Indian wedding traditions vary across religion, caste, ethnicity, language, region, etc. Generally it is structured into pre-wedding ceremonies, wedding day ceremonies and the Vidaai.

  • Pre- Wedding Ceremonies:
    • Engagement: This usually happens a month before the wedding. One to two month is usually preferred. Rings are exchanged between the would-be-bride and the would-be-groom. There is small pooja also of both separately and the in-laws give gifts to their daughter in law and son in law.
    • Urdi Ceremony: This is the first ritual that happens before wedding.
    • Haldi Ceremony: A couple days before a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom each organize a haldi ceremony at their respected homes. From this point until the time of the wedding, the couple should not see each nor should they leave the house.
    • Mehndi Ceremony: Mehndi is yet another traditional yet exciting pre wedding ceremony. Mehandi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride and her beauty is incomplete without it.
    • Sangeet Ceremony: Sangeet ceremony as the name suggests is all about dance and music. It is one of the most enjoyable ceremonies before the wedding and is exclusively for women. 😀
  • Wedding Day Ceremonies:
    • Dwar Pooja: On The Day, when the baarat of groom arrive to the venue there is a small pooja which we call “dwar pooja”.
    • Garland Exchange: Yes the bride and the groom exchange garlands. After that we have a photo session. 😀 Elders give their blessing to the new-to-be-couple.
    • Kanyadan : In the Hindu tradition the groom is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the bride is considered to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. As the groom is considered to be Lord Vishnu at the time of the wedding, kanyadaan is the biggest offering that any parent can ever make to the God. It is also a ritual where it is stressed for the groom that his bride is the most precious “gift” that he will ever receive in his life, and he has to honour her and cherish her likewise. The groom promises to take care of their daughter, forever. Taking place just before the saath pheras, during this ceremony, the father of the bride places her right hand in that of the groom’s, this is known as hastamilap. Along with this, betel leaves, betel nut, flowers, dry fruits, conch, gold and money are also placed in their hands. After this, holy water or milk is poured over their palms, as the holy verses are being recited by the priest.
    • Saath Phera: Actual, wedding happens now. 😀 Bride and groom take their seven vows. These seven vows are known as Saptadi, which are performed along with Mangalpheras, which is revolving around the sacred fire. Any marriage is incomplete without these vows and is deemed complete once they are conducted. Fire is considered to be so pure, immortal, young and sanctified, it is used as a symbol for the couple to solemnize their marriage with the seven promises. This is called “Agni Sakshi” which means “fire is the witness”. The promises thus made are considered to be immortal and the couple is expected to be MOST truthful and honest to each other in making these promises.
  • Vidai:
    • Vidaai is when the bride is formally sent to the groom’s household.

 

URL