Lyla Dejesus
Indian weddings are known for their extravagance and vibrant traditions, with one of the most striking moments being the groom's grand entrance on a beautifully decorated white horse. This tradition, known as the baraat, involves a procession of the groom's family and friends, with live music and dancing, symbolising the groom's journey to marrying his wife and the union of their families. However, this age-old custom has come under scrutiny in recent years, with growing concerns about the cruel treatment and abuse of these horses, who are forced to endure loud noises, crowds, and long journeys, often suffering from malnourishment, dehydration, and injuries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | Symbolises the groom's journey to marrying his wife and the joining of two families into one |
| Colour | White |
| Treatment | Horses are subjected to cruelty, malnourishment, loud noises, crowds, and spiked bits |
| Rental | Horses are available for rent for Indian weddings in the US |
| Price | $100 deposit, $900 balance to be paid one month prior to the wedding |
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What You'll Learn
The white horse is as important as the groom
In Indian weddings, the groom's procession is known as the baraat. It is a wedding ritual that involves live music and dancing, and is performed to ensure the couple happily enters their marriage with friends and family by their side. The baraat symbolises the groom's journey to marrying his wife and the joining of two families into one.
During the baraat, the groom is traditionally seated on a ceremonial horse, elephant, chariot, or vintage car as his guests lead him to the ceremony location. The horse is often a white horse, and it is adorned with a ghori costume, which is elaborately decorated in maroon and gold to complement the groom's clothing. The groom rides the horse with a sword in his hand.
The white horse is considered to be as important as the groom himself during this part of the wedding. The horse is often beautifully decorated, and all eyes are on both the groom and the horse as they make their entrance.
However, the use of white horses in Indian weddings has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns about animal abuse. Horses are extremely allergic to noise, fire, crowds, and walking long distances on tarred roads. They are often subjected to loud noises, tight holds by handlers, and beating with bull hooks to keep them disciplined. In addition, the inbreeding of white horses for this purpose has been criticised, as females are repeatedly made to reproduce until they die of exhaustion.
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The cruel treatment of these horses
In Indian weddings, grooms are known to make a grand entry riding a beautifully decorated white horse. However, the treatment of these horses is inhumane and cruel.
The horses used in weddings are either racehorses that have been sold multiple times or are inbred for their white colour. Racehorses are sold down the line from large racecourses to smaller ones until they end up with marriage horse suppliers. They go from being well-fed and kept in clean stalls to being poorly fed and tied up outdoors, exposed to harsh weather conditions. The female horses used for breeding are made to reproduce until they die of exhaustion.
The horses are forced to walk long distances of over 30-50 kilometres to the wedding venue, starting early in the morning and lasting the entire day. They are then made to stand for several hours until the groom is ready to leave. The horses are decorated with heavy thrones and saddles, and their foreheads are adorned with items that hang over and irritate their eyes. They are then walked for several more kilometres in a noisy parade, after which they are taken to another wedding. The horses are often walked back to their owners outside the city late at night, where they rest for a few hours before starting the process again the next day.
The wedding environment is extremely stressful for the horses as they are allergic to noise, fire, and large crowds. They are also often hit by trucks while being walked back to their owners late at night. Many collapse due to exhaustion or die on the spot from being hit. Those that survive but are no longer capable of working are left to die.
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The tradition of the groom riding a horse
The baraat is a wedding procession for the groom that involves live music, dancing, and, in some cases, a procession for the bride as well. It is performed at almost every Indian wedding to ensure a couple happily enters their marriage with friends and family by their side. The word "baraat" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Varayātrā", which means "groom's procession". In Dogra tradition, the groom rides a horse with a sword in his hand.
The groom, dressed in traditional Indian finery, is usually seated on a ceremonial horse, elephant, chariot, or vintage car as his guests lead him to the ceremony location. The horse is often white, and it is decorated with an elaborate costume, often in maroon and gold, to complement the groom's clothing. The horse handler also wears Indian-style clothing.
The use of white horses in Indian weddings has been criticised by PETA India, which launched a campaign urging against their involvement in wedding ceremonies. PETA highlighted the use of spiked bits, malnourishment, and cruelty in terms of exposure to loud noises and crowds. In addition, sources indicate that the horses used in baraats are subjected to inhumane treatment, including being forced to walk long distances on tarred roads, endure tight holds by handlers, and pull heavy carriages.
Despite the criticism and concerns about animal abuse, the tradition of the groom riding a horse in Indian weddings persists. Some companies offer white horses for hire for wedding baraats, with prices ranging from \$50 to \$1000. These horses are often adorned with custom-made costumes and led by handlers in traditional clothing.
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The significance of the colour white
The colour white is often associated with purity and divinity in Indian culture. In Indian weddings, the groom is usually dressed in white or cream, and the bride often wears a white sari at her wedding ceremony before changing into a colourful outfit for the reception.
The white horse, therefore, is a symbolic part of the wedding ceremony, with the groom riding in on a white horse to his wedding venue. The horse is often decorated with a traditional ghori outfit, usually in maroon and gold, to complement the groom's clothing. The horse is seen as an integral part of the wedding, with one source stating that "the white horse is as special and important as the groom himself".
The colour white is also significant in the context of the wedding horse because of the cruel practice of inbreeding white horses. Female horses are repeatedly made to reproduce until they die of exhaustion, ensuring a constant supply of white horses for weddings.
The use of white horses in Indian weddings has come under scrutiny in recent years, with animal welfare organisations highlighting the abuse and cruelty that these horses endure. Horses are subjected to loud noises, crowds, and long-distance travel, and are often malnourished and dehydrated.
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The role of the horse in the baraat
The baraat is a wedding procession for the groom that involves live music, dancing, and, traditionally, a horse for the groom to ride. The word baraat is derived from the Sanskrit word Varayātrā, meaning "groom's procession". In many communities, the groom's veil or sehra is tied to his turban before he climbs onto the horse, and the procession makes its way to the wedding venue.
The horse, traditionally a white horse, is a central part of the baraat. It is decorated with a traditional ghori outfit, often in maroon and gold, to complement the groom's clothing. The horse handler also wears Indian-style clothing. The groom rides the horse, often with a sword in his hand, and is accompanied by his friends and family, as well as a drummer and other musicians.
The use of horses in Indian weddings has come under scrutiny in recent years, with animal welfare organisations highlighting the cruelty and maltreatment of these animals. Horses are subjected to loud noises, crowds, long distances, and physical abuse, such as being beaten with a bull hook and having an iron chain fitted into their mouths. Some horses are also inbred to ensure they are white, and the females are made to reproduce until they die of exhaustion.
Despite the criticism, the tradition of using horses in the baraat continues, with some companies offering white horses for hire for Indian weddings. These companies provide horses adorned with traditional costumes and handlers in Indian clothing to complement the wedding photos.
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Frequently asked questions
In Indian Hindu weddings, the groom is greeted with garlands, tilak, and aarti. The word Baraat is derived from the Sanskrit word Varayātrā, which means groom's procession. In this procession, the groom rides a white horse, making a dashing entry to his wedding venue.
The white horse is considered as important as the groom himself. The horse is adorned with a traditional Ghori outfit, decorated in maroon and gold, to complement the groom's clothing.
The horses are rented for marriages and transported long distances. They are often malnourished, subjected to cruelty, and exposed to loud noises and crowds. Many die of their wounds and dehydration within a few days.
Yes, PETA India launched a campaign urging against the involvement of horses in wedding ceremonies, highlighting the use of spiked bits, malnourishment, and cruelty in terms of exposure to loud noises and crowds.
