Gujarati Weddings

In Gujarat, the marriages are full of symbolic rituals. They serve as guidelines to the couple on leading a happy married life. Gujaratis believe that after marriage, the wife becomes her husband's sahdharmacharini or equal. With marriage comes responsibility and power. In fact, it is the wife who must keep house and look after all the household requirements.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Mandap Mahurat
Performed a few days before the wedding, the families of bride and groom pray to Lord Ganesh the Hindu God who is believed to remove all obstacles and seek his divine blessing.

Jaan
The groom arrives at the bride's house to seek the blessings of his mother-in-law. He must bow his head and clutch his nose. This gesture symbolises his humility and understanding of the tremendous sacrifice that his future wife is about to make. She will, after all, be leaving behind a life without cares, changing her name and taking on the responsibilities of running his household. The groom's prospective mother-in-law blesses him and performs a small ritual to ward off the evil eye.

Wedding Rituals

Kanyadaan
It is the most important ritual for any Hindu marriage in which the parents of the bride give away their daughter to the son-in-law. It is done in front of a sacred fire and conducted by the acharya. The parents of the bride wash the groom's feet as they believe that he is none other than the Hindu Lord, Vishnu, to whom they are handing over his rightful consort, the Goddess Laxmi in the form of their daughter.

Hasta Milap
The groom's scarf is tied to the bride's saree. This knot and the joined hands of the couple symbolise the union of two souls joined together in holy matrimony. The acharya chants mantras to invoke the blessings of Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Parvati for the saubhagyavrata or wife. The couple is blessed by the family and the relatives.

Pheras
The couple go around the fire and the acharya chants mantras. The couple must go around the holy fire seven times which is called satapadi. The groom chants mantras with each step. Through these mantras he seeks his bride's support and makes a particular request to her with each step. Thus, he makes seven requests totally. Among these requests are that his wife take good care of the house, cook wholesome and healthy meals for their family, be thrifty with money, be an understanding and supporting partner to him, etc. The bride, on her part, promises to fulfill these requests.

Post-Wedding Rituals

Reception
The reception is usually held immediately after the wedding. It is an opportunity for relatives, friends and well-wishers to bless the newly weds, enjoy a sumptuous meal with them and give them gifts.

Vidaai
The bride leaves for the groom's house in a specially decorated car.

Ghar nu Laxmi
The bride is given a grand welcome by her mother-in-law who performs a small ritual. She places a vessel, filled to the brim with rice, at the entrance of the house. The bride must knock the vessel down gently with her right foot, spilling some of the rice over. The rice is a symbol of wealth and by following the ritual she conveys her full understanding of her duties responsibilities towards her new home.

Maharashtrian Weddings

In Maharashtrian weddings, the emphasis is more on Sanskar. The couple are initiated into Grihasthashram- a vow taken by both to unite and be together all their life while pursuing dharma, artha, kama, moksha. The bride asks the groom to promise her that he will never violate her limits - maryada - the groom asks her to always remain steadfast. They lovingly agree to devotion and have progeny.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Halad Chadavane
On a day before the wedding day, haldi powder is applied on the bride and the groom at their respective homes.

Simant Pujan
The bride's mother does puja after the arrival of the groom at the marriage venue. She washes the groom's feet by pouring a little water over his feet in a plate, does kumkum tilak, puts akshata on groom's head, does arati and gives some sweet or madhupak (mixture of honey and curd). Groom's mother gives the bride five saris, jewellery etc.

Wedding Rituals

Ganapatipujan
The wedding ceremony begins with the puja of Lord Ganesha and the parents of the bride/groom prays to the God to bless them so that the wedding takes place without any problems.

Gaurihar Puja
The bride attired in a yellow sari given by her maternal uncle and mundavalya (decorative strings of pearls, beads, flowers) tied on the forehead apart from other jewellery and facial make-up is all ready to get married.

Lagna Muhurt
The groom first puts a garland around the bride's neck. The bride also does the same. Then holy water is applied from the kalash to the eyes of bride and groom and perform arati. Ladies are given haldi-kunku and all are given sweets mostly pedha.

Kanyadan
Bride's father gives the bride away to the groom. The priest asks the groom to join both the palms and receive in it stream of holy water poured by bride's mother while bride's father says that he is giving away in marriage his daughter to this gentleman so that both of them can start together a life of Dharma, Artha and Kama.

Mangalsutrabandhan
Chanting mantras, the groom puts mangalsutra around bride's neck.

Saptapadi
The priest asks the couple to take seven steps. The groom, with his right hand, holds the bride's left hand and starts taking step towards the north-east direction. First, the right foot is taken forward and then the left foot is joined with it while chanting mantras. Like this, seven steps are taken. At every two feet, small heaps of rice are kept on which they are supposed to tread. The couple asks for seven needs of life - one each at each step. These are food, strength, wealth, happiness, progeny, pleasure of enjoying various seasons and immortal friendship. The priest says that this sanskar has extremely strengthened the bond of friendship between you (the couple) and may your lives be united like two bodies with a single soul!

Varat
After the reception where the newly married couple is blessed comes the time to bid a goodbye. The couple touch the feet of elders and the bride meets with all family members who give her a tearful hug. The couple sits in a vehicle and the procession, with a band and fireworks, goes to the groom's place.

Grihpravesh
The couple is welcomed with arti by the groom's mother. The bride topples map - a measuring vessel - filled with rice. A white sheet is spread in front of the couple and the bride dips her feet in a thali filled with a watery kumkum paste and places it on the sheet. These are considered Lakshmi's steps.

Tamil Weddings

The Tamilians believe in simple living, hence their weddings are not necessarily extravagant affairs. A large wedding hall is booked for the occasion and decorated with flowers and lights. The date for the wedding is fixed after consulting the Hindu calendar. Panda Kaal Muhurtham
The family of the bride and groom take the blessings of the family deity to ensure that the wedding preparations proceed smoothly. Usually, this small ritual is performed one day before the wedding.

Receiving the Groom
When the groom and his family arrive at the wedding hall on the morning one day before the wedding, they are welcomed with a tray containing offerings of flowers, paan supari, fruits and mishri. Rose water is sprinkled on the groom. The bride's brother applies a tilak (dot or line) of sandalwood paste and kumkum on his forehead and garlands him. The bride's mother offers the groom's parents offer a sweet dish prepared from condensed milk. A senior female member of the bride's family performs aarti (a small ritual conducted as a mark of reverence) and welcomes them. It is also customary to break a coconut to the ground as this is believed to help ward off evil spirits.

Wedding Rituals

Mangala Snaanam
The mangala snaanam is the auspicious and purifying bath that the bride and groom must have in their respective homes on the dawn of their wedding day. Before the bath they are anointed with oil and a tilak of haldi-kumkum.

Exchange of Garlands
This ceremony is full of fun and gaiety. The bride and the groom exchange garlands thrice. They are teased by their relatives. For instance, they pull the girl away when the boy reaches forward to be garlanded by her, and vice versa. The bride and the groom's uncles (mother's brother) have to hoist them.

Oonjal
When the couple finally succeed in garlanding each other thrice, they are made to sit together on a swing. Married women from the families give spoonful of milk and banana pieces.

Kanyadaanam
The bride's father welcomes the groom when he comes to the mandapam (place where the wedding rituals are carried out).. The mandapam houses the sacred fire around which the wedding ceremonies will be conducted. The bride's mother applies kajal in the groom's eyes. The bride's father washes his son-in-law's feet. The father and bride offer the coconut to the groom while the bride's mother pours water over the coconut thus symbolising the 'giving away of their daughter.' The groom's parents gift the bride a nine-yard sari and a blouse to be worn for next moment, the auspicious occasion of tying the mangasultra

Muhurtum
With the help of her sister-in-law and other aunts the bride changes into a nine-yard sari and again enters the mandapam. A sack of paddy is placed on the floor. The bride's father is seated on this and the bride sits on her father's lap. The sack of paddy symbolises good fortune and abundance in terms of material and spiritual wealth. The yoke of a farmer's plough is touched to the bride's forehead. This gesture carries the hope that the couple will always walk together, by each other's side to pull the plough of life. The priest and relatives bless the mangalsutra or sacred thread and hand it to the groom who ties it around the neck of his bride with two knots. His groom's sister ties the third knot much to the rejoicing of everyone accompanied by the drums of the melam. The three knots symbolise the marriage of the mind, spirit and body.

Saptapadi
The groom takes the bride's right hand in his left hand and leads her around the sacred fire seven times. The bride begins each round by touching her feet to a grinding stone. This signifies her hope that their union may be as firm and steadfast as the grinding stone

Post - Wedding Rituals

Sammandhi Mariyathai
The families of the newly-weds exchange clothes and other gifts befitting their status during this ceremony.

Laaja Homam
The groom accepts popped rice from the bride's brother and offers it to the sacred fire or Agni. The blessings of Agni are sought as fire stands for the divine power and light of God.

Paaladaanam
The bride and groom seek the blessings of the senior members of the family by prostrating in front of them. They also offer them a gift of fruits and a token rupee.

Grihapravesham
The wedding rituals over, the bride is escorted to the groom's house.She is welcomed into her new home with an aarati. Lunch is served to newly-wed couple.

Punjabi Weddings

A Punjabi wedding is an event where there is fun and excitement. The ceremonies and rituals are lavish, and each is a sweet excuse for fun, frolic and festivity.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Sagan and Chunni Chadana
Before the wedding, the Sangeet and Mehandi are attended by the families and relatives of the groom and bride.

Wedding Rituals

Chuda ceremony
The maternal uncle of the bride-to-be plays an important role in this ceremony. The chuda (a set of red and cream ivory bangles) are touched by all present to signify their blessings and good wishes for the bride-to-be. The bride must slip the chuda on her wrist. This is followed by an iron bangle (for good luck) with shells and beads, and a mauli that the pandit ties around her wrist. Flower petals are showered on the girl after the ceremony and prasad (food that has been offered to God or blessed during a puja) is distributed among all.

Ghara ghardoli and vatna
This ritual demands that the bride-to-be stay at home in her old clothes for a couple of days before her wedding. She must sit in the vicinity of four lit diyas or oil lamps so that the glow from them is reflected on her face.

Bridal dress
The bride is dressed by her mother, female relatives and friends amid much gaiety. She may wear a sari or a lehenga in traditional colours like red, orange or magenta. She is adorned with traditional gold jewellery like a nose ring, etc.

Bridegroom's attire
The groom dresses in formal attire, which may be traditional or western. A young nephew or cousin also dons similar attire. He is called the sarbala (caretaker of the groom) and accompanies him on his mare or in his car.

Sehrabandi
A puja is performed after the groom dons his wedding attire. His sehra or turban is blessed by his relatives, as is the silver mukut or crown that goes on top of the turban. At the end of the ceremony, those present bless the groom and give him gifts or, more commonly, cash.

Ghodi, Vag goodti and duppata varna
The groom's bhabi lines his eyes with surma (kohl). After this, the groom's sisters and cousins feed and decorate his mare. If the groom chooses to use a car for the occasion, then the car is decorated. His relatives use cash for the varna, a ceremony that is supposed to ward off the evil eye. The cash is given away to the poor.

Varmala
The bride and groom exchange garlands during this ceremony. Those present indulge in much teasing and festivity to mark this happy occasion. Often, this ceremony acts as an effective ice-breaker for the nervous bride and her groom.

The Wedding Puja
The mahurat or auspicious time for the wedding ceremony is usually set after dinner. When the mahurat approaches, the purohit first performs a puja for the groom. The groom chants a few mantras. This is when the girl's young relatives grab the groom's untended shoes and hide it away to be returned after the ceremony for a fee. The fee - kalecharis - gold for the bride's sisters and silver for her cousins. Once the groom's puja is over, the purohit performs another puja with the couple and their parents. The bride is given away by her father in a ceremony called the kanyadaan. This is followed by another ceremony - the pheras (rounds). The bride and groom go around the sacred fire with the bride's sari tied to the groom's pagdi with the help of the red chunni used in the ghara ghardoli ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the newly-weds touch the feet of the groom's parents and the elders present to take their blessings. The bride changes into the clothes presented by her in-laws, while her relatives apply tilak on the groom's forehead.

Post-Wedding Rituals

Vidaai
This ceremony marks the departure of the bride from her parental house. She throws phulian or puffed rice over her head. She conveys her good wishes for her parents through this gesture. A beautifully decorated palanquin or car takes her to her new home. She is usually accompanied by her brother. Her relatives throw coins in the wake of this procession.

Bengali Weddings

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Vridhi
The puja meant for the ancestors of the bride and the groom is performed a day before the marriage. Rangoli is done and the idol of Bhagwan Narayan is worshipped.

Dodhi Mangal
Performed at the crack of dawn on the day of the wedding, this involves the bathing of the bride/groom by ten married women. Then they offer food to the bride/groom. The meal consists of macher laija bhaja (fried fish) followed by jal dhala bhaja (rice cooked in water). Curd and chiruya complete the meal.

Wedding Piris

The piris which are used to seat the bride and groom are decorated. Gifts are exchanged between the families of the bride and the groom prior during the pre-wedding and post-wedding ceremonies.

Gae halud tattva
Sent before the haldi or turmeric ceremony, this is for the bride from the groom's house. The gifts include at least six sarees with blouses, petticoats and cosmetics to go with them. Also among the gifts are fish, assorted sweets, curd, paan, dhaan and durba. A relative of the groom arrives at the bride's house with an entourage of servants bearing the gifts.

Snan
On the day of the wedding, usually in late afternoon, few married women apply turmeric and oil on the hair and body of the bride/groom. Then they wear the new set of clothes given by their in-laws. The worn clothes are later given away to a napti (barber).

Sankha Porana
The bride wears the sankha poranas after taking bath and wearing a new sari.

Dressing up the bride
The bride is dressed up with jewellery and mukut(crown). After her bridal makeover, a design of the mukut is traced on her face using the chandan paste.

Mandap
Two banana trees are planted at the mandap and a large alpana is made with rice paste. The mandap is decorated for the event with flowers and lights.

Wedding Rituals

Welcoming the groom

The wedding ceremony begins with the arrival of the groom and his relatives at the bride's house. They are greeted with flowers. The baran dala is held by an elder female relative of the bride's and the plate is first touched to the groom's forehead, then to ground, and back again to his forehead in a gesture of part blessing, part-reverence. The groom is offered sweets and sherbet. Water is sprinkled on the doorstep as the groom steps into the house to mark the auspicious moment.

The Wedding Ceremony

The bride and groom exchange garlands while the purohit chants mantras. Her paternal or maternal uncle gives the bride away. This particular part of the ceremony is called sampradhan.

Post-Wedding Rituals

Basar Ghar
After the wedding, the couple is welcomed inside the bride's home where they are served dinner.

Bashi Biye
The next morning, the groom adorns the forehead of his bride with vermillion. He does this by looking into a mirror. The newly-weds visit the mandap, and worship the Sun God in the presence of the purohit.

Bidaai
This ceremony marks the departure of the bride and groom. From here they set off for the groom's home. The newly weds are blessed by the elders.

Bou Baran
This ritual is performed to welcome the bride and groom to the latter's home. The women of the house pour water on the ground beneath their vehicle when they alight. The groom's elder brother's wife holds a plate containing lac dye and milk under the bride's feet. Having imprinted the soles of her feet thus, she leads her by the arm into the house. The elders of the house bless the newly weds.

Bou Bhat
It is during this ceremony that the bride has her first meal in the home of her in-laws. Until now, her meals usually arrive from a neighbour's house. This ceremony is followed by a reception in the evening, hosted by the groom's father.

Muslim Weddings

Islam recognizes marriage as an act of devotion to God and a solemn pact that must be respected by the couple throughout their lives. Festivity, traditional splendour and lavish banquets make the occasion a great treat for the invitees.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Mehndi Ceremony
The Mehndi (Henna) ceremony is takes place a couple of days before the wedding or on the same day at the bride's place. Any relative or a mehndiwali (henna artist) applies mehndi on the hands and feet of the bride-to-be. After the mehandi ceremony the girl is not allowed to step out of the house.

Wedding Rituals

Nikaah
The Nikaah or wedding ceremony is organized at the bride or the groom's place. A Maulvi (priest), in the presence of close family members and friends, conducts the ceremony. In orthodox Muslim communities, the men and women are seated separately. Father of the bride and the groom play an important role in the ceremony. The Maulvi reads selected verses from the Quran. The Nikaah is complete after Thijab-e-Qubul. The Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom's family to the bride.

Nikaahnama
The Nikaahnaama is a document in which the marriage contract is registered. It contains a set of terms and conditions that must be respected by both the parties. It also gives the bride the right to divorce her husband. The contract must be signed by the bridegroom, the bride, the Walis (father of the both bride and groom ), and the Maulvi.

Blessing The Groom
The guests pray for the newly-weds

Christian Weddings

The Christian wedding is usually conducted in the Church.

Preparatory Course
This ritual symbolizes the partaking of each-other's secrets by the prospective bride and groom, as they unveil to each-other the minutest details of their lives and swear by the Holy Bible that they have not concealed anything about their lives. Apart from this, they are also required to corroborate that they have been baptized.

Bachelor's Party
This is the celebration of groom's last night as a bachelor. Prior to drinking, a toast is raised as a custom. This party has an ambience of great pomp and festivity.

Welcoming the Bride
The groom's Best Man welcomes the bride on groom's behalf with a kiss on her cheek and with a bouquet.

Inside the Church
Proceedings inside are long and many. The couple walks and the cooridors and stands in front of the priest. He welcomes them and offers his best wishes. The priest then commences the procession of reading psalms from the Holy Bible. He then renders a sermon called Homily, which dwells on the sacredness of the wedlock. The Homily being over, the priest asks the bride and the groom some customary questions pertaining to their consent for the marriage, which both of them have to answer in acquiescent.