JAIPUR, April 22 (DHNS)

Riding a mare in a wedding procession still proves to be a nightmare for many a Dalit bridegrooms in Rajasthan. A Dalit bridegroom was reportedly dismounted from the mare and stones were thrown at the 'baaratis` injuring four of them at Sardada village of Deoli tehsil in Tonk district on Wednesday.

The police had to be rushed to the village to check any untoward incident or further clash between Dalits and Savarnas (upper castes). According to sources, when a 'baarat` of a Bairwa bridegroom arrived at Sardada on Wednesday, about 10 people belonging to the upper castes misbehaved with the 'baaratis` who resisted the attempt to upstage the bridegroom. Later when the bridegroom was taken to the village temple, his entry was prohibited.

When the 'baaratis` resisted again, stones were thrown at them by some people. The police immediately rushed to the spot.

This is the second incident in three days when a Dalit bridegroom has been restricted from performing the wedding ceremonies the way upper castes do.

On Monday last, two Meghwal bridegrooms suffered the same fate in Taleda town of Kota district. The people of Kachhi Mali caste did not let the bridegrooms perform the 'toran` ceremony and got them off from the mare. Later the wedding ceremonies were performed under police protection and a case was registered against 12 people.