Dalit Woman’s Wedding At A Rajput House Marks Historic Moment Of Social Harmony In Rajasthan

The groom was ceremonially seated on a mare, a gesture historically reserved for upper-caste grooms.

Curated By :Diksha Modi

In a remarkable display of social change and unity, a Dalit woman’s marriage was celebrated in the courtyard of a Rajput family in Nagana village, near Balotra in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. The marriage of Kusumlata, a young woman from the Valmiki community, was celebrated in a manner that few could have imagined just a generation ago. Kusumlata’s wedding to Sanjay Kumar, a groom from Nagaur, took place just two days ago.

The marriage took place at the residence of Sajjan Singh Rawal, a prominent Rajput head of the village. In a powerful act of solidarity, Singh not only offered his family home as the venue for the wedding but also covered all the expenses for the ceremony.

The marriage procession, which arrived from Nagaur, was given a warm and grand welcome, defying the traditional divisions of caste that have long shaped Rajasthan’s rural communities. The entire village came together to support and celebrate this historic occasion, which was attended by members from diverse communities.

In a region where, in many areas, Dalit grooms still require police protection to ride a mare during their weddings, this wedding marks a significant shift in the social fabric of Rajasthan. For Kusumlata’s family, this was nothing short of a dream come true. The opportunity to marry their daughter in the home of a Rajput family, long seen as a symbol of Rajasthan’s upper-caste aristocracy, was an act of profound dignity and respect.

The traditional wedding rituals unfolded with great fanfare. The groom was ceremonially seated on a mare, a gesture historically reserved for upper-caste grooms. He was also invited to perform the Toran Vandan (a ritual to ward off evil spirits), which further symbolised the breaking of barriers between castes. The groom’s procession was accompanied by drums, the showering of flowers, and a lively celebration – all acts that have traditionally been denied to Dalit communities in Rajasthan.

Sajjan Singh, speaking about the event, expressed his deep sense of pride in having hosted the wedding. “It is a great privilege that the daughter of the Valmiki community was married in my house. It is time for untouchability to end, and for mutual brotherhood and social harmony to thrive across the country,” he said. Singh, who is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), further emphasised the importance of fostering unity and breaking down the caste-based barriers that have long divided communities.

A similar, though smaller-scale, event had taken place recently in Ajmer, where members of the Rajput community organised a wedding procession for a Dalit bride, who was also made to sit on a mare – a symbolic gesture of honour and respect.

Courtesy : News18

Note: This news is originally published in news18.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights