An interesting ritual that takes place on the day of the wedding . The groom pretends to take off on a pilgrimage to Kasi or Varanasi - considered to be one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. The groom, under the influence of a sudden epiphany, decides to renounce worldy-life and become an ascetic at Kasi. He is stopped by the bride's father who begs the groom to return and persuades him to marry his daughter. The groom agrees after much convincing. In the modern wedding, this is emulated with some pretend-play and banter.