Tribal tradition where groom’s sister marries bride

There is an unusual tradition that tribals follow in some villages in Gujarat where marriages take place without the grooms physical presence. A groom cannot attend his own wedding and his unmarried sister or any other unmarried woman from his family should represent him in the ceremonies.

The groom  stays at home with his mother while his sister leads  the wedding procession to the bride’s house,  marries her and brings her back. It is believed that if this custom is not followed, some harm will befall them. According to the villagers the male deities  of the villages where  the custom is  followed were  bachelors and the villagers  in order to show them respect keep their grooms at home.