Lucknow, Mar 13 (IANS): All eyes were focused on this bejewelled chariot on which the bride danced to dhol beats on Thursday night.

She was leading her "baraat" instead of waiting for her groom to bring the baraat to her home.

As the bride Rachna Vidyarthi led her baraat, her groom brought his baraat from the opposite side and the two processions joined in to enter the wedding venue.

The bridal couple exchanged garlands at the gate and then walked in on to the stage.

Later, Rachna said that she wanted to break the tradition in which it is the boy's right to take the wedding procession.

"I feel that this change will empower many future brides and eradicate evils, including that of dowry," she said.

Rachna has recently completed her masters in sociology and aspires to be a teacher.

Her father Rajesh Kumar Vidyarthi, who first shared the idea with Rachna and her to-be husband Rupesh Choudhary, a banker, said the couple was more than willing to become agents of change.

"In every community, it is expected that the bride's family has to bow down in front of the groom's family and accept their demands. As a parent, I never wanted that for my daughter. My daughter and son-in-law were happy to send the strong message that there is no difference between boys and girls," said Vidyarthi, an advocate.

Rachna added that the idea was also encouraged by the groom's family.