A traditional Hindu wedding is full of small ceremonies and rituals that lead the bride and groom on the path to marital, financial and inseparable success. Some rituals may vary according to the origins of the couple; for this reason the following passages show the most common events that occur before, after and during a Hindu wedding.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Wedding Preparation
Step 1. Dress well for Haldi's ceremony
This ceremony takes place two or three days before the wedding. During the Haldi ceremony, a paste made from turmeric, chickpea flour, sandalwood and rose water is applied to the hands, feet and face of the bride and groom. The yellow color of the paste is thought to brighten the skin tone before the wedding and bring good luck to the bride and groom.
Hindu weddings are full of color and panache. Around this time a flower dome will be built in the house that will host the wedding and it will seem that colors pop up everywhere
Step 2. Prepare your hands for the Mehndi ceremony
The bride and all her closest family members have their palms and feet decorated by a professional henna tattoo artist. Henna is believed to emphasize the beauty of the bride. Usually this ceremony takes place the day before the wedding.
It is similar to a bachelorette party, but without jokes and alcohol. It's more about celebrating the journey to marriage than decorating your body with flashy designs
Step 3. Welcome to Baraat: the arrival of the bridegroom and his family
According to tradition, the groom arrives at the wedding on horseback, accompanied by close friends and family. The long procession includes many songs and dances. This shows the happiness of the groom and his family in accepting the new bride.
In some weddings, the most unconventional and modern ones, the groom arrives in a procession of cars
Step 4. Following is the Milni ceremony: the bride's meeting with the groom's relatives. The bride's family, adorned with traditional Indian garlands and sweets, welcomes the groom and his family. Milni is an important tradition in which the groom's family is honored by the bride's.
It is generally done in the house where the wedding will be held. A sign with red kum-kum (a turmeric or saffron-based powder) is made on the forehead of each participant. Members of the two families are introduced, encouraging peace and approval
Step 5. Devote yourself to the worship of Ganesha
Before the ceremony begins, an adoration of Ganesha is made for good luck. This is important as Ganesha is the destroyer of all obstacles. This ceremony usually involves the closest family members of the bride and groom.
Part 2 of 3: Conclusion of the Traditional Wedding Ceremony
Step 1. Watch the bride and groom enter
The bridegroom will enter first. He will be taken to a decorated altar called a "mandap", sit down and be given a celebratory drink: a mix of milk, ghee, yogurt, honey and sugar.
The arrival of the bride is called "kanya", from Kanya Aagaman (arrival of the bride). Usually the bride is accompanied to the altar by the father, which means that the maternal side of the bride approves the union. The bride and groom are separated by a white cloth and cannot yet see each other
Step 2. Let the garland speak during the Jai Mala (the exchange of garlands)
Once the bride has arrived at the mandap (the altar where the wedding takes place), the white cloth is removed. The bride and groom exchange flower garlands. These wreaths symbolize their mutual approval.
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When the bride and groom exchange garlands (jayamaala) they declare: "May all present know that we are accepting each other with good will, spontaneously and amiably. Our hearts are in unison and united as the waters".
An arranged marriage does not mean a forced marriage. In fact, forced marriages are now illegal in India. Although the two may not know each other, they both have the will to marry
Step 3. Observe the Kanya Danam ritual
At this point in the ritual, the father of the bride pours holy water into the daughter's hand and then places it in the groom's hand. This ritual means that the father officially entrusts the daughter to the groom. Then usually the sister of the groom ties the end of the groom's scarf to the bride's sari with betel nuts, copper coins and rice. These objects symbolize union, prosperity and happiness for the couple. The knot, in particular, represents the eternal bond that is sanctioned with marriage.
Recent weddings include an exchange of gifts, typically clothing and ornaments. The mother of the groom will give a "mangala sootra" to the bride, which is a necklace that symbolizes success. Then the father of the bride will announce that his daughter has accepted the groom and that he hopes his family will accept the bride
Step 4. Watch the priest initiate the Vivaaha-homa
At this point, a sacred fire will be lit and the Purohit (the priest) will recite the mantras in Sanskrit. As the prayers go on, offerings are made to the fire. The phrase "Id na mama" is repeated over and over, which means "it is not for me". This emphasizes the virtue of selflessness required in marriage.
Step 5. Experience the Panigharani ceremony
During this ritual, the groom takes the bride's hand. It could be the first time they physically touch each other. During this ritual, the groom accepts his bride and promises her and her parents that he will protect and care for his wife for life.
The bridegroom, holding the bride's hand, will say, "I hold your hand in the spirit of Dharma; we are husband and wife."
Step 6. Watch the bride and groom finish the Shilarohan
This begins with the bride climbing a stone or rock, symbolizing her willingness and strength to overcome obstacles in her new marriage.
- Then the couple goes around the fire four times, with the bride leading the first three turns. Then they will join hands and offer barley to the fire, to symbolize that they will work for society and for the good of humanity.
- At this point, the husband will mark a line in his new wife's hair with kum-kum powder. This rite is called "sindoor". Any married woman can be recognized by this sign.
Step 7. Count the turns of the ritual known as Saptapadi (seven steps around the fire)
At this point in the ceremony, the couple walks around the fire with seven steps, each accompanied by a prayer, and seven promises. This is the moment when the marriage is recognized by the state.
- The first promise is for food.
- The second for strength.
- The third for prosperity.
- The fourth for wisdom.
- The fifth for the progeny.
- The sixth for health.
- The seventh for friendship.
Step 8. Look at the bride's neck during the Mangalsutra Dharanam
The mangalsutra is a sacred necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck on their wedding day. After fastening this necklace, the groom gives the bride the status of being his wife.
The bride is required to wear this necklace for the duration of the wedding. This necklace is the symbol of the union, mutual love and commitment of the bride and groom to each other
Part 3 of 3: Celebrations After the Wedding Ceremony
Step 1. Give the Aashirvad: blessing from the family
After the wedding ceremony, the married couple receives the blessing from their family members. The women of both families whisper the blessings into the bride's ear. Then the married couple bows before the priest and older family members and the relatives receive the final blessing.
As the newlyweds walk among the guests, they are showered with flowers and rice to wish the couple a long and happy marriage
Step 2. Greet the bride with the Bidaai ceremony
This step implies that the bride will leave to go to the groom's house, and will give the final farewell to her family members. The bride is supposed to do it with joy, but it can also be a cross and a delight for the spouses and their families.
It is not uncommon to see a few tears during this phase of the ceremony. It is an important moment of transition for every woman, and it is almost always experienced by triggering many emotions, some happy, some sad
Step 3. Take the bride away in a doli (for traditional weddings)
The bride is taken in a doli from her parents' home to her husband's. The doli is a litter decorated with a roof and four handles, one on each side. It also has a comfortable mattress that the exhausted bride can sit on. According to tradition, the doli is worn by the maternal uncles and brothers of the bride.
In many modern weddings, the bride is only taken out of the house by doli; and not all the way to her husband's house. The rest of the journey is done by car
Step 4. Welcome the bride with the Graha Pravesh
The bride hits the kalash (vase), usually filled with rice, with her right leg. This kalash is placed near the door of the groom's house. After hitting him, the bride takes the first step into the groom's house.
It is believed to bring abundance of food, wisdom and health and to be a "source of life". Legends say that it contained the elixir of immortality
Step 5. Enjoy the reception
The reception is a large formal party with lots of music to celebrate the successful wedding. This is the first public appearance of the bride and groom as a couple. There are no formal traditions during the reception.
Many traditional weddings do not offer alcohol and only offer a variety of vegetarian food, to respect their traditional religious beliefs
Step 6. After the ceremony, fold your hands in front of the gods while reciting the worship of Satyanarayana
This is a folk rite in honor of Narayan or Vishnu. During this ceremony, the bride and groom promise each other honesty. It is believed to bring eternal peace to the spouses and fulfill their material needs. This worship usually takes place 2-3 days after the wedding.
