Indian Weddings

In India wedding is a big and fun filled event that continues for several days. In Indian culture marriages not bring bride and groom closer it also brings two families together. Indian weddings, all across the globe, are replete with various rituals and ceremonies. The rituals and ceremonies may be different depending on the religion to which the bride and the groom belong. However, their significance remains unchanged. Indian wedding can be observed under three basic rituals-

1. Pre-wedding rituals
2. Wedding day
3. Post wedding rituals.

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The Pre-Wedding Rituals: In Hindu religion weddings are considered as a sacred affair which commence with pre wedding rituals such as engagement, tilak, haldi, sangeet and mehandi. In engagement ceremony both prospective bride and groom exchange rings and take blessings of their family and friends to start new chapter of their life. Next ritual is Tilak, here prospective bride’s elder brother goes to prospective groom’s house and applies tilak on the groom’s forehead and offer boxes of sweets. Next is Haldi ceremony which is performed in morning, wherein prospective groom is applied haldi on face, arms and legs first by groom’s mother followed by all the other ladies present for the ceremony. This same Haldi is now taken to prospective bride’s house by groom’s mother and applied to bride’s face, arms and legs. In evening sangeet and mehandi ceremony is performed. Here the bride is applied mehandi on hands, palms and legs in an artistic way and women and girls sing and dance to wedding songs to enjoy the special moments.

Wedding Day: This is special and very important day for both prospective bride and groom and their respective families. From today two separate individuals will become soul mates. The ceremony begins with Jaimala wherein both the bride and the groom exchange flower garland. Once they exchange garlands their family and friends shower flower petals on them to bless the new couple. After this the couple is taken to mandap where Kanyadaan ceremony is performed. This ritual is very important and performed by bride’s parents where they give their daughter’s hand to the groom. And groom makes three promises- (dharma) to follow his duties towards family, (artha) earn and support family, and (kama) love his wife. After this the priest starts wedding mantras and asks both bride and groom to take seven vows around the holy fire. In these vows the couple makes a promise to support and understand each other through all thick and thins. The priest asks the groom to tie mangalsutra around the bride’s neck and then apply sindoor in the bride’s hair parting.

After completion of all wedding day rituals post wedding rituals commence. In Post wedding ritual the bride leaves her parents home to join grooms family with a promise to spread happiness in new family. The bride is welcomed with aarti and flowers in groom’s house. Once all rituals are complete a grand reception is thrown by groom’s family to introduce bride to their society.