Indian
wedding Ceremony & Rituals |
| Arya
Samaj Wedding Ceremony |
Punjabi
Khalsa Wedding Ceremony |
Marathi
Wedding Ceremony | UP
Kayastha Wedding Ceremony | |
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| 1.
Hindu
Marriage Ceremony List : |
The Hindu marriage ceremony is
conducted in the traditional vedic
way. The Hindu scriptures, Vedas,
describe the philosophy and the
rituals of the marriage Sanskaras.
The marriage is not a mere legal
contract but a moral binding and
spiritual union of the two souls
for their own betterment, betterment
of their progeny and of society.
- Dwarpooja :
The Groom arrives for the
wedding along with his family
and friends. They are received
by the Bride's family. The
Bride's mother performs a
welcoming ritual at the entrance
and the Groom is then escorted
to the Mandapa.
- Sri Ganesh Pooja
: All Hindu ceremonies
begin with worship of the
God Ganesh seeking his blessings.
We firmly believe that Lord
Ganesh removes all obstacles
and brings success to the
ceremony.
- Vadhu Aagmana :
Bride's Arrival.
The Bride is escorted to the
Mandapa by her maternal uncles.
- Mangalashtaka :
Relatives and friends sing
special wedding songs/poems
for the Bride and Groom.
- Varamala : Priest
recites a hymn in Sanskrit.
The prayer invokes the blessings
of God. At the end of the
hymn, Bride and Groom exchange
garlands.
- Sankalpa : Bride
and Groom express to the priest
and parents their desire to
marry and attain Dharma (righteous
life), Artha (prosperity),
Kama (fulfillment of desires),
and Moksha (salvation).
- Punyaha-wachana
: Kalash Pooja, then
all invited guests are asked
to bless Bride and Groom.
- Kanya Daan : Parents
of the Bride express their
desire to offer their daughter
to the Groom for a life-long
union.
- Hasta-melap : Bride
and Groom hold each other's
right hand and promise each
other righteous life, love,
devotion and respect throughout
their life.
- Vivaha Homa :
Invocation and prayers are
offered to the sacred fire
(Agni) that represents power
in the form of light and heat
energy.
- Mangalphera :
The couple walks around the
Homa expressing their thoughts
about their health, wealth,
progeny and happiness with
Agni as their witness.
- Sapta-Padi : Bride
and Groom take seven symbolic
steps to represent the beginning
of their journey through life
together. With each step they
make vows for harmony, strength,
love, pleasure, prosperity,
health, long-lived children,
joys of four seasons and everlasting
friendship.
- Mangalasutra-Bandhan
: The Groom adorns
the Bride by tying a sacred
gold necklace with black beads.
The black beads are specifically
used to ward off evil. Traditionally
both the Mangalsutra and Kumkum
on the forehead signify a
married woman.
- Saubhagyavati Bhava
: The Bride is blessed
by married women from both
families.
- Mithai Bhojan :
Bride and Groom feed
each other sweets symbolizing
that from now on they will
share everything in their
life.
- Aashirvad : New
Husband and Wife seek blessings
from their parents, priest,
and the elders in the family,
and then from all the invited
guests.
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| 1.
Arya
Samaj Ceremony List : |
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Madhuperk :
Kanyadaan : Giving away
the bride
Havan : Lighting the sacred
fire
Pani Grahan Sanskar : The
groom vows to look after his
wife
Shilarohan : Using the
rock as a symbol of permanence
Lajahom : Sacrifice offered
to the sacred fire
Parikrama : Circumventions
around the sacred fire
Saptapadi : Seven steps
around the sacred fire
Sprinkling water on the couple
: Invoking blessings from
deities
Hriday Sparshmantra : Vows
taken by the couple
Sindoor : The groom applies
vermilion on the bride
Dhruvnakshatra : Viewing
the Pole Star
Arundhati Nakshatra : Invoking
blessings from Arundhati.
Vashisht Ashirwaad :
The blessing
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| 2.
Punjabi
Khalsa Wedding Ceremony List |
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Thaka or Roka : Announcement
of the engagement
Mangni, Sagaai or Kudmai : The
engagement
Shri Akhand Path : Continuous
reading of the Guru Granth Sahib,
the Holy Book of the Sikhs
Sangeet : Celebration with song
and dance
Mehendi : The henna ceremony
Chooda : The bride's maternal
uncle adorns her wrists with the ivory
bangle
Sehrabandhi and Ghodi : Tying
of the traditional headdress on the
groom and decorating the mare
Milni : Reception of the groom
and the 'baraatis' by the bride's
family
Anand Karaj or Lavan Phera : The
actual wedding ceremony
Doli : Bridal send off
Doli Dinner : Celebration of
the bride's arrival into the groom's
family
Reception : Post wedding celebrations
Phera : The bride visits her
parental home
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| 3.
Marathi
Wedding Ceremony List |
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Sakhar Puda
This ritual traditionally took place
once the marriage was fixed. Sakhar
Puda which literally translates as
a packet of sugar, was exchanged between
the two families. But as time passed
the engagement ceremony came to be
known as Sakhar Puda in most cases
this happens a day or two before the
marriage ceremony.
Simant Puja
On their arrival in the bride's village
the bridegroom's family members were
worshipped. A feast was also arranged
for the distinguished visitors, who
had come to take away their daughter.
The tradition is also followed nowdays.
Ghana Bharne
Married women of the house carry out
this ritual on the day of the actual
ceremony. Before having their bath
the women grind grains in a vessel.
In the days before professional catering,
fashionable food for the guests was
prepared by the women of the house.
Turmeric paste is applied all over
the bridegroom's body. Then some of
this applied paste taken and sent
to the bride's house. This paste mixed
with some more is applied on to the
blushing would-be bride amidst a lot
of jokes. The bride is not supposed
to think of anyone but Goddess Gauri
immediately before her marriage.
Wedding rituals
Marriage Ceremony
As the Mahurat approaches, the bride's
mama comes to take her to the mandap.
Their approach to the mandap is rather
elaborate, as they are not allowed
to take a peek at each other. This
is managed by raising an Antarpaat,
a partition of cloth between the bride
and bridegroom. Only after chanting
the relevant shlokas can this Antarpaat
be removed. At the time of removing
the Antarpaat the people present shower
the couple with Akshata(unbroken rice).
It is essential that the grains be
whole as they are symbolic of the
blessing from those present. The couple
garlands each other. Like most Hindu
marriages seven rounds around the
havan are called Saptapadi.
Laxmi Narayan Puja
One of the most important events after
the marriage is Laxmi Narayan Puja.
The bride and the bridegroom are considered
to be Goddess Laxmi and Lord Narayan
respectively and worshipped. After
this ceremony the bride is formally
handed over by her parents to the
bridegroom.
Kanyadaan
Placing 21 lit diyas in a cane dish,
the dish is initially placed on the
bride's head and later taken around
to the bridegroom's family. The bride's
father places the dish over the heads
of the bridegroom's family members
one by one as a symbol of their being
witnesses to the marriage. He asks
the family members to accept his daughter
and accept her as their own.This is
called Jhal Phirawne.
Suun Mukh Baghne
The bride has not only married a man
she has entered a new family. Her
initiation is done by her mother-in-law.
The bridegroom's mother looks (baghne)
at her daughter-in-law's (sunn) face
(mukh). The mother-in-law takes both
her son and her daughter-in-law in
her lap. Later she looks at her daughter-in-law's
face in the mirror. She also combs
her hair. Probably a throw back to
the days when the bride and the groom
were mere children this ritual still
retains the feeling of a mother-daughter
relationship that it conjures.
Changing her name
It was a practice to change the name
of the girl after marriage in Maharashtrian
Brahmin families. This ceremony takes
place at the boy's house. After inscribing
the Om Ganeshay Nama and the kuldevta's
name the bridegroom traces the name
of his wife in a plate full of rice.
Though a Maharashtrian Brahmin marriage
is a lengthy affair with many rituals
squeezed in a day it still retains
an element of fun and frolic.
Post-wedding rituals
Reception
Reception as usual takes place on
the night of marriage. Generally,
lunch is arranged in the afternoon.
A peculiarity of the lunch is that
not all the people sit together to
eat. Initially, the bridegroom's family
members are made to have lunch. The
couple takes rounds of the mandap
where the guests are having lunch,
serving sweets and making sure that
everyone eats well. Then the bride's
family is asked to go ahead. In the
end, the couple and their parents
have lunch together.
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| 4.
UP
Kayastha Wedding Ceremony List |
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Bariksha : Confirmation of
the alliance
Sagai : The engagement
Bariksha : Confirmation of
the alliance
Haldi and Tel : Ritualistic
bath and beautification ceremonies
Tilak : The groom receives
lavish gifts
The Henna ceremony
Bhaat : The bride's maternal
uncle brings gifts for her and hosts
a lavish lunch
Baraat : The groom leaves
for the wedding venue
Jaimala : The couple exchanges
garlands
Havan : Lighting of the sacred
fire
Kanyadaan : Giving away the
bride
Phere : Seven steps around
the sacred fire
Bidaai : Bridal send off
Parchan : Welcoming the bride
into her marital home
Mookh-dekhai or Vadu Milan
: The bride is introduced to all her
relatives
Reception : Post wedding
celebrations
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