In some places in India, marriage rituals include riding a mare( female horse ) by the groom. Have you ever though about what is the significance of ‘Ghudchari’ and why does the man rides a ‘Ghodi’ and not a ‘Ghoda’? Actually, mythology holds the answer.
There are a lot of examples in Hindu Mythology where a horse is used as a symbol of speed, power, faithfulness, devotion and dynamism. Horses were used in battlefields to conquer the enemies. It has been said that, to ride a horse, you need to overpower the qualities it symbolizes.
According to Ramayan, a horse was used by Rama for ‘Ashwamegh-Yagya’. Capturing the horse meant accepting the challenge and denying submission because horse was carrying the pride and honor of Ayodhya.
A horse represents the senses and controlling or winning over the horse means winning over the 10 senses. Some more examples can also be found in Hindu mythology that imply that controlling the horse is a representation of controlling over senses.
According to Kathopnishad, our body is a chariot, the self is its master, intellect is the charioteer, mind is the rein, senses are the horses and sense-objects are the paths. Another example is from Bhagavad Gita where Arjuna was on the chariot and Lord Krishna was the charioteer. The human body represents the chariot, Arjun the individual soul and Krishna the Spirit or the Supreme Soul. The chariot has three wheels (Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas). The four horses, apart from senses, also represent the time, pre destiny, will of the deities, and one’s own will. It has three naves (white, black, and mixed, implying good acts, evil acts and acts that are of a mixed character, respectively).
In Vidur Niti, Vidur said Dhritarashtra, “O king, man’s body is just like a Ratha (chariot), intelligence (buddhi) like a charioteer (Saarathi) and senses are its horses. One who controls all these three, travels happily in this world, just like the charioteer who has controlled the horses of the chariot.”
As a marriage ritual, mare is used instead of horse because mare is considered to be more childish ( chanchal ) than the horse. Riding a mare indicates that the man has gain command his childish behavior and he is ready to take responsibilities.
Use of mare over horse has some other reasons also. Prithviraj Chauhan used a horse to kidnap the daughter of Raja Jaysingh. Horse is used to express power and not dedication. In Indian marriages, when the parents of the girl are ready to marry their daughter to the man, then the man no longer requires to ride a horse.
Anyways, Ghudchari is one of the most enjoyed tradition during wedding, so get dressed and let the beats take over you.