The Marriage Celebration

Thanks and Dedication

We would like to express thanks to our parents, family, and friends for all their love and

support. Thank you all for sharing this special day with us.

Indian Wedding The traditional Indian wedding ceremony originated

more than thirty-five centuries ago with each ritual

having a deep philosophical meaning and purpose.

The ceremonies are performed in Sanskrit, the

language of Hindu scriptures and are interwoven

with customs and traditions related to various

as sanskaras or sacraments. They offer an

opportunity for the expression of love, affection and

the festivities.

Marriage brings about a union of two personalities

and families, for the purpose of social proliferation

and for the upliftment through mutual co-operation.

It is performed in the presence of the families,

friends and well-wishers. The wedding is sanctified

by the sacred fire, a symbol of universal energy,

and takes place in an altar called the mandap.

Pre-Wedding RitualsSakharpuda: This informal engagement ceremony is held a few days before the wedding. The groom's parents give the bride a saree as a token of her acceptance in their family. Her arms are adorned with green glass bangles, symbolizing her engagement. She is given a packet of sakhar-puda (sugar) which symbolizes the spreading of sweetness in their lives.

Kelvan: A couple of days before the wedding, a feast called Kelvan is organized in both the bride's as well as the bridegroom's home. The close relatives and friends call over bride and groom and their respective family members for a meal and give them gifts.

Wang-Nischay: Wang nischaya, the formal engagement ceremony, is confirmed in separate ceremonies held in each home. It is performed the evening before the wedding. Each side pays obeisance to the respective family patron-deity, kuldevta, in the form of a kuldevta-pooja. Later, the two sides meet and a short engagement ceremony is conducted by the priest, followed by the wang-nischay meal.

Pre-Wedding RitualsHaldi:  The bridegroom and the bride have their own celebrations in their respective homes a day before the wedding. Mango leaves are immersed in a mixture of haldi (turmeric), sandalwood and cream. The leaves are then applied first on feet, moving upwards covering the whole body of the bridegroom and the bride. The bride and groom then have a ceremonial bath and are not allowed to go out of the home after this ceremony.

Chuda: It is the ceremony where the ladies from both sides get bangles. There is lot of music, dance and fun. Generally, bride gets green bangles and wears them interspersed with gold, pearl or diamond bangles.

Wedding RitualsLagna Muhurta : The relatives, friends and family members gather at the lagna mandap and akshata (coloured rice) are given to them. The bride is escorted to the madap by her maternal uncle. Both the bride and the groom should not see each other and Antarpat (silk cloth) is held between them. At this time, Mangalashtaka (eight blessings) are recited. Mangalashtakas are eight stanzas of propitiations to various gods and blessings for the couple. At the end of each stanza, the priests make the couple aware of their new responsibilities as a wedded couple.  After chanting mantras and Mangalashtakas, the Antarpat is removed. The bride and groom exchange garlands

Wedding RitualsSankalpa and Ganesh Puja: The parents and close relatives gather and officially announce the wedding at both sides in the presence of a priest. Lord Ganesha is considered as the remover of all hurdles. According to Hindu mythology without Lord Ganesha’s blessings no deed is done.

Gaurihar Puja: The bride is dressed up in a yellow saree which is given by her maternal uncle and mudavalya, a string of flowers or pearls is put on the forehead. She sits inside her room, where a pile of rice is kept in front of her and an idol of Goddess Parvati, goddess of marital bliss, is mounted on it. The bride prays and offers rice to Parvati. She keeps praying till she is called to the Madapa, the main venue of the marriage.

Wedding RitualsSaptapadi: The couple now sits down to do the “Havan”. A holy fire is lit with sacred wood and amidst the chanting of hymns, oblations are offered to the fire as the chief witness of the nuptials. The bridal couple also wears floral or decorative mundavali which dangle around the face. A “Havan” is made in a specific shaped container and it represents the universe. Fire represents energy, power, luster and omnipresence. Because fire consumes everything put into it, it is considered a messenger of the gods and takes all offerings to them. The “Havan” and the seven pheras around the fire, i.e. seven steps walked together by the couple (also called as the “Saptapadi”)  complete the legal necessities of a marriage. In these seven steps, the couple promise each other loyalty, sharing, auspicious housekeeping, progeny, elder care and generous hospitality.

Wedding RitualsKanya Daan: The parents of the bride give her hand in marriage to groom in the presence of friends and families. The bride’s parents receive groom as their son-in-law, as he promises that he will take care of their daughter and respect her with love and integrity throughout their lives. This is then followed by Mangalsutra Ceremony in which Mangalsutra, a black bead necklace in gold with a pendant in the center is given to the bride by her groom.

Sunn-mukh: “Sunn” means “daughter-in-law”, ‘mukh’ means ‘face’. This is a ritual which means that the mother-in-law now considers the bride as her own daughter. She first looks at the daughter’s face in the mirror and then her own face.

Post-Wedding Rituals

Varat: This is the time for the bride to bid adieu to her family. She meets all her family members, relatives and friends present at the wedding. The bride then heads to the groom’s house with a lot of music and band.

Grihapravesh: The couple is welcomed at the groom’s house by the groom’s mother. She then washes their feet and does aarti. The kalash of rice is dropped with the right foot of the bride. She then dips her feet in liquid kumkum, at this time she is supposed to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi and bring prosperity with her.