Customs and Rituals of Rajasthan

Warrior and Sacrificial Traditions

• Kesariya (केसरिया)

  Instead of surrendering to a large enemy army, Rajput warriors would wear saffron clothes and attack with the purpose of fighting to the death.

• Jauhar (जौहर)

  When warriors performed Kesariya, the royal women would commit a fire bath known as Jauhar to protect their dignity from the enemy.

• Sati-Pratha (सती-प्रथा)

  A tradition where a woman would voluntarily sit on her husband's funeral pyre and end her life. This practice, also called Sah-gaman (companion), was later imposed and became fatal. Bundi was the first princely state to ban it in 1822. After Lord William Bentinck made it illegal in 1829 with the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Alwar was the first state to follow the law and ban it in 1830. Jaipur (1845), Jodhpur (1860), Udaipur (1861), and Kota (1862) followed suit.

Social and Tribal Customs

• Nata Pratha (नाता प्रथा)

  A prevalent practice among the Bhil and other tribes where a woman leaves her husband to live with another man.

• Dakan Pratha (डाकन प्रथा) / Witch-practise

  A practice where a woman was declared a witch and subjected to physical and mental harassment, sometimes leading to her death. This was common in Bhil and Meena tribes. Maharana Swaroop Singh banned it in Udaipur in 1853, which was seen by the Bhils as British interference in their customs.

• Tyag Pratha (त्याग प्रथा)

  During the marriage of a Rajput girl, her father would voluntarily give a donation, called 'Tyag', to Charans, Bhats, and others. This later became a demanded expense, prompting Jodhpur state to create rules to limit the amount.

• Helmo (हेल्मो)

  A collective tradition where people come together to help someone in need, such as in building a house or working on a farm.

• Jhagda (झगड़ा)

  A reimbursement claimed by a man whose wife has left him for another. The Panchayat decides the amount, which the new husband must pay.

• Dapa (दापा)

  A custom in many tribes where the groom's side pays a bride price to the bride's father.

• Mautana (मौताणा)

  If a tribesman dies accidentally or for another reason, the accused person must pay a certain amount to the deceased's family, as decided by the Panchayat.

• Cheda Fadna (छेड़ा फाड़ना)

  A form of divorce among tribesmen, where a man tears a piece of his wife's saree in front of the Panchayat.

• Natra / Aana (नातरा/आना)

  The practice of widow remarriage among tribal people is known as Natra.

• Kukadi Ritual (कूकड़ी रस्म)

  A ritual in the Saansi tribe where a newlywed bride must pass a character test.

Marriage Rituals

• Child-Marriage

  A practice where children are married at a young age. Despite the Sharda Act of 1929, which set the marriage age for boys at 18 and girls at 15, child marriages still occur in large numbers, especially on Akshaya Tritiya. Before this act, Sir Pratap, the Prime Minister of Jodhpur, made a law prohibiting it in 1885.

• Teeka (टीका)

  Gifts given to the groom by the bride's side after the marriage is fixed.

• Reet (रीत)

  Gifts given to the bride by the groom's side after the marriage is fixed.

• Samela (सामेला)

  The welcoming of the groom's side by the bride's father and relatives when they arrive at the bride's place.

• Pithi (पीठी)

  A paste of turmeric and flour applied to the bodies of the bride and groom by women to enhance their beauty.

• Fera (फेरा)

  The ritual where the bride and groom take seven rounds in front of the sacred fire, making seven vows to each other.

• Seekh (सीख)

  Gifts given to the newlyweds and the groom's relatives after the wedding ceremony.

• Aulandi (औलांदी)

  A girl or woman who accompanies the newlywed girl to her new home.

• Jannotan (जानोठण)

  The feast given by the groom's side during the marriage celebration.

• Badhar ka Bhoj (बढ़ार का भोज)

  The feast given on the occasion of a wedding.

Other Social Practices and Reforms

• Human Trafficking/Slave Trade

  Historically, war prisoners were treated as slaves and traded. The Regency Council of Jaipur, led by John Ludlow, was the first to ban this practice in 1847. Udaipur (1863) and Kota (1867) followed.

• Samadhi/Trance (समाधि)

  A practice where a person, usually a saint, would take their own life by being buried or drowning. Jaipur was the first state to ban this in 1844 under John Ludlow's council.

• Female Infanticide

  The practice of killing a girl child at birth was more prevalent among the Rajput caste. Kota was the first princely state to ban this practice in 1834 during the reign of Ummed Singh.

• Widow Remarriage

  Lord Dalhousie's Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 legally allowed widows to remarry. Activist Chandkaran Sharda also wrote a book titled "Widow-marriage" to encourage the practice.

• Sagdi/Bonded Labour (सागड़ी)

  A form of bonded labor where a person was forced to work their entire life against a loan from a moneylender. The Rajasthan government passed the Sagadi Nivaran Adhiniyam in 1961 to address this issue.

• Mauser (मौसर)

  The custom of hosting a feast after a person's death. If a person hosts this feast while still alive, it is called Jausar.

• Mugdhana (मुगधना)

  The wood used for cooking food after the Vinayak establishment (a pre-wedding ritual) is known as Mugdhana.