Marwari and Rajasthani wedding invitations: the rituals and what to write
The Marwari wedding rituals in order, what Mahira Dastoor and Palla Dastoor mean, why the functions run for days, and invitation wording you can copy.
On this page
Marwari weddings run long. Five or six days of functions is normal, and several of them involve the maternal uncle in ways that are formal, expensive and taken seriously.
This page covers the sequence, the two Dastoor ceremonies that people outside the community find hardest to follow, and wording for the invitation.
Mahira Dastoor and Palla Dastoor
Mahira Dastoor. The maternal uncle, the mama, arrives at his sister's home with gifts for the entire family: clothes, jewellery and sweets. It is not a token gesture. It is a formal obligation with real weight, and in many families it is the moment the mother of the bride or groom is publicly honoured by her own family. Expect it to be emotional.
Palla Dastoor. The groom's family sends clothes and jewellery to the bride, which she wears for the wedding. What is sent, and how it is presented, is watched closely.
Both of these are worth listing on the invitation if relatives are being invited to them specifically, because they are not functions people can drop into casually.
The sequence
| Function | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mudda Tikka | The bride's family visits the groom with a tilak and gifts, formalising the match. |
| Ganapati Sthapana and Griha Shanti | Pujas at both homes to begin the wedding days. |
| Pithi Dastoor | The turmeric ceremony, at both homes, often over more than one day. |
| Mahira Dastoor | The maternal uncle arrives with gifts for the family. |
| Janev | The thread ceremony for the groom, in families that hold it before the wedding. |
| Palla Dastoor | The groom's family sends the bride's wedding clothes and jewellery. |
| Baraat and Toran | The procession arrives. The groom strikes the toran above the door with a sword or stick. |
| Jaimala and Granthi Bandhan | Garland exchange, then the knot tied between their garments. |
| Pheras | Four or seven depending on the family. |
| Seendh and Vidaai | Sindoor is applied, then the bride departs. |
| Mooh Dikhai | At the groom's home, the new bride's face is formally seen by his family, who give her gifts. |
Practical notes for the invitation
- List every function with its own date and time. Over five or six days, guests genuinely lose track.
- Say which functions out of town guests are expected at. Most cannot attend all of them and would rather be told which matter.
- Mention the food, since many Marwari families serve pure vegetarian without onion and garlic.
- Note whether there is a dress expectation for the bigger functions, since Rajasthani formal wear is often requested.
Marwari wedding invitation wording you can copy
Copy any of these and change the names, dates and places. They are written to be read out loud, so they sound right on a phone screen too.
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
With the blessings of Shri Ganesh and our elders,
[Parents' and grandparents' names]
invite you with your family to the wedding of
[Name]
with
[Name]
[Day, Date] · Muhurat [Time]
[Venue]
All meals will be pure vegetarian.
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
Hamare parivar ke shubh avsar par aap sapariwar padharein.
Chi. [Naam]
suputra [Pita ka naam]
ka shubh vivah
Aayushmati [Naam]
suputri [Pita ka naam]
Vivah: [Din, Tithi] · Muhurat [Samay]
Sthaan: [Sthaan]
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
[Name] weds [Name]
Ganapati Sthapana: [Date] · [Time]
Pithi Dastoor: [Date] · [Time]
Mahira Dastoor: [Date] · [Time]
Sangeet: [Date] · [Time]
Vivah: [Date] · Muhurat [Time]
[Venue]
Full details and directions on this link.
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Questions people ask
What is Mahira Dastoor?
The maternal uncle arrives at his sister's home with clothes, jewellery and sweets for the whole family. It is a formal obligation rather than a gesture, and it publicly honours the mother of the bride or groom.
What is Palla Dastoor?
The groom's family sends the bride the clothes and jewellery she will wear for the wedding. What is sent and how it is presented is watched closely.
How many days does a Marwari wedding last?
Five or six days of functions is normal, sometimes more. This is why listing every function with its own date and time on the invitation matters so much.
How many pheras in a Marwari wedding?
Four or seven depending on the family and the priest. Ask your elders rather than assuming, since both are genuinely followed.
What is Mooh Dikhai?
After the bride arrives at her husband's home, his family formally sees her face for the first time and gives her gifts. It usually happens the day after the wedding.
