Baraat
Baraat (Hindi: बरात, Urdu: بارات) (ⓘ) or Varayatra (Sanskrit: वरयात्रा, romanized: Varayātrā) is a groom's wedding procession in Indian subcontinent. In Indian subcontinent, it is customary for the bridegroom to travel to the wedding venue (often the bride's house) on a mare (or vintage car now a days and chariots or elephants in the past), accompanied by his family members.
The baraat can become a large procession, with booking its own band, dancers, and budget. The groom and his horse are covered in finery and do not usually take part in the dancing and singing; that is left to the "baraatis" or people accompanying the procession. The groom usually carries a sword. The term baraati is also more generically used to describe any invitee from the groom's side. Traditionally, baraatis are attended to as guests of the bride's family.
The baraat, headed by a display of fireworks and accompanied by the rhythm of the dhol, reaches the meeting point, where the elders of both the families meet. In Indian Hindu weddings, the groom is greeted with garlands, tilak and aarti. In traditional Indian weddings, baraats are welcomed at the wedding venue with the sound of shehnais or nadaswaram, which are considered auspicious at weddings by Hindus.