emotional moments. The most painful moment is when the father of the bride sends off his daughter to a completely new home and environment.
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The bride is given away by her parents
The Baraat ceremony is the day when the groom, his family, and friends come to take the bride away. This event is arranged by the bride's family. It is a grand event with a lot of guests and small traditions like doodh pilai or joota chupai, which add fun to the glorious day.
The bride's parents give her away during the Pakistani wedding Barat ceremony. This is a sad moment for the bride, as she is leaving her parents, home, and childhood memories. There are tears in the eyes of everyone, not just the family, but there is also satisfaction in the hearts of the parents that they have done their duty and are now praying for a happy marriage for their daughter's new life. The bride is given away by her parents with the Holy Quran over her head, symbolising that they are sending their daughter under Allah's blessing and protection.
On the other hand, the family of the groom is super excited to welcome the new member to the family. The bride's family arranges the Barat, while the groom's family pays for the valima, or reception.
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The bride's family pay for the baraat
Pakistani weddings are a series of celebratory events, each with their own unique traditions and rituals. The Baraat is one of the primary features of the main wedding day and is held and organised by the bride's family.
The Baraat is a joyful wedding procession for the groom that includes dancing and live music. The concept originated in North India but has now been embraced by various cultures and countries, including Pakistan. The groom is placed on a ceremonial horse while his guests dance in front of him.
The bride's family welcomes the groom and his family—a ritual known as milni—which takes place at the entrance to the venue, where the two families meet. The bride's mother applies a tilak (ceremonial red dot) on the groom's forehead and performs an aarti to ward off any evil. This is followed by the jaimala, or garland exchange, with the bride.
The bride's family also provides a lavish and rich spread of food for the Baraat, including Pakistani specialities such as pulao, biryani, chicken curry, kebabs, kheer, and halwas.
The most important part of the Baraat is the Rukhsati, which can be a sad moment for the bride's family as it marks the bride's departure from her family home to her new life with the groom. The father of the bride sends off his daughter, which can be an emotional moment.
The Baraat is a fun event with a touch of tearfulness and emotion. It is a celebration of the union between two families and a joyous welcome for the groom.
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The bride and groom leave the venue together
The bride's family may also perform a ritual called "Chawar ji rasam", where the bride throws rice behind her as she leaves her family home. This ritual is done to bless and protect the couple as they start their new life together.
The newlyweds then head to the groom's family, where more rituals and celebrations await them.
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Frequently asked questions
A baraat is a procession of the groom's family and friends that accompanies him to the bride's home for the official wedding ceremony.
The groom usually wears traditional Pakistani wedding attire, such as a sherwani with a sehra or turban, although some may opt for a Western-inspired suit.
The bride's family offers the baraat a warm welcome with flower garlands and rose petals. They also exchange glasses of juice or sherbet, and money.
The bride traditionally wears a heavily embroidered red, pink, or purple ghagra, lehenga, or shalwar kameez, along with heavy gold jewellery.
After the baraat's arrival, there is a wedding ceremony, followed by a reception or Valima hosted by the groom's family. The bride traditionally bids farewell to her family during the Rukhsati ritual and leaves with the groom to start her new married life.
