Hindu Wedding Tradition

This guide to Hindu tradition has been adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding. Please refer to the link for a more complete discussion of Hindu wedding tradition.

Hindu weddings are often large affairs that can last several days, and the couple may choose to have only a few of the rituals below filmed. Hindus come from many different regions and religious sects, so there are many variations on the traditions below. The most popular of the ceremonies below to be filmed are the sangeet (introduction of the grooms family to brides family), barat (procession of the groom to the ceremony site, many times on a horse), and the laja homa/saptapadi (the core ceremony which includes the priests religious blessing, parents legal blessing, tying of hands and circling the fire).

Pre-ceremony activities
Sangeet Sandhya The sangeet sandhya is an evening of musical entertainment. The brides family puts on a show for the groom and bride. Included as part of this event is an introduction of all the family members for the bride. Tilak/Mehendi Lagwana Ceremony Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness put on the forehead using Kumkum, a red turmeric powder. The male members of the bride's family place a tilak on the forehead of the groom. Mehendi (henna) is applied to the brides hands and feet. In the right hand, a round spot is left open for Hathlewa.

During marriage festivities

Barat Nikasi The groom leaves for the wedding venue riding a decorated horse or elephant. This is a colorful and grand ceremony where family often dances ahead of the animal. The grooms turban may have flowers extending from it to keep the grooms face covered during the wedding ceremony. Upon arriving at the venue of the wedding, the groom is welcomed by a welcome song. This is called "talota". Then the groom knocks on the door with his sword and enters.

Var Mala/Jai Mala

In most Hindu weddings, the groom is led to a small stage, known as mandap, where he is greeted by the bride's family. The maternal uncle, brother or brides' best friends bring the bride to the stage. The bride and the groom are handed the garlands while the priest is chanting the religious hymns. Following this, the groom and bride exchange garlands, signifying their acceptance of each other as husband and wife. Then, the grooms mother-in-law measures the grooms chest, and pokes and prods him to make sure he is tough enough to defend her daughter. She then puts kajal on the groom to ward off evil spirits. Aarti The groom's party are received by the bride's family and at the entrance to the wedding venue. The bride's mother welcomes the groom by performing the 'aarti' (traditional Indian welcome ritual with a lamp or 'diya' placed on a platter or 'thali') to welcome her son-in-law and placing a tilak on his forehead. Baasi-Jawari This event takes place the day of the wedding. The bride's sisters hide the groom's shoes and ask for money if he (groom) wants them back and be able to go home with the bride. Kanya Daan

Kanya Daan is performed by the father of the bride to pour sacred water symbolizing the giving away of his daughter to the groom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the god of love, for pure love and blessings. As a condition for offering his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends: dharma, artha, and kama. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in realizing dharma, artha and kama. Ideally, the parents of the bride place the right hand of the bride over the right hand of the groom and place their own left hands at the bottom and the right hands (the two of them) on top, securing the Conch with gold, betel nut, flowers and a little fruit placed in the bride's hand. The wedding can not legally proceed without this Kanyadaan step in which parents of the bride agree to the wedding. Panigrahana Hathlewa After being led to the wedding mandup, the bride and groom have their hands tied together. The priest does a puja to Lord Ganesh and then puts a coin & mehendi on the bride's right hand where the round empty spot is (where no mehendi was put) and ties his hand with the brides. Gathabandhan The priest ties the end of the groom's dhoti or the kurta; whichever he is wearing, with that of the bride's saree, the knot signifying the sacred wedlock. Laja Homa/ Saptapadi The ritual connotes the actual core wedding ceremony. The couple circles the holy fire seven times, making seven promises to be fulfilled in the married life, after which they are considered to be 'married' to each other. A joint vow is usually made at the end of the seven steps, which varies by region. This ritual is called "phere". Vidaai

Also called rukhsati in North India. This is considered to be the most emotional ritual, when the bride leaves her parents' home and makes her way to her husband's. Family and friends, who also shower her with blessings and gifts, give her a tearful farewell. The male members of the bride's family bid farewell to the groom by applying the traditional 'tilak' (vermilion) on his forehead and shower him with gifts. In earlier times the bride use to leave in a palanquin. These days the couple leaves in a decorated car. Before the wedding party departs to the Hindu temple, the priest will sometimes place a coconut under the tire. In the old days a horse-drawn carriage was used to carry the bride and groom, and the breaking of the coconut demonstrated the road-worthiness of the horse-drawn carriage.