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Indian Hindu Marriage - Rituals
Note: The photographs shown here have been provided by Pranay and Garima who got married on 18th Nov 2000.
An Indian Hindu marriage/wedding (Vivah) is a union of two souls (Aatmas). It is not simply a union of bride and bridegroom and exchange of vows and rings, but start of a bond between two families and their cultures. During the wedding a number of religious rites are performed in the presence of family deities to take their blessings.
<-- Picturfe of Lord Ganesha
An Indian marriage/wedding ceremony is not over in just a few hours but lasts for several joyful and colorful days, unmatched by any other society in the world. The Indian marriage is attended by a large number of people, the number may be as high as 5000! The number of cards may be as large as 2000!! This huge participation is not witnessed any where in the world.
Ganesha Pooja: The start of ceremony is done with the pooja of Lord Ganesha asking him to make the ceremony run well.
The Tilak, the sacred mark on forehead:
Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead with sandal paste, sacred ashes or kumkum, a red turmeric powder. In the wedding, a Kumkum tilak is applied on both the bride's and groom's forehead.
According to Swami Shivananda, Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India the devotees of Siva apply sacred ashes (Bhasma) on the forehead, the devotees of Vishnu apply sandal paste (Chandan), and the worshippers of Devi or Shakti apply Kumkum. The scriptures say: "A forehead without a Tilak, a woman without a husband, a Mantra the meaning of which is not known while doing Japa (recitation), the head that does not bend before holy personages, a heart without mercy, a body devoid of health, a custom without purity,... - all these are worthy of condemnation. They exist for name’s sake only."
Mehndi (Henna): Both the bride and the bridegroom applies mehandi.
<-- Mehndi on Hand
While the bridegroom applies it as a token on his hands, the bride applies it on her hands and feet making intricate patterns. Mehndi signifies the strength of love in a marriage. It is believed that the darker the mehndi color, the stronger the love and bond will be between the bride and the bridegroom.
<<--Mehndi on Foot
Music/Songs (Sangeet/Geet)):
Geet and sangeet are the soul of any Indian wedding. Ladies collectively take part in Geet/Sangeet for 4-5 days. Now a days a programme for ladies Sangeet is kept in which all the relatives and friends are invited. the ladies sing wedding songs and the girls dance.
On the Wedding and Reception days, professional singers and music parties, Orchestra parties are enagaged to entertain with popular Hindi film songs and Gajals.Procession & Reception (Barat & Swagat)): The groom, accompanied by his family & friends, goes to the Bride's place in a procession. He sits on a decorated horse. The bride's parents and other senior members of the family welcome the groom, his parents & relatives and introduce each other. The introduction is known as milni. The procession may consists of 100 to thousands of people, both men and women. Earlier married women were not permitted to go with the procession, but now a days close women relatives go and even dance in the procession.
The barat, i.e. all the people who come in the procession are garlanded and seated. Cold drinks, snacks, and sweets are offered. They also take dinner as the gusests of bride's parents. All the expenditure of the barat reception, marriage ceremony and the dinner, etc. are born by bride's parents in most of the cases. However, the groom's parents give the dakshina to the pandit (priest) for the marriage ceremony.
Aarti : The bride's mother welcomes the groom with a garland, applies a tilak and offers a small sweet piece and pan (beetle leaf). Then the groom steps down from the horse and taken to the wedding place.
Garlands Exchange(Jai Mala): The bride & groom exchange garlands of fresh flowers acknowledge their life long bondage in front of all the people. The bride & groom are then escorted to the mandap (alter) by their parents.
Hathleva (Joining of Hands): In this ceremony which is a part of the wedding ceremony, some henna is put in the right hands of the couple and are tied with a cloth. The couple pray to the Gods to bless their marriage.The Hathleva signifies an eternal bond that will join the couple forever. The Hathleva also signifies that although they are separate individuals, from now onwards they are one in mind and spirit.
The Wedding Ceremony (Vivah, Shaadi): During the wedding ceremony the bride and bridegroom are seated in front of a holy fire. A Pundit conducts the wedding, performs havan, and recites various religious sayings. In the havan, offerings are made into the holy fire.
<--Phere Around Fire
The Pundit explains to the couple their responsibilities and duties in their married life towards each other. Hindu religion believes that fire is a sustainer of life. The couple walks around the fire four times (in some customs seven times) exchanging vows of their duties.
Kanya Daan: This is also a part of the wedding ceremony in which the brides parents entrust their daughter in the safe hands of the groom.
Vidaii: In this ceremony, after the wedding is over, the brides parents gives a warm send off to their daughter. They wish her a very good and harmonious long married life. From now onwards their daugher does not belong to them.
