An Indian wedding is an incredible combination of opulence and flamboyance, as well as a strict adherence to tradition and ritual. The customs that still play a major role in Hindu life today are truly unique. They may seem at first glance strange and inexplicable, even frightening, but this is not the case if you look closely.
It is this unquestioning belief in the power of tradition and adherence to centuries-old rules of marriage make weddings in India a true cultural phenomenon: Once you have been to such a celebration, it is impossible to forget.
Indian weddings are steeped in unusual traditions and customs, from the preparation and execution of the ceremony itself to the national costumes of the young people with their brightness and pomp.
Engagement or ashir wad
Traditionally, before setting the date of the wedding and deciding on such a significant step, the parents of the young couple carefully study their horoscopes. Important attention is given to their compatibility, choosing the best dates for the rituals and the wedding itself. And only then are the future in-laws invited to the viewing.
Once the parents have come to full agreement and the arrangement for the wedding is concluded, the time comes for the young couple to meet. To be precise, there are two such meetings – first at the home of the bride, and then the groom. These meetings in India are called ashir wad. The young people receive a blessing for marriage from their parents, the closest relatives of the families. From the engagement to the wedding takes about a few months.
Meeting of the guests
A wedding in India is a special celebration, it takes a long time to prepare for it, spend a lot of money. If the family is wealthy, the wedding costs between $15,000 and $20,000. They invite 700-800 guests, who must be provided with accommodation and refreshments, designed for many days, because the wedding here lasts more than one evening. With all the foreplay, an Indian wedding lasts more than a week.
According to a long tradition, four days before the wedding, all the relatives come to the girl’s house and build a wedding awning in the yard, decorated with garlands of flowers, coconuts, bananas, bright lights. Inhabitants of India call such a canopy “pandal”. A large bowl of rice is placed in the middle of the canopy, with a large coconut flower, a symbol of happiness, placed on top of the rice, and lights are lit around the bowl.
The “midi” ceremony
The ceremony is the application of the national ornaments on the bride’s hands and feet with henna. According to wedding tradition in India, the patterns are applied to the girls’ palms and above, covering the arms up to the elbow.
After that, gold rings and bracelets are put on the hands of the girl. Hands and feet are not chosen by chance: the lines of human destiny are drawn on hands, as well as all seven chakras are reflected on hands and feet.
When applying henna, all the tricks are used, in order to make the pattern darker when it dries. And all because it is believed that the darker will be the pattern on the hand of a girl, the stronger her future husband will love her.
Shubho drishti – the very first look
The wedding itself in India begins in the evening at the home of the girl. For the ceremony, according to tradition, a special tent is built. It is covered with a tent, four palm trees are placed in the corners. The tent is decorated with live fragrant flowers, mostly in yellow tones.
The bridegroom, standing on a stone, waits while a wooden palanquin with his betrothed is brought out. The porters carry the bride around the groom seven times and set her down. The guests ask the boy and the girl to look at each other, that is, to perform the wedding ritual shubho drishti – the first look.
Getting married
According to all traditions in India weddings take place on an empty stomach, the young couple is not allowed to eat anything before the ceremony is completed.
For the wedding ceremony a small wedding temple “vedi” is built out of five bamboo sticks, which are covered by a tent on top. A fire is lit inside the temple. One end of the bride’s sari is tied to the groom’s sashan to unite them forever. The newlyweds sit near the fire.
A brahman (priest) reads prayers, sings sacred mantras, and gives the young couple the floor to say their vows, after which he binds the young couple’s hands with a garland of flowers, binding their souls together for eternity, for all seven generations. As tradition dictates, the newlyweds walk around the fire seven times. From now on, the groom considers the girl his wife, as evidenced by the application of red paint on her forehead and parting. The red parting is called “sindur” by the people of India.