Hindu marriages are the most extravagant affair. They prolong over a period of four to five days. They are highly traditional and strongly follow to the ancient customs and traditions.
GahoiMumbai.com is delighted to provide an insight to these Hindu Wedding traditions…
Hindu marriages are the most extravagant affair. They prolong over a period of four to five days. They are highly traditional and strongly follow to the ancient customs and traditions. Furthermore, wedding is considered an important holy practice in Hindu religion. It is held as one of sacred sixteen sanskaras or rituals. It is not just the bond between two people but also between two families. The Hindu marriage is mainly divided into three segments, pre wedding rituals, wedding rituals, and post wedding rituals.
These sacraments and customs are based on Vaidic traditions which describe various aspects of wedded life. Celebration is in the air, sweets are specially prepared and the household is filled with enthusiasm and delight.
There are four phases of life. Grahastha Ashram is the second phase of life which means wedding. In the Indian society, the marriages are mostly arranged. The first step is when the parents find for a right match for their children. Weddings are considered as union of two families. The whole family, friends and community participate in the marriage celebrations. The Hindu wedding rituals are quite distinctive and colorful.
Pre Wedding Rituals in Hindu Wedding:
The pre wedding rituals encompasses engagement, tilak, sagai, sangeet and mehandi. The Engagement can also be called the ring ceremony, wherein the soon-to-be couple exchanges rings. Next is the Tilak ceremony, in which the bride’s brother applies tilak to the groom and gives him gifts. After this, the Sagai ceremony is conducted in which both the parties interchange gifts. Then comes the Sangeet ceremony, wherein the female members sing and dance to celebrate the occasion. Just before the marriage, the Mehandi ceremony is planned, in which mehndi is applied on bride’s hands and feet.
Wedding Rituals and Traditions in Hindu Wedding:
The marriage customs begin with the Jaimala ceremony, in which the bride and the groom interchange flower garlands. After this, they are taken to the mandap where the Kanyadaan sacramental is performed. In this customary, the bride’s father gives away his daughter to the groom, while the priest chants mantras. After this, the Mangalpheras take place around the holy fire. They also take the seven vows called Saptapadi, and promise to abide by them throughout their lives. After this, the groom puts sindoor or vermillion in the bride’s hair parting. This is followed by tying of mangalsutra around the bride’s neck by the groom.
Post Wedding Rituals in Hindu Wedding:
The post marriage customs comprises Vidaai and Reception. In the Vidaai ritual the family of the bride gives her a sobbing farewell. Before leaving, the bride throws back three handfuls of rice and coin over her shoulders, towards her parental home. This is done to guarantee wealth and prosperity remains in her home always. On the arrival at the groom’s house, the new couple is welcomed by the groom’s mother, with a traditional Aarti.
The bride is asked to hit a vessel filled with rice, kept at the entrance. She then dips her feet in a blend of red vermillion and enters the house, leaving foot prints on the floor. This ritual is practiced as the bride is considered a form of Goddess Laxmi. After this, a number of bridal games are played to make the bride relaxed. After that, a reception party is planned by the groom’s family in the evening. This is organized to welcome the new member and introduce her to the relatives and friends.
Special Features of Hindu Wedding:
Sagai (engagement) Ceremony:
After the wedding is arranged, the auspicious engagement ceremony is arranged. A priest carries out the numerous customs. During the ritual, the bride and the groom exchange rings along with garlands and sweets.
Mehandi is celebrated by the bride’s family and friends. This includes applying mehandi to the bride’s feet and hands. All the while the family members enjoy themselves by singing and dancing. The colour of the Mehndi signifies the essence of love to strengthen the bond of love between the couple.
The groom with his family and friends gather in a procession led by lamps and band on the way to the marriage venue. The family and friends dance their way in front of the groom who is seated on a decorated horse.
The procession is received by the bride’s family and is offered welcome drinks and snacks amongst the tune of shehnaai.
A lovely mandapa, decorated by flowers is setup on the marriage day. The marriage ceremony is typically long and lasts for nearly seven hours. The pair exchange garlands and they take saat-phere or seven rounds around the sacred fire and vow for eternal partnership and nuptial bond.
This is an expressive instant when the parents and friends bid farewell to the bride with tearful eyes, wishing her all the best in life.
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