Traditionally, the bridegroom rides on a mare to the bride's place before the marriage ceremony. The youngest male relative gets to sit on the mare with the groom. Often there is competition between small boys if more than one of them is "eligible" to accompany the groom. The groom is accompanied by a large number relatives and band players
on foot. A lot of dancing and singing also takes place.
Vyas Bharghava writes:
The photo depicts a typical Hindu “Baraat” in which the groom reaches the marriage hall –- not the church -- with much ado. Rituals and customs in marriage vary depending on the demography. India has such a diverse culture –- especially among Hindus -- that every marriage ceremony has different theme, follows a different custom usually depending on the community the bride/groom hails from. Thus, Udaipur, a North Indian township, has the Bride riding the horse. Where as in Chennai, a South Indian Metropolitan city, it's not customary for its residents to be riding a horse. Many of them use an open topped old Plymouth car – usually red in color. It’s called “Mappillai Azhaippu” – a tongue twister in the native language, Tamil. It roughly means “Welcome to the Groom” denoting that the groom is welcomed by the bride’s parents & relatives upon his arrival to the marriage hall.
shilpa writes:
Traditionally, the bridegroom rides on a mare to the bride's place before the marriage ceremony. The youngest male relative gets to sit on the mare with the groom. Often there is competition between small boys if more than one of them is "eligible" to accompany the groom. The groom is accompanied by a large number relatives and band players
on foot. A lot of dancing and singing also takes place.
Vyas Bharghava writes:
The photo depicts a typical Hindu “Baraat” in which the groom reaches the marriage hall –- not the church -- with much ado. Rituals and customs in marriage vary depending on the demography. India has such a diverse culture –- especially among Hindus -- that every marriage ceremony has different theme, follows a different custom usually depending on the community the bride/groom hails from. Thus, Udaipur, a North Indian township, has the Bride riding the horse. Where as in Chennai, a South Indian Metropolitan city, it's not customary for its residents to be riding a horse. Many of them use an open topped old Plymouth car – usually red in color. It’s called “Mappillai Azhaippu” – a tongue twister in the native language, Tamil. It roughly means “Welcome to the Groom” denoting that the groom is welcomed by the bride’s parents & relatives upon his arrival to the marriage hall.