Groom rides bullock cart: Gujarat teacher picks tradition over opulence in son’s wedding | Rajkot News – Times of India

PALANPUR: This winter, as the wedding season reaches its peak, grand processions featuring luxurious cars, majestic horses, ornate carriages, and even elephants have become the norm. Accompanying the groom’s vehicle, relatives and friends dance exuberantly to the beats of DJs or music bands.
Amidst this ubiquitious modern-day opulence, a teacher’s family from north Gujarat chose to revive a cherished tradition by stepping away from the contemporary spectacle. Instead of a lavish display, the Bhatia family from Isri village in Aravalli’s Modasa taluka arranged a unique wedding procession—on a bullock cart.
The groom, Harsh (27), a manager with a car dealership in Ahmedabad, made his way to the village temple on Monday night for ritualistic prayers before heading to the bride’s home for the wedding on Tuesday, all while seated on a beautifully adorned bullock cart. The soft jingling of bells on the cart, coupled with the resonating notes of traditional dhol and shehnai, replaced the usual cacophony of loudspeakers.
Jayesh Bhatia, the groom’s father and a teacher, said, “Nowadays, even the less affluent in villages splurge on glitzy wedding processions, often facing financial strain afterward. More worryingly, our rich marriage traditions are being forgotten. I was planning this traditional procession for Harsh for over a year to emphasize the beauty of simplicity and heritage.”
For Harsh, the groom, the unique procession held special meaning. “I wanted my wedding to stand out, not for extravagance, but for simplicity and adherence to our traditions. We wanted to send a message to the younger generation: preserving our culture is more meaningful than indulging in excessive displays of wealth.”
In keeping with this theme, the family replaced the term varghodo (groom’s procession) with ‘Dev Darshan’ on their wedding invitations, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural significance of the ceremony. “I’m proud to fulfil my father’s wish of reviving our traditional wedding practices,” said Harsh.