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Janti groom procession in Janakpur, South Asian wedding

Baraat, Jaan, Janti, Bor Jatri: What to Wear to the Wedding Procession

by Zorsay

The baraat is the one wedding event where you may be dancing on asphalt for an hour in front of a horse, a band, and a lot of people with phones. The outfit has to look like a celebration and survive being one. Everything else on this page follows from that.

Below: what the procession is called in each tradition, what the groom's side wears, what the bride's side wears while waiting at the other end, and how men, women, and nonbinary guests can all dress for it.

What is a baraat, and who holds one?

A baraat is the groom's wedding procession. The word comes from the Sanskrit varayatra, literally "groom's journey," and the groom travels to the venue, often the bride's house or the hall she is married from, with family and friends [1]. In earlier eras he came on a mare, a chariot, or an elephant; today it is often a horse, a vintage car, or a buggy [1]. The procession can grow into its own production, with a band, dancers, and a budget [1]. The groom and his horse are covered in finery and usually do not dance; that job belongs to the baraatis, the people in the procession, who are traditionally looked after as guests of the bride's family [1].

Decorated white horse at a baraat procession in Varanasi, South Asian wedding
A decorated white horse leads a baraat through a market street in Varanasi. Photo: Ji-Elle / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The names change by community. Gujaratis say jaan or varghodo, Punjabis say baraat or jaan [2], Bengalis say bor jatri, Odia families say barjaatri, Nepali and Sikkimese families say janti, Marathi families say varaat, Telugu families edurukolu, Tamil families janavasam, and Kannada and Tulu families dibbana [1]. Not every tradition has a street procession at all, and the table says which do not.

Tradition Local name What happens Welcome at the other end Notes for the groom's side
Punjabi Hindu Baraat, jaan Men and women both join; fireworks, dhol, and the groom on a horse are common [1][2] Milni: counterparts from each family greet each other, and the groom is welcomed with tilak and aarti [1][2] Close male relatives of both families wear turbans as a mark of honor [1]
Sikh Baraat Punjabi Sikh weddings often include a baraat [3]. Groom mounted on a horse with family and friends, music and dance; father ties his turban and he is given a ceremonial sword; his sister places the sehra [4]. One account of the traditional pattern in the east has the baraat set off in the evening and be hosted overnight by the bride's family; timing varies by region and family [5] Milni: the bride's family welcomes the procession with hymns, relatives exchange garlands, and an ardas is said at the gurdwara before the families go into the hall; gifts follow [4][6] Turban, and a sehra placed over the face before departure [4]; see groom outfit guide
Gujarati Jaan, varghodo Groom on a horse followed by a dancing procession and a band [1] Playful rituals with the in-laws at the door [1] Varies by family
Rajasthani and Rajput Baraat Camel or camel cart in Rajasthan [1]; Rajput processions are described as solemn, with no dancing in the street, and all members carry swords [1] Varies by family Baraatis in achkan or sherwani with jodhpurs and safas [1]
Marathi Varaat Family and relatives accompany the groom [1] After the rites the couple carry the image of Gauri [1] The pheta turban is common at weddings [23]
Odia Barjaatri, varanugaman Groom, family, and friends arrive at the mandap with ceremony [1] Aarti, tilak, and curd with honey or jaggery [1] Varies by family
Bengali Hindu Bor jatri, boraat Groom, family, and friends go to the bride's house or the venue [1] The bride's mother and family greet him with conch shells, aarti, and sweets [1] The conical white topor is the groom's traditional headgear [8]
Telugu Edurukolu The groom's party is welcomed by the bride's family to nadaswaram music [1][20] Bride's mother applies kumkum and waves a plate of burning camphor [1]; the Kashi yatra, a staged departure the groom is talked out of, comes in the same run of groom-entry rites [20] Check the invitation
Tamil Janavasam Groom in a decorated car, with friends, relatives, musicians, and fireworks [1] The bride's brother garlands him at the hall entrance [1] Varies by family
Kannada and Tulu Dibbana Begins with a prayer for a safe journey; groom and party wear a peta [1] Rice and aarti [1] The peta is formal wear for weddings in Mysuru and Kodagu [24]
Pakistani Muslim (Sindhi and Pashtun accounts; practice varies by family) Baraat; Jjanjja in the Sindhi account In the Sindhi account: horse, in places camel, now often a decorated car; dhol and sharnai, women singing sehras, the groom's friends dancing the whole way, fireworks on arrival [7] Bride's sisters, cousins, and friends block the entrance until the groom pays them (rasta rukai), in one encyclopedia entry's account [7] The sherwani is the national dress of Pakistan for men [25]
Indian Muslim Baraat Bands are routinely hired for the baraat in India and Pakistan [1] Nikah follows; see wedding ceremony outfit Sherwani has long been associated with Muslim aristocratic dress [25]
Bangladeshi Muslim Varies by family Varies by family Nikah follows; see wedding ceremony outfit. Bou bhaat comes later, at reception outfit Sherwani is worn by grooms at Bangladeshi weddings on formal occasions [25]
Jain Ghudchadi, vara-ghoda Groom rides a horse to the venue, then rites at the gate [12][13] Rites at the gate (toranavidhi) [13] Varies by family
Nepali Hindu Janti The groom's family and friends parade with a marching band, dancing to the bride's home, and the janti later takes the bride to the groom's home [9] Family welcome; the bride's brother receives the groom in Newar custom [10] The Dhaka topi is worn by men at formal ceremonies and weddings [11]
Newar Janti Groom, groomsmen, and relatives go with a band; they carry milk to the bride's mother as repayment for nursing the bride [10] Priests exchange wit at a local shrine in the evening [10] Varies by family
Parsi Not a baraat; a gift procession instead Hours before the ceremony a procession carries gifts to the groom's house, usually with music, then goes to the bride's house [14][15] The bride's mother greets the groom at the door and puts a fresh kunkun mark on his head [14][15] Gifts and music, not a horse. Guest colors: wedding color rules
Sinhalese Buddhist Not a baraat; poruwa ceremony Bride and groom are escorted separately to the poruwa with drums and conch [17]; the groom's relatives gather on the right of it [16] Betel leaves and blessings on the poruwa [16][17] Kandyan attire [17]
Bhutanese Not a baraat in the account used here One traveler's account has the bride arrive at the groom's family house and be greeted with scarves [18] Scarf exchange [18] Check with the family
Goan and other Christian Not a baraat Goan Catholic nuptials are held at the parish church [19] n/a Follow the church dress code
Indo-Caribbean Hindu (Trinidad, Guyana) Barat; dulaha's procession The groom's party leaves his home after lunch and goes by car or on foot to the bride's home or the temple, to the sound of tassa drums [21] Baraat Milan: fathers meet and the bride's father presents a brass lota with water, five coins, mango leaves, and a flower; aarti and rice follow [21] The sehra is worn by Caribbean Hindu bridegrooms [22]
East African South Asian Varies by community Varies by community Varies Check the invitation

Where the table says "varies," the invitation or the couple's site will be more specific than any general description.

What do you wear to a baraat as a guest?

You will be outdoors, on your feet, near a drum, and you will probably be pulled into a dance. Dress for that, then for the photographs.

Move first. One guest guide puts it in a sentence: a baraat is a high-energy street procession, so wear something festive that you can move in, such as a lehenga, an anarkali, or a kurta set, in bright colors, with comfortable shoes because you may be dancing outdoors [31]. For men, a kurta pajama with a Nehru jacket is a classic, comfortable option [30]. Lightweight cotton or silk keeps the procession from becoming a sauna [32].

Shoes decide the day. Juttis are the traditional answer: flat-soled, similar for men and women, and they take the shape of your foot over time [26]. Embroidered mojaris and juttis are the classic pairing with kurta pajama or sherwani [30][32]. Whatever you choose, break it in. Nothing ruins a baraat like a new pair of shoes and forty minutes of bhangra. A comfortable flat or low block heel beats a stiletto on asphalt, and a guide aimed at Indian wedding guests makes the same point: ceremonies run long, comfort matters more than you think, and you may be asked to remove shoes at a religious space [33]. Shoes usually come off before the ceremony area [34]; see head covering modesty.

The sneaker question. People ask about sneakers with kurta because the baraat is the one event where it makes practical sense. You are walking and dancing on pavement for a stretch, and a clean, plain sneaker is the most forgiving shoe for it. The same logic is why a jutti works: flat sole, shapes to the foot [26]. Some families will love it and some will wince, and the groom's relatives in sherwani and safa are dressed a notch higher than you are. A white leather sneaker with a dark kurta pajama is the safest version; a running shoe with a sherwani is the loudest. If you are the groom, or sitting in the first row of photographs, wear the jutti. If you are dancing in the second row, wear the shoe that lets you dance.

Carry less, secure everything. Fireworks open the procession in many traditions [1][7], and smoke bombs turned up at a Philadelphia double baraat [27]. A long dupatta that floats loose near a lit sparkler is a bad idea, and so is anything you cannot pin or tuck at the shoulder. Pin it. Cross it. Tie it at the waist. Heavy silk in a summer procession is a regret you will have by the second block.

Plan for weather. The procession is outdoors whatever the season. Bring a layer you can hand to someone, and a plan for the rain.

What should men wear to a baraat?

The groom is the center of attention, so his outfit is meant to be the most regal [30]. Everyone else dresses to flatter him.

Groom on horseback in turban at Rajput baraat, South Asian wedding
A groom in a turban and sherwani rides a decorated horse at a Rajput baraat, with relatives in safas walking alongside. Photo: Jaisingh Rathore / CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.

Kurta pajama. In a vibrant color that suits the festive mood, in a breathable cotton or silk, is the baseline for guests [32]. Straight pajama, churidar, or relaxed salwar. A printed or textured kurta photographs well at street level.

Kurta with Nehru jacket or bandi. Groomsmen and friends often coordinate, and a kurta pajama with a Nehru jacket is described as a classic, comfortable choice [30], often in a shared color. Bright yellow, orange, and royal blue are the examples one guide gives [30].

Bandhgala or Jodhpuri. A short bandhgala is the formal option for a friend or relative who wants more structure [30]. The groom guide groom outfit guide sorts out how a bandhgala, achkan, and sherwani differ, because shops and families use the words loosely.

Sherwani. Baraatis in Rajasthani and Rajput processions wear achkan or sherwani with jodhpurs [1], and the sherwani is worn at weddings across Pakistan and Bangladesh [25]. A guest in a heavily embroidered one is dressing against the groom, though, so leave the full version to him and his closest family unless the invitation asks for it. Cuts and names are in groom outfit guide.

Headwear. In many communities the turban is the whole point of the procession. Close male relatives of both families in a Punjabi baraat wear turbans as a mark of honor [1], a pagri is described as a symbol of honor and respect wherever it is worn [23], and one guide notes the men of the baraat wear matching turbans so the party reads as one group [30]. If someone hands you a safa, wear it. The Marathi pheta, the Mysuru peta, the Bengali topor, and the Nepali Dhaka topi are all the same idea in different regional vocabulary: headwear that says which wedding and which side you are on [8][11][23][24]. Do not borrow one without being given it; the topor in particular is a groom's headgear, traditionally given to him by the bride's family [8].

Footwear. See above. Juttis or mojaris if you want to match the outfit [26][30], a plain closed shoe or sneaker if you are going to dance.

What should women wear to a baraat?

The same rule, translated: festive, bright, and built to move.

Lehenga or anarkali. A flared lehenga or anarkali is a movement outfit as much as a beautiful one [31]. Pick a skirt that you can lift when you step off a curb and that does not drag.

Kurta set. A kurta with straight pants or palazzos is the least fussy option when the procession will be long [31]. Wide-leg bottoms give you room to dance.

Sari. A sari works if it is pinned well, pre-draped, or in a lighter fabric. A heavy silk that needs re-pleating after twenty minutes of dancing is the harder way to do it.

Jewelry and hair. Big earrings travel well. Long necklaces swing into a dhol player's hands. Leave the delicate and the irreplaceable at home, and tie your hair back if you are dancing in a crowd.

Color. Bright is the instruction [31]. See wedding color rules for the full breakdown by tradition, including which colors read as the bride's and which as mourning in specific communities.

What about genderfluid and nonbinary guests?

The baraat is one of the easier events to dress for outside the binary, because the logic is movement and festivity and nothing about it is gendered. A kurta with a bandi and a dupatta pinned at the shoulder is a full baraat outfit for anyone. So is a sherwani or a lehenga.

South Asian dress has not always drawn the line the way a US shop does. A fashion writer on the current gender-fluid wave in wedding wear points out that men in Mughal courts wore flared garments that resembled anarkalis, called jamas, and that Rajput warriors wore ghagras under armor for ease of movement [28]. A style roundup describes the sherwani as a garment that can be worn by women and others for a bold look, and the sherwani can be paired with a lehenga [29]. The sehra itself, the forehead garland tied to the groom's turban, is described as worn by the bridegroom or bride [22].

Couples are already doing this. A Philadelphia couple held a double baraat that shut down Market Street, and both grooms wore traditional attire with safas [27]. Brides have also begun riding horses, a role once restricted to grooms [1]. If you are a guest and you want to wear the safa, the sherwani, or the lehenga that you like, the usual rules apply: festive, comfortable, not competing with the couple's outfits, and check with the family if you are unsure about headwear they might be handing out.

What should the couple, family, and wedding party wear?

Role What to wear Notes
Groom Sherwani or achkan with churidar, stole, safa or regional headwear, mojari; sehra and sword in some traditions [4][22] In a Sikh baraat the father ties the turban and the sister places the sehra before the groom leaves [4]. See groom outfit guide.
Groom's immediate family One notch below the groom, one above the guests. Fathers and brothers: kurta with bandhgala or a sherwani, safa. Mothers and sisters: a rich sari, lehenga, or suit, with shoes that can walk. Fathers and senior relatives exchange garlands at the milni in Punjabi families [1][2].
Baraatis and groomsmen Often coordinated: one color or one pattern, and matching turbans where the family does that [30] Rehearse in the shoes.
Bride Does not usually travel in the procession; waits for it. Some brides now ride their own horse in a bride's baraat [1] See bridal outfit by tradition.
Bride's family The welcoming party: the mother greets the groom with aarti and tilak in several traditions [1]. Dress for ceremony-level formal and for standing at the door.
Guests of the bride's side Dress for a wedding entrance, not a parade; you are waiting at the venue. See wedding ceremony outfit.

What is a milni, and does it change what you wear?

When the procession reaches the venue the music often stops and the two families meet. In a Punjabi baraat this is the milni, which means "meeting"; counterparts from each side greet each other, with the eldest paternal uncles exchanging flower garlands [1][2]. In a Sikh wedding the families gather at the gurdwara before the hall, an ardas is said, and gifts are exchanged [6]. The Indo-Caribbean version is the Baraat Milan [21]; the table has the details.

You do not need a separate outfit for it. You do need to be reachable. If you are a close relative, stay near your counterpart. If you are a friend in the procession, let the family go first and keep the dancing behind them.

What should you not wear to a baraat?

  • A new, unbroken pair of shoes, especially leather. See the shoes section above.
  • Stilettos on pavement or grass.
  • A full, heavily embroidered sherwani if you are a male guest, unless the invitation asks for it. It can upstage the groom.
  • A loose, floating dupatta near fireworks or a crowd.
  • Heavy silk or brocade in warm weather when you will be walking [32].
  • Anything you cannot sit down in at the ceremony afterward. The baraat is the first of several outfits for the day or the weekend; see how many outfits.
  • Another family's headwear, unless you were handed it. A topor belongs to the groom [8].
  • Unsecured jewelry that a dhol player or a dancing cousin can catch.

How is a baraat different in the US?

Three changes affect what you wear.

The route is a street, not a village lane. The baraat travels to the bride's house or the wedding venue [1]. In the US that can mean a closed city street; a Philadelphia couple's double baraat shut down Market Street [27]. Wear the shoes for asphalt.

Who joins varies. Ask the family what to expect; see the table above.

Horse welfare is part of the conversation. Calls for horse-free weddings have grown, with some groups urging alternatives such as palanquins [1]. If a couple chooses a car, a buggy, or a dance on foot, the outfit does not change.

For every event name by region, see wedding events glossary. The turmeric and henna events before the baraat are in haldi and mehndi.

FAQ

Do I have to dance? No. You have to stand somewhere that is not in front of the horse. Many guests watch from the sidewalk, and the family will pull in anyone who looks willing.

Is a baraat the same as the wedding? No. It is the procession to the wedding. In many traditions it arrives, the families meet in the milni, the groom is welcomed, and the ceremony follows [1][2].

Do all South Asian weddings have one? No. Most Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Pakistani Muslim, and Indo-Caribbean Hindu weddings have a procession. Sinhalese Buddhist and Parsi weddings have a different arrival rite, and Goan Catholic weddings are held at the parish church [14][15][16][17][19]. If the invitation says baraat, there is one.

What do you wear to a janti? The same principle: festive, comfortable, and ready to dance behind a band. Nepali men wear the Dhaka topi at formal ceremonies and weddings [11]; ask the family whether they would like you to.

What does the groom wear for a bor jatri? A Bengali Hindu groom traditionally wears the white conical topor, put on before the main ceremony [8]. The rest of the outfit varies by family.

Can I wear sneakers with a kurta? Yes, if you are dancing and the sneaker is clean and plain. Wear a jutti if you are in the photographs.

Can women join the baraat? In Punjabi weddings, yes, men and women both do [1]. Practice varies elsewhere, so ask the family.

Is there a baraat at a nikah? Some Pakistani and Indian Muslim families hold one, with bands, dhol, and the groom's party arriving for the nikah or the wedding evening [1][7]. Practice varies widely by family.

This page is part of the the Shaadi Dressing Guide, the Shaadi Dressing Guide to South Asian weddings in the US, by event and by role. New pages arrive by email; join the guide's list from the index.

Sources

Accessed 2026-10-09.

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  27. A Pride-Themed Indian American Wedding Weekend. Philadelphia Magazine. https://www.phillymag.com/?p=3992537
  28. 2025's biggest bridal trend sees brides and grooms borrowing from each other. The Nod. https://thenodmag.com/content/2025-s-biggest-bridal-trend-sees-brides-and-grooms-borrowing-from-each-other
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Featured image: A groom in a maroon turban and shawl among relatives at a janti procession in Janakpur. Photo: Bijay Chaurasia / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.