Weddings in Madhya Pradesh have age-old practices, customs, and rituals with deep meanings. Most of them are passed down through generations to help maintain cultural continuity. Weddings, from folk songs and dances to the ancient Solah Shringar, uphold the region’s identity. Weddings in Madhya Pradesh are also a celebration of kinship.

Family members, relatives, friends, and sometimes the entire village participate in a wedding celebration. Weddings also offer the perfect opportunity for social bonding, business interactions and matchmaking opportunities for the next bride and groom.

Most of the wedding ceremonies seeped in auspiciousness have spiritual significance. They bring prosperity and happiness to the bride and groom. They even safeguard them from evil eyes. Lastly, like most other Indian weddings, a wedding in Madhya Pradesh is high on aesthetics, from bridal attire to jewellery and wedding décor.

At weddings in Madhya Pradesh, until recently, ghagra cholis and sarees dominated the traditional poshak (wedding attire) for brides. While the saree was a five-yard piece of silk draped around the body, the ghagra choli was a flair skirt with a short or long widely detailed blouse worn with a separate odhani (a long scarf). However, in recent times, many brides are opting for a designer lehenga choli, a skirt with more designs, like a fish cut or ballroom style, paired with a highly embellished odhani. The preferred colours for the poshak are red, pink, green, yellow, orange and gold. The brides even have elaborate hairstyles adorned with flowers and jewels.

On the other hand, the groom wears a traditional dhoti and kurta, with a jacket called Bandi. Some even prefer the sherwani, a long coat heavily embroidered and made from silk, brocade, or velvet. It is paired with a churidar (fitted trousers) or a dhoti. The groom may even wear a headgear known as the Safa or Chanderi Pagdi.