Jaan

This is when the groom, along with his family members and friends, leaves his house to go to the marriage venue. The groom is welcomed by the mother-in-law in a ceremony called Pokavu (arrival of the groom). She tries to pinch his nose to remind him playfully that he will have to rub his nose on the door to ask for her daughter. This gesture symbolises his humility and understanding of the tremendous sacrifice that his future wife is about to make. She will, after all, be leaving behind a life as a daughter, changing her name and taking on the responsibilities of running his household as wife and daughter-in-law. The groom's prospective mother-in-law blesses him and performs a small ritual to ward off the evil eye.

COMMENCEMENT OF WEDDING RITUALS

While the groom is sitting under the mandap the 'Madhuparka' is performed where his feet are washed and he is fed milk and honey. The bride is then brought to the mandap by her maternal uncle in a ceremony called Kanyaagaman when the antarpat is lowered and the couple exchange garlands(Jaimala).
Now is the time for the bride to be given away in a ritual known as Kanyadaan or Hasta Milap.Varmala has been added to the wedding ceremony in which the parents and other relatives of the bride place an auspicious cord around the necks of the couple to protect them from evil influences.

KanyaDaan
The rituals begin with the kanya daan, or giving away of the bride. She is given away by her parents. Their folded hands reflect the hope that their son-in-law will take good care of their daughter and never cause her pain. They wash his feet, as they believe that he is none other than the Hindu God Lord Vishnu, to whom they are handing over his rightful consort, the Goddess Lakshmi in the form of their daughter.

Hasta Milap
In this ritual, the groom's scarf or shawl is tied to the bride's saree. This knot and the joined hands of the couple symbolise the union of two souls joined together in holy matrimony. The priest chants mantras to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati for the saubhagyavrata of the bride. The family and relatives present, also come together to bless the couple and shower grains of rice and rose petals on them.

Pheras
The bride's parents partake in milk and refreshments before the pheras. The pheras or rounds around the sacred fire must begin now. The couple goes around the fire as the priest chants mantras. The groom also recites mantras, which express his heart's desire, and seeks the loving support of his wife. Unlike many other Hindu weddings, a Gujarati Wedding has only four pheras called the Mangalpheras(steps around the sacred fire by the couple) where the pheras symbolize the four basic human goals of: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha(i.e. religious and moral, prosperity, earthly pleasures and salvation).

Saptapadi.
The saptapadi or seven steps is another important ritual that makes up the wedding ceremony. Seven Betel nuts (Sopari) are placed before the bride and groom.. The Sapta Padi or the seven vows for married life are then recited by the couple while the groom helps the bride touch seven betel nuts with her right toe. Through these vows, the bride and groom seek each others support to make their married life a succesful and happy one.

Sindoor & Mangalsutra
The groom places Sindoor on the brides forehead & front hair-parting and places a necklace (called Mangalsutra) round her neck., a sign of a married lady.

Akhand Subhagyavati
Four married ladies come and bless the bride and whisper blessings in her ear.

Blessings:
The couple are now married and seek blessings from the priest conducting the wedding, their respective parents and other elders present. They all give their blessings to the newly wedded couple for a happy, healthy and prosperous life together.