Baraat invitation: the time to print, safa bandhi, whose card carries it, and wording to copy
Baraat invitation wording in Hindi and English: the departure time to print, safa bandhi, the baraat swagat and milni, and what goes on each family's card.
A baraat invitation tells the groom's guests where to gather, when the safas are tied and when the baraat leaves, with 'onwards' after the time. It goes on the groom's card. The bride's card carries the baraat swagat or the milni instead, and neither card gives the varmala a clock time: it follows the baraat's arrival, and the pheras follow the muhurat.
On this page
The baraat is the groom's procession to his wedding: the sehra and the safas at home, the mare or the car, the band and the dancing, and the welcome at the bride's gate. On the invitation it raises two questions, whose card it goes on and what time to print, because it belongs to one family and its time is never quite fixed.
This season, many of the families who called or messaged us had baraat functions on their invitation: the baraat and its departure time, safa bandhi, mukut bandhan, var nikasi, samela and the baraat swagat. This page sets out what each step is, whose card carries it, what time to print, and wording to copy in English and Hindi.
The baraat, step by step
Every family has its own order, and many add steps of their own. A common one:
- Sehra bandiThe sehra, a veil of flowers or pearls, is tied on the groom at home. A sister, a brother-in-law or a maternal uncle ties it, depending on the family.
- Safa bandhiSafas, the tied turbans, go on the groom and the men of the family, and at many weddings on every man in the baraat, sometimes in colours that tell guests which side they are from.
- GhudchadiThe groom mounts a decorated mare. In many Punjabi families his sisters and cousins feed and dress the mare, and a sister or a bhabhi lines his eyes with surma. In Marwari families the send-off before he leaves is the nikasi.
- The processionThe baraat sets off with a band or a dhol, the baraatis dancing ahead of the groom.
- Baraat swagatThe bride's family receives the baraat at the gate, and in many families the bride's mother does the aarti and puts a tilak on the groom. Punjabi families hold the milni here: relatives of the same standing from the two families meet, garland each other and hug.
- Varmala and pherasThe varmala follows the arrival, and the pheras are held at the muhurat.
Cards this season also said Var Nikasi, Samela and Mukut bandhan for steps around the baraat. Whatever your family calls a step, write that word, and put a few words of English under it for guests from elsewhere: 'Safa bandhi: turbans for the men'.
Whose card carries the baraat
The baraat belongs on the groom's card. As one caller from a groom's side told us: 'baraat mera hoga, uske card mein nahi hoga', the baraat is ours, and it does not go on her card. The bride's card shows the arrival instead, as the baraat swagat, after her own side's functions.
| Groom's card | Bride's card | |
|---|---|---|
| Safa bandhi | The time and place for his side's men | Only if her side ties safas for its own men, at its own time |
| The baraat | The gathering point and the departure time | Not shown |
| The arrival | Not needed | Baraat swagat or milni, with an 'onwards' time |
| Varmala and pheras | No clock time for the varmala; the pheras at the muhurat | The same |
| Home address | Only for those who gather at home | The venue only |
Our guide to bride's side and groom's side invitations covers the rest of the two versions, and the guide to your son's wedding invitation has the full wording for the groom's side.
What time to print
- The departure, with 'onwards'. 'Baraat prasthan: 7 pm onwards' tells guests when to be ready, without promising when the band will move.
- The safa bandhi, earlier. Give it its own start time, before the departure, so the men arrive early enough for every turban to be tied.
- The arrival, on the bride's card. 'Baraat swagat: 8:30 pm onwards'. The bride's guests come for the welcome and do not need the departure time.
- No clock time for the varmala. It follows the arrival, and a baraat that dances longer moves it. Give the pheras the muhurat once the pandit has fixed it, and until then write 'at the shubh muhurat'.
Our muhurat guide explains how the muhurat is chosen.
Where the baraat gathers
A baraat sets off from the groom's home, from the hotel where his side is staying, or from a point near the wedding venue. Say exactly which, with a map pin to the gathering point, a line on where to park, and, for the elders, a photo of the gate so they recognise it.
If it leaves from home, send the home address only to the people who gather there, the family and close friends. Everyone else needs the venue, not your house on a map.
The baraat in the picture
If your invitation has a picture for each function, the baraat's shows the groom on his own, in his safa or sehra, on the mare or with the band. Leave the bride out of this one: she is waiting at the other end. The detail families check hardest is the safa, whether it sits right, whether it looks as if it is slipping ('safa gir raha hai'), whether hair shows under it. If his safa or sehra is ready, send a clear photo of it.
How Invifest does the baraat
Invifest makes invitations and guest management for weddings and every big moment. Our designers make each family its own invitation website, and this is what the baraat gets on it:
- One wedding, two links. The groom's side gets its link with the safa bandhi and the baraat. The bride's side gets the same design with her family's names first and the baraat swagat. Each guest sees only their side's functions.
- Every step with its own time and map. The safa bandhi, the departure and the swagat each get a time, a place and a map button, and the pheras show the muhurat.
- A headcount before the safas are ordered. Guests reply for each function, so you know how many are joining the baraat.
- The groom in his safa. Add a caricature, and our designers draw him from your photographs, arriving with the baraat in the safa or sehra he will wear.
- Sent from your phone, counted for you. With Aangan, you keep one guest list, tick the functions for each guest, send everyone their own invitation from your WhatsApp, and see who is coming to which function.
- Hindi and English on one invitation, for the relatives who read the card in Hindi and the friends who read it in English.
- Changes on the same link. When the pandit moves the muhurat, the link everyone has updates itself. On our newest invitations you tap the spot and say or type the change.
- Ready in 3 days, or in under 24 hours on request. It opens on any phone from WhatsApp, with no app and no login.
Designs such as Kesariya, Sindoori and Kohinoor give the baraat a card of its own, beside the haldi, the sangeet and the pheras.
Baraat invitation wording you can copy
For the groom's card, the safa bandhi, the bride's card and WhatsApp, in English and Hindi. Change everything in [brackets].
Baraat
On the wedding of our son
[Groom's name]
with [Bride's name]
[Day, Date]
Safa bandhi: [Time], at [Gathering place]
The baraat leaves: [Time] onwards
from [Gathering place] for [Wedding venue]
Please join the baraat with your family.
[Parents' names]
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
बारात
हमारे सुपुत्र चि. [वर का नाम]
के शुभ विवाह के उपलक्ष्य में
दिनांक: [दिन, तिथि]
साफ़े बाँधे जाएँगे: [समय] बजे से, [एकत्र होने का स्थान] पर
बारात प्रस्थान: [समय] बजे से
[प्रस्थान स्थल] से [विवाह स्थल] के लिए
आप सपरिवार बारात में पधारकर शोभा बढ़ाएँ।
निवेदक: [माता-पिता के नाम]
Safa bandhi at [Time]!
Before the baraat leaves, every man in the family gets his safa tied at [Place].
Please come dressed and ready by [Time], so we leave on time at [Time].
Map: [link]
With joy, we await the baraat
of [Groom's name] and his family
[Day, Date]
Baraat swagat: [Time] onwards
Varmala, then the pheras at the shubh muhurat
[Venue]
Dinner follows.
[Bride's parents' names]
बारात स्वागत
दिनांक: [दिन, तिथि]
बारात आगमन: रात्रि [समय] बजे से
वरमाला एवं फेरे: शुभ मुहूर्त में
प्रीतिभोज: [समय] बजे से
स्थान: [विवाह स्थल]
स्वागतोत्सुक: [परिवार का नाम]
Milni
[Day, Date] · [Time] onwards
[Venue]
The two families meet at the gate as the baraat arrives,
followed by the [Anand Karaj / pheras] at [Time].
Baraat mein naachna hai?
[Groom's name] ki baraat [Din, Tareekh] ko [Samay] baje [Jagah] se niklegi.
Saafe [Samay] baje se bandhenge, toh time pe aa jaana.
Location: [link]
Aa rahe ho? Yahan batao: [link]
नमस्ते [नाम] जी,
[वर का नाम] की बारात [दिन, तिथि] को [समय] बजे [स्थान] से प्रस्थान करेगी। साफ़े [समय] बजे से बाँधे जाएँगे।
आप परिवार सहित बारात में ज़रूर शामिल हों।
लोकेशन: [लिंक]
[आपका नाम]
Today: the baraat!
Safa bandhi from [Time] at [Place].
The baraat leaves at [Time] onwards.
Map to the gathering point: [link]
Want these words on a real invitation? See the designs.
Hindu wedding invitation designs
8 designs you can personalise. Open any one to see it full size, with a live demo.
Questions people ask
What should a baraat invitation card say?
Whose wedding it is, the day and date, the safa bandhi time and place, the baraat's departure time with 'onwards', where it leaves from and where it is going, and a map pin to the gathering point. On the bride's card, the baraat swagat time instead.
What time should be printed for the baraat?
The departure time with 'onwards' on the groom's card, and the arrival with 'onwards' on the bride's. Give the varmala no clock time, and give the pheras the muhurat once the pandit has fixed it.
Does the baraat go on the bride's wedding card?
No. The baraat belongs on the groom's card. The bride's card carries the baraat swagat or the milni, the welcome at her gate, after her own side's functions.
What is safa bandhi?
The tying of safas, the turbans, on the groom and the men of the family, and at many weddings on every man in the baraat, before it sets off. On the invitation it gets its own time and place, earlier than the departure.
What is the difference between sehra bandi and safa bandhi?
Sehra bandi is the tying of the sehra, the veil of flowers or pearls, on the groom alone. Safa bandhi is the tying of turbans on the groom and the men of the baraat. Many families do both at home before the baraat leaves.
What is milni in a wedding?
The Punjabi welcome of the baraat. As it arrives, relatives of the same standing from the two families meet, the fathers, the maternal uncles and so on, garland each other and hug. On a Punjabi card it often has its own line before the Anand Karaj or the pheras.
What is baraat swagat?
The bride's family's welcome of the baraat at the gate, usually with the aarti and a tilak for the groom from the bride's mother. It is the baraat's line on the bride's card, with the time the baraat is expected.
Should the baraat invitation give our home address?
Only to the people who gather at home before it leaves: the family and close friends. Everyone else needs the venue, or the gathering point if the baraat starts near the venue.
Can the baraat band play after 10 pm?
Not with loudspeakers in the open. India's noise rules do not allow them between 10 pm and 6 am, and a state may relax that only till midnight on a few festive days a year. Start the baraat early enough to arrive before the cut-off.
How do I send a baraat invitation message on WhatsApp?
Send it to the people joining the baraat, with the safa bandhi time, the departure time and a map pin to the gathering point. On the wedding morning, send a short reminder with the same three things.
