बारात (baaraat)

noun A single, culturally rich sense: the groom's wedding procession/party that travels to the wedding venue.
Sense 1 : the groom's wedding procession/party
noun, feminine
Synonyms: जनवासा (janvaasaa, rare, refers to the procession's lodging place rather than the procession itself)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: The बारात (baaraat) is the groom's procession, traditionally arriving on a horse or decorated car, with family and friends dancing to a dhol (dhol) all the way to the bride's venue. Delhi weddings are famous for loud, joyful baraats that block traffic on entire streets, especially in wedding season (winter months) -- a very visible, communal piece of North Indian wedding culture that a learner will likely encounter in person or in Bollywood scenes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate बारात (baaraat) simply as 'wedding,' but it specifically means the groom's party/procession, not the wedding ceremony or event as a whole (that would be शादी (shaadii) or विवाह (vivaah)). 2) The common verb pairing is बारात लेकर आना (baaraat lekar aanaa, 'to come bringing the wedding procession') or बारात निकलना (baaraat nikalnaa, 'for the procession to set out') -- learners often reach for a more literal 'come/go' construction instead.
Sample Sentences:
बारात रात नौ बजे निकलेगी। The wedding procession will set out at nine at night.
(baaraat raat nau baje niklegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बारात ढोल की थाप पर नाचती हुई आगे बढ़ रही थी। The wedding procession was moving ahead, dancing to the beat of the dhol.
(baaraat dhol kii thaap par naachtii huii aage badh rahii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पूरी सड़क बारात की वजह से जाम हो गई थी। The entire street was jammed because of the wedding procession.
(poorii sadak baaraat kii vajah se jaam ho gaii thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दुल्हा घोड़ी पर बैठा है और बारात लड़की के घर की तरफ चल रही है। The groom is sitting on a mare, and the procession is heading towards the bride's house.
(dulhaa ghodii par baithaa hai aur baaraat ladkii ke ghar kii taraph chal rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सर्दियों में हर गली में कोई न कोई बारात दिख जाती है। In winter, some wedding procession or another can be seen in every lane.
(sardiyon men har galii men koii n koii baaraat dikh jaatii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बारात लेकर जल्दी निकलो, वरना मुहूर्त निकल जाएगा! Set out with the wedding procession quickly, or the auspicious time will pass!
(baaraat lekar jaldii niklo, varnaa muhoort nikal jaaegaa!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बारात के स्वागत के लिए दरवाज़े पर ही आरती की व्यवस्था की गई थी। Arrangements for an aarti had been made right at the door to welcome the wedding procession.
(baaraat ke svaagat ke lie darvaaze par hii aartii kii vyavasthaa kii gaii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर बारिश न होती, तो बारात खुले मैदान से होकर जाती। If it hadn't rained, the wedding procession would have gone through the open field.
(agar baarish n hotii, to baaraat khule maidaan se hokar jaatii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम बारात में डांस करने आओगे? Will you come to dance in the wedding procession?
(kyaa tum baaraat men daans karne aaoge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
शायद बारात थोड़ी देर से पहुँचे, ट्रैफिक बहुत है। The wedding procession might arrive a bit late, there's a lot of traffic.
(shaayad baaraat thodii der se pahunche, traiphik bahut hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बारात (baaraat)
(sg.f.oblique): बारात (baaraat)
(pl.f.direct): बारातें (baaraaten)
(pl.f.oblique): बारातों (baaraaton)