Quick Answer
What is ghudchadhi?
Ghudchadhi is the ritual of the groom mounting a decorated mare just before the baraat sets off for the wedding. It follows the sehrabandi (the tying of the groom’s floral veil): his sisters and bhabhis feed and adorn the mare, a sister-in-law lines his eyes with surma, he gives them shagun, and then — often with a young nephew seated in front of him — he rides at the head of his own wedding procession. It is the groom’s grand exit from home as a bachelor.
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Last updated:
What is ghudchadhi?
Also called: ghodi chadhna, ghudchari, ghodi charhna, ghud chadhi.
Ghudchadhi is the groom’s last act at home before he becomes a husband, and it is staged like one. With the sehra already tied over his face, his sisters feed grams to a white mare and decorate her, a bhabhi smudges protective surma into his eyes and demands her shagun for it, and he climbs into the saddle to lead the baraat out. For the family it is pride and a little heartbreak; for the planner it is a live animal, a road, a crowd and a tight muhurat all colliding at once.
What ghudchadhi is and how it runs
"Ghudchadhi" — from "ghodi" (mare) and "chadhna" (to mount) — is specifically the groom getting onto the horse, traditionally a white mare rather than a stallion. It comes right after the sehrabandi and is the cue for the baraat to begin moving. Around it cluster a set of small rituals owned by the groom’s sisters and sisters-in-law, who feed and decorate the mare, tease the groom for shagun, and send him off.
- •Who is involved — the groom on the mare, his sisters and bhabhis around her, and often a young nephew or brother (the sarbala) seated in front of him.
- •When — immediately after the sehrabandi, just before the baraat departs for the venue.
- •What happens — the sisters feed the mare grams and decorate her, a bhabhi applies surma to the groom’s eyes, the groom gives shagun, and an aarti or tikka may be done before he rides off.
- •Why it matters — it is the groom’s ceremonial departure from his home, marking the start of his journey to marry.
Regional names and variations
The core — groom on a mare, sisters at her side — is shared across the Hindi belt and Punjab, but the local name and the trimmings vary, and city weddings increasingly swap the live animal for something with an engine.
| Region / community | Local name | How it’s done |
|---|---|---|
| Punjabi | Ghodi Chadhna | Sisters feed the mare and tie its reins; a bhabhi applies surma; the sarbala rides in front |
| Hindi belt (UP / Rajasthan) | Ghudchadhi | Performed after sehrabandi with an aarti; the mare is led by a handler as the baraat starts |
| Haryanvi | Ghodi | A young nephew (sarbala) sits with the groom; the mare is richly caparisoned |
| Urban / modern weddings | Ghodi or substitute | A vintage car, a chariot or an open jeep increasingly replaces the live mare |
A real mare in a crowd of dancing baraatis, firecrackers and a band is an animal under stress. Use a known, calm horse and a proper handler — a bolting mare with the groom and a child on its back is the one ghudchadhi disaster you cannot walk back.
Tips for event managers
- •Book a calm, experienced mare and handler, not the cheapest one — and confirm the animal is comfortable with crowds, lights and a band before the day.
- •Protect the muhurat for departure: ghudchadhi gates the baraat, so build in buffer and chase the stragglers early, because a late start cascades into a late wedding.
- •Plan the route, road permissions and traffic: a horse-led procession on a public road needs a cleared path and sometimes police intimation, especially in cities.
- •Keep shagun envelopes and a small float ready for the sisters and bhabhis, and stage the surma, grams and aarti thali before the groom comes out.
Tips for wedding hosts
- •Decide early whether you want a live mare or a modern substitute (a vintage car or chariot) — it changes the cost, the permissions and the photos.
- •Tell the groom’s sisters and bhabhis that the feeding, surma and shagun rituals are theirs, so the moment is full rather than rushed.
- •Sort the sarbala in advance if a young nephew is to ride with the groom, and make sure a responsible adult is alongside the mare for safety.
- •Brief the baraatis to gather on time — the procession cannot leave until the groom mounts, and a late ghudchadhi pushes the whole evening back.
Get the baraat moving on the muhurat
Ghudchadhi gates the whole procession, and half the baraatis are never ready. Send a timed WhatsApp nudge so everyone assembles before the groom mounts.
See scheduled announcements →Frequently Asked Questions
What is ghudchadhi?
Ghudchadhi is the ritual of the groom mounting a decorated mare just before the wedding procession (baraat) departs from his home. His sisters feed and decorate the mare and he rides at the head of the baraat.
Why does the groom ride a mare and not a stallion?
Tradition specifically calls for a mare (ghodi). A white, well-decorated mare is the customary mount, and the word ghudchadhi itself comes from ghodi.
What happens during ghudchadhi?
After the sehrabandi, the groom’s sisters feed and adorn the mare, a sister-in-law applies surma to his eyes and is given shagun, and the groom — sometimes with a young nephew in front — mounts and leads the baraat.
Can the mare be replaced in a modern wedding?
Yes. Many city couples now use a vintage car, a chariot or an open jeep instead of a live mare, often for safety, permissions or simple preference.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated