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| Hindu Ceremonies | ||
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| A Typical Wedding Ceremony The universal wedding is known as the Vedic marriage, named after the Vedas (holy book). However, there are regional variations with their different traditions so see our individual ceremonies below for more specific information. Before the ceremony, the priest blesses your bangles and it is considered unlucky if you remove them before forty days have past. Your groom arrives with his wedding party (baarat) and is received by you and your family (milni). Some brides greet their groom by garlanding him (jayamala) after their mother has already done so (aarati) and he may choose to reciprocate. Moving inside the temple, the priest calls for Ganesha's blessing for success (Ganesh Puja) followed by the Navgraha prayer (asking the blessing of all of the planets for peace and wealth). Your Mamaji (maternal uncle and your sisters) walk you to the mendap (wedding tent) where your father performs kanya danam (handing over ceremony). By spreading turmeric on your hands, you acknowledge your change in status from a single woman and daughter to a wife. Your father then places your dyed hand in your groom's where he holds it as a symbol of your everlasting love. By pouring out some of the sacred water, your father 'washes his hands' of you and gives you away at which point your groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the God of love, asking for the blessing of pure love. To prove that he is worthy, your groom must promise your father three times to help you realise dharma (enlightenment), artha (wealth) and kama (true love), great achievements in the Hindu world. To symbolise your union, the priest ties your garments (your veil to your groom's shawl) while you stand facing each other (Gath Bandham) before you exchange garlands and rings. While you are facing east and your groom west, he takes your hand again (Hasta Milap) and recite Vedic hymns for longevity, happiness and a lifetime of marriage: O Sarasvati, gracious one, rich in off spring, you whom we hymn first of all the Gods, may you prosper this marriage. Concluding, "I seize your hand". The Marriage Fire (agni) The marriage fire, representing the divine witness as well as sanctifying the ceremony, is lit and you perform the Offering of the Parched Grain (Laya Homa), a sacrifice of food for the sake of prosperity. Your brother, or another male relative, pours the grain into your hand signifying his continuing support of you. Looking at your groom, you say: "This grain I spill. May it bring to me well-being and unite you to me. May Agni hear us." At this point the male relative knocks you so you spill the grain into the fire and says: "This woman scattering grain into the fire, prays: Blessings on my husband. May my relatives be prosperous. Svaha!" The Seven Steps (Sapta padi) Seven is an important number in Hinduism and you and your groom walk around the fire (Agni Parinayai) seven times after God's blessing has been invoked by offering samagree (a pungent mix of sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee and twigs). Some communities, such as Gujarati, require you to walk around the fire only four times. As you walk, you both make offerings to the fire, touch each other's hearts and pray for the union of your hearts and minds as well as reciting Vedic hymns to the gods calling for wealth, good luck and fidelity. As you are walking, your groom says: "First now, they bring to you in bridal procession this Surya, guiding her steps in circular motion. Return her now, O Agni, to her husband as rightful wife, with hope of children to come." As you are walking, your sister (or another female relative), reads a passage from the Holy scriptures (Geeta). At the end of each circling of the fire, both of you stand on a stone (Shilarohana, the mounting of the stone) and pray for your love to be firm. While you are standing on the ground, your groom says, "Come, beautiful one," and let you put the tip of your right foot on the stone. He encourages you to stand on it by saying, "Come, step on the stone: be strong like a stone. Resist the enemies: overcome those who attack you." The ritual of The Seven Steps is the most important part of the ceremony where the two of you walk seven steps together, either forwards or round the fire. At each step, you both ask for blessings:
The ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union is for life. At
the end of this, you will be husband and wife. For inspirational ideas and advice for Eastern weddings visit Confetti East. Back to Introduction
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