Mt Madonna Stables

60 Summit Road, Watsonville, CA 95076

408-663-1665
Baraat or Hindu Weddings
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Barat

Barat is one of the most fun filled traditions in the entire wedding ceremony. It is basically the procession, which proceeds from the house of the groom, towards the wedding venue. The procession is attended by the all the relatives and friends from the groom's side. The groom is seated on a decorated horse or an elephant for reaching the venue. The spruced up groom is the center of attention as he is elaborately dressed for the occasion.

The groom wears a turban with 'sehra', which is a flower veil over his face. Around his neck he wears a garland of Indian currency, signifying his prosperity. This is a very colorful and grand ceremony, which is enjoyed by one and all. Before his departure for the venue, tilak is applied on his forehead, by he various relatives. After this, his sisters and paternal aunt feed the horse or elephant with sweetened grain.

Next, the groom sits on the horse, followed by his congregated folks. Everybody dances on the tunes of the song and music played by the band accompanying them. This way the flock rejoices for the reason that an eligible bachelor of their family will finally start his new life, along with his life partner. Amongst all the celebration, the baraat eventually reaches the marriage spot, where the family members of the bride, awaits them.

On the arrival, all the followers of the baraat are greeted by the people from the bride's side. The mother of the bride applies tilak on groom's forehead and performs aarti to ward off any evil. He along with his other prominent family members is offered a token of gratitude in the form of money from the bride's side. After this, the groom leaves for the sight of Jaimala, for the exchange of garlands with the bride.
Our White Horses Are Perfectly Suited for Indian Weddings, for the Grooms Procession as well as the Bridal Sendoff.
Our horses will stand quietly and patiently throughout the procession

We pride ourselves in providing wedding horses that are well trained for a festive Indian wedding. Our Indian wedding horses have been trained to be at ease to the sound of dhol, Bollywood band and excited baraatis. Moreover, our wedding horses have participated in a number of South Asian weddings.

If you have never been on a horseback before, not to worry we make sure you along with your sarbala are comfortable before we begin. This will help you and your sarbala to overcome any kind of fear. Your safety is of utmost importance for us. We are totally committed to provide you with the most personalized service to make your day a special one. We are sure that our well trained South Asian wedding horses will exceed all your expectations.



Horse Drawn Carriage Frequently Asked Questions


Below are answers to some general questions we receive. Don't let the answers discourage you from contacting us, as some of the information may slightly vary per event and exceptions can be made at times.

For more information or to book our services please call us at 408-314-5251

How far do you travel?
The Entire Bay and  the Monterey Pennisula. If you are unsure if your area is included please call to confirm.

How does the horse get to an event?
The horse is transported by truck & trailer to your event..

What is the required down payment?
We require a down payment of 50% of your total balance.

What payment methods do you currently accept?
We accept Check, Money Order or Paypal.

What about gratuities?
Although gratuities are greatly appreciated by the driver, they are between you and the handler and are not included in the price quotes.

How far in advance do we need to book the horse?
We always say the sooner the better, as we generally book up quickly.

What if it rains?
Depending on the severity of the weather...we can still do your event without a problem.

Do we need special permits?
Usually no. However, if you're planning an event at a local park, it's best to call the park's main office and get permission.

Do you decorate the carriage or horse?
Yes, we do. For all South Asian Indian Weddings we provide the tradition decorations for the horse (imported from India). Also if you use the carriage we decorate it in red/gold also to match the horse costume.

What does the Handler wear?
Traditional Indian attire.


The cost for this service is $600 for weddings. A deposit of $300 is required to reserve your date, with the balance to be paid prior to the event.  Deposits are non-refundable within 30 days of the event.

Please call to reserve your date now
408-663-1665