Sarbala
A sarbala, in certain wedding customs from the Indian subcontinent, is a nephew or cousin of the groom who accompanies the groom during the ceremony as his protector. The sarbala can also be the "future groom's" brother-in-law.
The word "sarbala" (Punjabi), "shahbala" (Urdu) is derived from Sanskrit which means associate of the groom.
The sarbala often wears a similar outfit to the groom and rides a horse. The sarbala also takes care of the groom in the future if anything happens to the bride during the wedding.
The tradition is most common in Hindu weddings but may also be part of Muslim or Sikh ceremonies.
In the past, a baraat or a marriage procession would go to the bride's village for the marriage ceremony carrying gold and valuable gifts. An attack of robbers on the baraat or the marriage procession was a common occurrence at those times, where Mughal raiders would kill everyone in the procession and rob the valuables. The Sarbala was usually the younger brother or a cousin of the groom who assured the safety of the groom.
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