Vivaah
Is marriage as it is practiced by Hindus in the Indian subcontinent
For any Indian parents, wedding is the most awaited ceremony for their children. Indian wedding can also called as ‘Vivaah’. Indian wedding vary by religion, locality, preferences of bride – groom and their family. Wedding is celebrates like a festival in India; it celebrates with lots of decoration, colors, rituals, music, dance, costumes. There are important rituals in Hindu wedding like GRIHPOOJA, KANYADAN, FERAS, and SAPTAPADI. In India people celebrates around 10 million wedding every year, of which about 80% are Hindu weddings. There are many rituals in Indian wedding.
Ganesh Pooja & Grih Pooja
People starts any holy celebration with the Ganesh Pooja, it is must in any Hindu ritual. And Grih Pooja can be the simple or elaborate, depending upon the home owner. Usually, a ‘havan’ is conducted, to purify the space cleanse it for negative forces.
(Havan is a fire in small space in which people put some Ghee, kapoor, and other holy stuff with the loud chanting of “Sanskrit Mantra” according Hindu ancient ‘VEDA’ for positive energy.)
Haldi Ceremony/Holi Party
Haldi ceremony is also known as ‘Pithi Ceremony’. It is a pre-wedding ceremony; in which the mixture of Haldi(turmeric), oil and water is applied to Bride and Goom by family members. This mixture is believed bless to the couple. Also, Haldi (turmeric) is known as ‘effective exfoliating’ agent. After the ‘Haldi Ceremony’ when the mixture is rinsed off, it helps to get rid of ‘dead cells’ and ‘detoxifies’ the skin.
Sometimes people arrange holi party with the haldi ceremony. People play with color powder with each other and have fun.
Mehendi/Henna Ceremony
Mehendi ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies in Indian Wedding. Mehendi is the must have thing for any Indian wedding. Especially this ceremony is celebrated by bride’s family. Besides cosmetic appeal, mehendi has medicinal properties. Normally, mehendi is applied on the hands and feet, which has many nerve endings and it helps to prevent the nerves from becoming tense during stressful situation.
Sangeet (Dance Party)
Sangeet is the most awaited ceremony for the family. People arrange dance party and some celebration in it. Mostly it is done by both the families of bride and groom together. The main concern is to celebrate the pre wedding time together with the families and have as much as fun.
Wedding
For wedding, Groom and his family go to the Bride’s place for the wedding; they called as ‘baraatis’. Traditionally, baraatis are attended to as guests of the bride’s family. The baraat, headed by a display of fireworks and accompanied by the rhythm of the dhol, reaches the meeting point, where Bride’s family welcomes Groom and his family.
The wedding time is decided by ‘Pandit’ (priest) according to Hindu ‘Muhurt’(time). On the wedding day bride and groom get ready according to their religion. ‘Ganesh Poojan’ is done by bride’s parents. After this ‘Kanyadaan” is done by bride’s parents;and it is considered most supreme because you give away you love the most- your own daughter-to another family. Bride’s parents give gifts and blessing to the bride.
After this, ‘Mangal Fera’ ritual happens. Unlike ‘Saptapadi’, the bride leads the groom on the first thre ‘feras’, while the groom takes over the fourth and final step – signifying balance and completion in their marriage. When the couple makes their last round together, they rush back to their seats, racing to sit down first.
Saptapadi (seven steps) is the most important riti (method) of a Hindu marriage ceremony. In which Pandit (priest) After tying the Mangalsutra, the newlywed couple take seven steps around the holy fire that is called Saptapadi. After the seventh step, the couple legally become husband and wife.
Also some Indian family bursts fire crackers after the complrtion of the marriage to celebrate it.
All the holy ceremony for wedding is done with the loud chanting of ‘Sankrit Mantra’. (Which came from Hindu ancient meaningful ‘Veda’)
Vidaai
The Bride’s Farewell. One of the most recognizable moments of a Hindu marriage ceremony is the Vidaai, when the Bride’s family bids farewell to their daughter as she rides away with her Husband.
Reception
A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception; the couple receive society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple.
