Hindu Wedding Ceremony

1. Hindu Wedding Ceremony

2. The Hindu Wedding usually takes place in the bride’s hometown or city It is organised and paid for by the bride’s parents The Bride is known as Dulhan and the Groom is known as Dulha

3. What is Hindu Wedding? • A Hindu Wedding is a religious ceremony and one of the most important of the sixteen Hindu Sanskarsor sacraments. It is not only bond between two people but bond between two families. • The ceremony lasts minimum 4 to 5 hours but the preparations and celebrations begins weeks before the actual ceremony and continue afterwards • The Hindu service is performed by male Brahmin (priest) in accordance with the holy verses (mantras) from the Vedas – the Hindu holy book • The ceremony takes place in a venue chosen by the bride’s family. This is normally bride’s home, or a town hall, or community hall, or a hotel depending on the budget of the bride’s family.

4. Engagement (The ring ceremony) This event is held to exchange the gold rings by the couple before wedding called Mangni in the presence of very close friends and relatives.

5. Mehndi Party This is the festive occasion celebrated by the bride’s family. The bride and close female members of her family have henna painted on their hands and feets while the rest of the family celebrate with songs. Mehndi signifies the strength of love in a marriage

6. Ganesh Puja The wedding day starts with a prayer Lord Ganesh whose divine grace dispells all evils and promotes a successful and peaceful completion of the ceremony

7. Arrival of bridegroom The groom arrives at bride’s home or ceremony’s place with his relatives and friends which is called Baarat. The bride’s mother welcomes the groom and she then escorts him to the Mandap. The father of the bride washes the right foot of the groom with milk and honey

8. Arrival of the Bride The bride is escorted to the Mandap by her maternal uncle, female cousins and friends

9. Garland Ceremony The couple put garland (mala) around each other’s neck in the presence of all relatives and friends. It is the symbol of acceptance and pledge to respect each other as a partner.

10. Kanyadan (Giving Away of the Bride) The father of the bride places her hand in the groom's hand requesting him to accept her as an equal partner. The concept behind Kanyadan is that the bride is a form of the goddess Lamxi and the groom is Lord Narayana. The parents are facilitating their union

11. Taking seven steps Agni Panikram (Going around the fire) - This is the main part of the ceremony. The bride and groom go around the fire seven times, six times led by the bride and the seventh time is by the groom. It is believed by all Hindu’s that in the first seven years of the brides married life she is protected by the moon then followed by the sun for the next seven years and then by Agni.

12. Saubhagya Chinha (Blessing the bride) The Groom blesses his bride by giving her a Mangalasutra (sacred necklace) and putting Sindoor (vermilion powder) on her forehead.The mangalasutra represents the couple’s togetherness, love and sacred union.

13. Viddai (Bride’s departure) The farewell to the bride by her family and friends is very emotional moment. The bride is leaving her parents home to build a life with her husband and his family.