Hindu Wedding Traditions - Marriages are made in heaven, and once you are married, the bond is supposed to last for seven lifetimes. It is considered to be a turning point in an individual’s life as he enters the second important phase or ashram of his life – the ‘Grihastha ashram’. A lot of importance is associated with marriages in Hinduism as it is considered to be one of the most important duties of a man’s life.
Mangala Snanam:
The Haldi ceremony is a very common ritual among almost all communities in India. Turmeric is ground to a paste along with other ingredients that vary from culture to culture. This paste is applied to both the bride’s and groom at their respective places by women elderly members of their families before they are washed by sacred water.
Wedding Rituals:
The key steps of Hindu wedding ritual are Kanyadaan and Paanigrahan, Vivaah Homa and Agni Pradakshina, and finally Saptapadi according to Grihya sutras. After the bride’s father washes the groom’s feet, he then gives her away to the groom in a ceremony known as Kanyadaan, saying "Today, the bride is Laxmi and the groom is Vishnu. By joining their hands in marriage, we will repay the debt to our forefathers by continuing the next life cycle." Then the groom accepts the bride’s hand and they promise each other that while pursuing a life of Dharma, Artha and Kama, they will remain faithful to each other. This is known as Paanigrahan.
The couple feed ghee to the fire as offering and prays to the Gods for Santati (children), Sampatti (wealth & prosperity) and Deergharogya (long and healthy lives). This is known as the Vivaha Homa.
Saptapadi:
An important ritual in North Indian Hindu weddings, at this point in the ceremony, the bride and groom have their garments tied together, then take seven steps together (or make seven circles around a ceremonial fire) to perform Agni Pradakshina as they make vows to each other to be eternal partners and complement each other in life’s journey.
First step: To respect and honor each other
Second step: To share each other’s joy and sorrow
Third step: To trust and be loyal to each other
Fourth step: To cultivate appreciation for knowledge, values, sacrifice and service
Fifth step: To appreciate purity of emotions, love, family duties and spiritual growth
Sixth step: To follow principles of Dharma
Seventh step: To nurture an eternal bond of friendship and love
In South Indian weddings also have a ceremony in which the groom shows the bride the 'double stars' of Vashista and Arundhati as an ideal couple, symbolic of marital fulfilment and loyalty. At the end, the newly married couple seeks blessings from elders of the families. The family of the bride gives her an emotional send-off and the new couple is welcomed at groom's house with a traditional aarti.FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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