A Traditional Hindu Marriage

1. A Traditional Hindu Marriage

2. Various Stages ~ Selection of the Couple: Arranged marriages: The bride and bridegroom are chosen by parents or the elders. Believe they are more experienced and can better evaluate the merits of the partners. The marriage among Hindus is considered a union between the two families rather than between the two young people.

3. ~ The Misri Ceremony ~ Also called engagement or ring ceremony Invoking blessing of Lord Ganesha Seven married ladies (portraying 7 forms of god for each day of the week) use red powder to make a Ganesha sign (Clockwise Swastika) on a pot of misri (crystalline sugar) asking Ganesha to bless the couple and make the ceremonies run well. A Puja (prayer) done by the couple and their parents welcoming Gods in different forms and asking for their blessing. Exchange garland and gold rings

4. The rings are worn on the fourth finger of the right hand for the groom and on the left hand for the bride because it is believed that the fourth finger of the hand has a vein leading directly to the heart. This produces one complete heart. Gifts are exchanged, strengthens the bond between families, lunch or dinner served, usually wedding date is set

5. SANGEET The sangeet (entertainment) night where songs from popular Hindi films are sang and where people dance. Families and friends eat, drink, and dance the night away. Another chance for the bride and groom to get to know the families

6. ~ Pithi Ceremony~ Two or three days before: A canopy decorated with flowers is erected at the place of the wedding. A ritual called Pithi is performed on both the bride and the groom in their own homes. Their bodies are anointed with turmeric, sandalwood paste and oils to cleanse and make it sweet-smelling. They are then bathed to the chanting of Vedic mantras.

7. ~ Mehndi ~ Henna ~ Held in the late afternoon, usually day before wedding Ladies tea-party, but the male relatives are allowed to be present. The future bride has her hands and feet patterned with paste which is a recipe of henna, oil, lemon juice, and some water tinted with tea. Signifies the strength of love in a marriage The darker the mehndi, the stronger the love.

8. ~ The Marriage Performance ~ ~ Bharaat ~ Wedding Procession The bridegroom accompanied by baratis (relatives and friends) proceed to the wedding venue (usually the bride’s house) singing and dancing The band plays music with sparkling fireworks in the sky. The bride’s family and friends receive the baratis and bridegroom, who is riding on a decorated Ghodi (mare).

9. Swagatam ~ ~Welcome~ When the groom and his party arrive at the marriage hall, the bride's relatives are waiting to welcome them. The mother of the bride welcomes the groom by placing a Teeka (red dot) on his forehead. She then performs several small ceremonies reminding him of his commitment to the marriage and that he has willingly chosen to wed her daughter.

10. The priest commences the marriage under a canopy (mandap) that is specially decorated for the ceremony.  The priest invokes blessings of God for the couple to be married by chanting madras from the Vedas. The bride offers yogurt and honey to the groom as a token of purity and sweetness.  The bride greets the groom by placing garland around his neck, and the groom does the same.

11. Kanya Daan ~ Entrusting of the daughter The bride accepts her change of status from an unmarried woman to a wife by spreading turmeric powder on her hands. Kana Daan is performed by the father (or uncle or guardian) of the bride. The father pours out a libation of sacred water symbolizing the giving away of the daughter to the bridegroom.  The bride’s parents entrust their daughter in the safe keeping of the groom and his family.

12. Tying the Knot The bride and the bridegroom face each other, and the priest ties their garments (the bride's sari to the groom's shirt) in a knot, symbolizing the sacred union. The bride and the groom exchange the rings. AGNI PUJA Next the nuptial fire, symbolizing the divine witness and the sanctifier of the sacrament, is installed and worshipped. It is believed that Gods and Goddesses sit around this fire. Herbs, sugar, rice, ghee (clarified butter), and twigs are offered into the sacred fire to seek God's blessings for the couple.

13. Or Paanigrahana Hasta Milap (Joining of the Hands) The bridegroom stands facing west and the bride sits in front of him facing east.  He seizes her hand and recites Vedic hymns for happiness, long life, and a lifelong relationship The right hands of the couple are tied with a thread that has been blessed with religious incantations. The tying of the hands signifies an eternal bond that will join them forever.

14. Asmaarohana or Shilarohana : (Mounting the Stone) At the end of each round of nuptial fire, both the bride and the groom step on a stone and pray that their mutual love will be firm and steadfast like the stone.

15. Laja homa : The bride offers sacrifice of rice or grain (poured into her hands by her brother or someone acting in her brother's behalf). Half spills into the bridegroom’s hands and the other half spills into the fire Long life, health, happiness, prosperity.

16. ~ Saptapadi (Seven Steps) Here the bride and the bridegroom take seven steps together around the nuptial fire (Agni) and make the following seven promises to each other : With God as our guide, let us take : the first step to nourish each other the second step to grow together in strength the third step to preserve our wealth the fourth step to share our joys and sorrows the fifth step to care for our children the sixth step to be together forever the seventh step to remain lifelong friends, the perfect halves to make a perfect whole.

17. ~ Satapadi (Seven Steps) Continued... After the seventh step the groom makes the bride remain where she is and says: "With seven steps we become friends. Let me reach your friendship. Let me not be severed from your friendship. Let your friendship not be severed from me." The Satapadi ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union is indissoluble.  At the end of this ceremony, the bridegroom and bride become husband and wife.

18. Haridaya-Sparsha : Touching the Heart The bride and bridegroom touch each other’s hearts saying: "I hold your heart in serving fellowship, your mind follows my mind. In my word you rejoice with all your heart. You are joined to me by the Lord of all creatures."

19. ~ Mangalsutra Dharana ~ The Mangalsutra is a gold chain with black beads marking symbols of Vishnu or Shiva placed on the neck of the bride by the groom. -This mangalsutra is worn by the bride post marriage to symbolize she is married to her husband and to bring good luck.

20. Sindoordan The groom places sindoor (red powder) on the bride's hair symbolizing that she is a married woman.

21. Aashirvaad The groom's parents bless the couple and offer cloth or flower to the bride (now their daughter-in-law), symbolizing her joining of the groom's family.   All those assembled shower flowers on the couple and bless them Usually, a reception follows that evening or the next day

22. Designs

23. More Henna...

24. ~~~ Bridal Wear ~~~

25. ~~~ Bridal Wear ~~~