With the arrival of winters... weddings are the most awaited event of the year in India.read more to know why i love being part of Indian weddings, be it a Hindu,Muslim,Bengali or a Christian wedding.Weddings in India are always full of customs and traditions and are celebrated on a grand scale with lot of enjoyment.One of the most remarkable features of weddings in India is that, it not just marks the coming together of two individuals who are getting married but also the coming together of their respective families.Amazing India!
The ceremonies last for days which are held on separate days which are divided into three parts pre wedding ceremony, main day ceremony and post wedding ceremony.Each of the custom has an importance. The pre wedding rituals include the mehandi,sangeet,haldi.The main day function is the wedding day and the post day rituals include bidaai and reception.
PRE-WEDDING CEREMONIES
Ganesh Poojan
Some Hindu ceremonies begin with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom and salvation who is depicted as having an elephant's head.By invoking him, he removes any obstacles from the wedding ceremony.The ceremony may then be performed without hindrances.The Ganesh Poojan is performed anywhere from a few days to the night before the wedding.
Mehandi party
The bride hands and feet are painted with henna(mehandi)in a festive occasion thrown by the brides family while her relatives and friends celebrate by dancing and singing away to glory.Mehandi signifies love in a marriage so the bride leaves it on as long as possible.The celebration ends with an enjoyable feast for all those that were present.
peethi
One day before the actual wedding, the bride and groom (in their respective homes) are cleansed with turmeric paste which cleanse the body, soften the skin, and make it aromatic.This daytime ceremony prepares both of them for the nuptials.Uptan, a paste made from sandalwood, turmeric and rose water and is applied by seven married female members of the families, to the faces, hands and feet of the bride and groom. After this ceremony the bride and the groom are barred from stepping outdoors until after the wedding ceremony. During the entire seven days of sangeet, which follows, they must remain indoors and are not allowed to meet each other.
Sangeet Party(Musical Party)
Music is the soul of any wedding ceremony, regardless of faith or origin.Without music & festivity, the wedding lacks sparkle.This ceremony is usually held after the mehendi ceremony and is more of a ladies function, when all the ladies and unmarried girls from both sides congregate to have fun and frolic by dancing and singing traditional wedding songs.
THE WEDDING DAY
It is customary to be conduced under a mandap(canoy) which stands firm by four pillars and decorated with flowers.A priest sits near a fire which is set in a kund(copper bowl)in the midst.The bride,bridegroom and others are to be seated around it.
The bride looks beautifully her best ever, with a red and heavily embroidered sari with gold thread.The bridegroom is donned with a outfit that can be a traditional sherwani(a long tunic embroidered with gold thread)worn with kurta pajamas.
Arrival of the Vara Yatra
As the groom and his party arrive at the ceremony site amidst much singing and dancing, the bride's parents, family and friends greet them with akshat(a kind of rice), tilak (a dot on the forehead), arati (a plate carrying a lighted lamp), and a garland.
Arrival of the bride
The bride is escorted by her uncle or her female cousins and friends and is taken to be seated in the mandap.
Kanyadan(entrusting of the daughter)
The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantras in a pious and solemn ritual called kanyadan.
The Wedding Ceremony
The bride and groom are seated in front of a holy fire, or agni, as a priest recites various mantras from the Holy Scriptures.In a ritual called mangalfera, the bride and groom walk around the fire four times (each a symbol of the four ashrams of life), praying and exchanging vows of duty, love, fidelity, and respect.
Saptapadi(seven steps)
The bride and groom take seven steps together around the fire and exchange sacred vows, sealing the marriage forever.The vows validate the marriage, no ceremony is complete without them.
sindoor and mangalsutra
The bridegroom applies sindoor(vermilion)on the parting of the brides hair and around her neck a scared neclace(mangal sutra).it represents the couples togetherness and scared union.It is specifically worn by married women as a symbol of their marriage.
Ashirvad(blessings)
The bride and bridegroom are blessed by the priest and parents and the couple touches the feet of their parents as a sign of respect.The guest bless them individually and settle down to a delicious meal with the newly weds
Bidaai(departure)
The departure of the bride to the bridegrooms home is a very emotional ritual as she leaves with tears to build a new life and home with her husband and his family.she is bid with a tearful farewell.
POST-WEDDING
Mooh Dikhai
The bridegrooms family now indulges in a series of games and post-wedding rituals, amidst much laughter to make the new member feel comfortable.One such ritual is the Mooh dikhai.Literally translated, Mooh Dikhai means 'show your face', but this is a ritual, which helps to introduce the newly wed to members of her husband's family! Each member of the groom's family comes in turn to make an acquaintance with the new bride.
Certain regions and sects have their own variations on the basic Hindu ceremony. Jain, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Kashmiri, and Bengali ceremonies will all have their own unique customs that make Hindu weddings so special.
DONT FORGET TO COME BACK HERE FOR THE MUSLIM WEDDING,BENGALI WEDDING,CHRISTIAN WEDDING and lots more.Leave your comments on why would you love to be part of indian weddings:)
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