The Antarpat That Told Our Story

Weddings are a beautiful expression of culture, art, and tradition. Every ritual carries a story, and in a Gujarati wedding, one such meaningful tradition is the Antarpat.

The Antarpat is a cloth screen held between the bride and groom as the bride makes her entrance to the mandap for the kanya daan ceremony. Until the auspicious moment arrives, the groom waits behind this screen, symbolizing the anticipation of seeing his bride. Once the prescribed rituals are completed, the Antarpat is removed, marking the couple’s first ceremonial glance at each other as they begin their journey together.

Traditionally, the Antarpat is a simple white or ivory cotton or silk cloth, often decorated with a red kumkum swastik symbol. In many weddings, it is arranged at the last minute by family members or the priest. However, some couples choose to transform it into a more decorative and personalized piece, incorporating artwork, floral motifs, or meaningful symbols that reflect their story.

For my own wedding, I wanted the Antarpat to be more than just a ceremonial fabric. I wanted it to tell a story—our story. With that thought in mind, I designed an Antarpat that combined traditional significance with personal symbolism.

Every element on it was carefully chosen. Sacred motifs such as Vishnu’s tilak, Lakshmi’s lotus, the sun, the moon, the Tree of Life, elephants, and banana trees were included to honor tradition and represent blessings, prosperity, strength, and growth. Alongside these traditional symbols, we added details that were deeply personal to us—flowers, heartbeat motifs, the paw prints of our beloved pet Coco, and my favorite quotes.

The artwork was hand-embroidered, making the Antarpat a truly unique piece. What made it even more special was that I was able to create and craft my design on fabric manufactured by my husband, bringing together my love for art and a meaningful part of his work.

Our Antarpat became much more than a ceremonial cloth. It was a reflection of our journey, our values, and the memories we wanted to carry forward. Today, it remains one of the most cherished keepsakes from our wedding—a beautiful blend of tradition, creativity, and personal meaning.