In Jain wedding ceremony, a grand public proclamation is made of the intention of the prospective bride and groom to live together for their entire life. In this section, we will provide you information on Jain matrimonial customs & traditions. We will brief you on the below mentioned traditional Jain marriage rituals

Pre Wedding Rituals:

Wedding Rituals:

Post Wedding Rituals:

Post-Wedding Jain Rituals

Ashirvada Ceremony
In the Ashirvada ceremony, elders come forward and bless the newly weds for their married life.

Sva Graha Aagamana
Custom When the newly weds reach their home, the groom's family gives a warm welcome to the new member of the family. This custom is known as Sva Graha Aagamana.

Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana Tradition
To express thanksgiving, alms are given in the Jain temple. This is known as Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana tradition.

Reception
The groom's family hosts a reception party, where the bride is formally introduced to friends, relatives and others acquaintances.

Pre Wedding Jain Rituals

Laghana Lekhan & Lagna Patrika Vachan
In Laghana Lekhan, small puja is held in the prospective bride's house. Close relatives and friends are invited to attend the puja. It is during this puja that an auspicious time for marriage also known as lagna or mahurat is determined. It is usually done by the priest. In the end, the lagna patrika or letter indicating the wedding time is sent to the prospective groom's house.

The Lagna Patrika Vachan is then read out at the boy's residence. This can be done either on the day of engagement or some other auspicious time. After the groom has done Vinayakyantra puja, the priest reads out the letter.

Sagai & Mada Mandap
Sagai usually takes place in the groom's home. The groom wears the traditional Jain headgear, washes his hands properly and performs the Vinayakyantra. After the completion of Vinayakyantra puja, the bride's brother puts tilak on the forehead of the bridegroom. He also presents him a gold chain, a ring, clothes, coconut, sweets and money. Thereafter, the lagna patrika is given to the bridegroom. Usually, it is the priest, who reads out the lagna patrika. The groom then seeks the elders' blessings.

Mada Mandap
Mada Mandap is the next important pre wedding ceremony after Sagai. It usually takes place one or two days prior to wedding. It is held at the bride as well as groom's residence. All the religious rituals are performed by the priest.

Barati & Aarti
In the Barati ritual, the bridegroom's marriage procession is received by the bride's family. The bride's brother applies tika on the groom's forehead. Also, he presents coconut, money, sweet and clothes to the groom. The bridegroom also puts tika on the forehead of the bride's brother and gives him a coconut.

Married ladies in the bride's house perform the traditional aarti. All the ladies get together and sing the Mangala Geet

Jain Wedding Rituals

Phere & Kanyavaran
In any Indian marriage, phere is considered to be the most important ritual, without which the marriage is incomplete. For the conduct of phere, an auspicious time is selected. The bride and groom are taken to the mandap and seated there. The bride is made to sit on the right side of the bridegroom. After taking the seven vows, the couple changes their position.

In the Kanyavaran or kanyapradan ceremony, the bride's parents or the uncle places a one rupee and twenty-five paise and rice on the bride's right hand. Then the bride is handed over to the bridegroom. The bride's father makes a public proclamation in front of the assembled guests. While chanting the mantras, the priest pours water on the hands of the bridegroom and bride thrice.

Havan & Granthi Bandhan
Havan is held after the completion of pheras. During the performance of havan, a series of mantras are recited like those of the Peethika, Atha Gathu, Atha Nistarak, Atha Surendra, Atha Parmarajadi and Atha Paramesthi. Offerings are also made. In the end, Shanti mantra is chanted nine times.

Havan is followed by the Granthi Bandhan ritual, in which a married woman ties the groom's shawl with one end of the bride's sari pallu. It is accompanied by the reciting of mantras. Thereafter, the couple takes four rounds around the sacred fire. The bride leads in the first round. Thereafter, they exchange their positions and take other three rounds around the havankund.

The recitation of Mahaveerakshak stoot takes place in the background. Ladies sing Mangal geet and make merriment. After the phera, the couple takes seven vows. After taking the vows, the bride is seated on the left side of bridegroom.

The bride is then called vamangi, which symbolizes that she has become the better half of her husband. It is followed by the exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom. The havan is finally completed with the performance of Shantipath and Visarjan.