Deborah Chan
Indian weddings are vibrant, culture-rich celebrations that unite two people and their families. The ceremonies are steeped in tradition and ritual, with each aspect of the wedding holding symbolic significance.
An Indian wedding program should include the basic information, such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as the names of the couple and other participants. It can also outline the different rituals and their meanings to help guests follow along and appreciate the significance of each part of the ceremony.
Baraat:
The groom's arrival, often done riding a white horse, accompanied by his family and friends.
Milni:
A pre-wedding tradition where the groom is met by the bride's parents and close friends. Gifts, tokens of good luck, and sometimes food are presented to the groom.
Ganesh Puja:
A blessing by the priest, invoking the Hindu god Ganesh to remove obstacles and bring good fortune to the couple.
Kanya Aagaman:
The bride's procession, where she is escorted by her family members to the mandap, a raised platform where the ceremony will take place.
Jai Mala:
The exchange of brightly coloured garlands between the couple, symbolising their joining into each other's families.
Kanyadaan:
The parents of the bride give their blessing and give her away, placing her hand into the groom's hand.
Laaja Homam:
The offering of puffed rice to the sacred fire, with the groom, bride, and a family member pouring rice into the fire.
Mangal Phera:
The couple walks in circles around the sacred fire, between four and seven times, with their wedding scarves tied together.
Mangalsutra:
The groom recites from the Vedas and places a necklace around the bride, symbolising her new status as a married woman.
Ring Exchange:
The couple may exchange wedding rings and recite vows to each other.
Saptapadi:
Seven Steps in Sanskrit, where the couple takes seven steps together or completes seven circles around the sacred fire, representing their journey through life as partners.
Ashirwad:
Final blessings bestowed upon the couple by family, elders, the priest, and guests, who may shower them with rice or flower petals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Baraat | Groom's arrival, accompanied by family and friends. |
| Milni | Pre-wedding tradition where the groom is met by the bride's parents and close friends. |
| Ganesh Puja | Prayer to Lord Ganesh, asking him to bless the couple by removing obstacles. |
| Kanya Aagaman | Bride's procession, escorted by family members to the mandap. |
| Jai Mala | Exchange of brightly coloured garlands, symbolising joining into each other's families. |
| Kanyadaan | Parents of the bride bless the union and give her away. |
| Laaja Homam | Offering of puffed rice to the sacred fire. |
| Mangalphera | Couple walks in circles around the sacred fire. |
| Mangalsutra | Groom recites from the Vedas and places a necklace on the bride, symbolising her new status as a married woman. |
| Ring Exchange | Adopted part of the ceremony where the couple may exchange vows. |
| Saptapadi | "Seven Steps" in Sanskrit, where the couple takes seven steps together or circles around the sacred fire. |
| Ashirwad | Final blessings bestowed upon the couple by family, elders, the priest, and others. |
What You'll Learn
Baraat: The groom's arrival
The baraat is a wedding procession for the groom that involves live music and dancing. Though not a religious ceremony, it is a long-standing tradition at most Indian weddings. The baraat is an opportunity for the groom to express his joy and excitement about getting married. It also symbolises the groom's journey to unite with his bride and the joining of their two families.
The baraat can be a large procession, with its own band, dancers, and budget. The groom is traditionally seated on a ceremonial horse, though modern grooms may opt for an elephant, vintage car, or even a helicopter. The groom is adorned in traditional Indian finery and carries a sword. He is joined by his family and friends, who also wear traditional dress.
The procession is energetic and lively, with the groom's friends and family dancing their way to the wedding venue. The groom himself does not usually take part in the dancing and singing, which is left to the baraatis or people accompanying the procession.
Sehra Bandi
Before the baraat sets off, the groom's face is covered with a decorative veil or sehra, which is attached to his turban. The veil is said to symbolise protection from the evil eye and the groom's humility.
Milni
As the baraat reaches the bride's home or wedding venue, the bride's family welcomes the groom's family with the milni ceremony. This involves the introduction and exchange of garlands between corresponding family members from both sides, symbolising the union of the two families.
Aarti and Tikka
Upon arrival at the wedding venue, the groom is welcomed by the bride's mother, who performs the aarti ceremony. She circles a lit lamp around the groom's face to ward off evil spirits and then places a red tikka or vermilion mark on his forehead to bless him.
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Milni: A pre-wedding tradition where the groom is met by the bride's parents
The word "Milni" comes from the Hindi word "Milan", derived from a Sanskrit expression meaning "a coming together". This ceremony is a pre-wedding tradition that occurs in both Hindu and Sikh weddings before the start of the marriage rituals. The groom arrives with his family and friends in a procession called the Baraat. The bride's family greets the groom and his family, and the bride's mother performs a welcoming ritual. The bride's father may place a tilak, or red dot, on the groom's forehead, signifying the Lord's blessing. The groom is then led to the Mandap, a sacred canopy where the ceremony will take place.
During the Milni ceremony, the bride's parents and close relatives welcome the groom with gifts, tokens of good luck called Shagun, and sometimes food. They bless him with rose water and sprinkle him with rose petals. The men from the bride's family then exchange flower garlands with the groom and gift him cash and clothes, symbolising the bonding of the two families. Traditionally, the men greet the groom in descending order of age, with the oldest generation first, and introduce themselves to the guests, explaining how they are related to the bride.
The meeting of the fathers of the bride and groom during the Milni ceremony is especially significant, as it symbolises the acceptance of the marriage and the bond between the two families. The Milni ceremony is brief, but it serves as an important moment for both families and guests to witness the unification of the two families.
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Ganesh Puja: A blessing prior to the marriage ceremony
Ganesh Puja is a prayer to Lord Ganesh, the Hindu elephant God, who removes all obstacles and brings good luck. It is performed at the beginning of the wedding ceremony to invoke his blessings and remove any obstacles as the couple begins their new life together.
The ceremony is performed for the couple and their families, so that any obstacles they may face in their married life will be destroyed. It is customary to perform Ganesh Puja at the start of any auspicious ceremony in the Hindu religion, and it is considered mandatory to invoke Lord Ganesh before any other ritual in a Hindu wedding.
The groom offers the prayer on the mandap, assisted by the pujari who invokes Ganesh Ji. The families of the bride and groom pray during the puja, but the bride is usually not present for the Ganesh Puja as she arrives at the end.
The Ganesh Puja involves the following ingredients and elements:
- The Idol of Lord Ganesh placed on a raised platform.
- Modak, Lord Ganesh's favourite sweet, of which 21 are offered.
- Red flowers, especially hibiscus, which is regarded as auspicious.
- Coconut, which is offered to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh's father.
- Durva grass, which signifies prosperity and riches.
- Betel Nut, which symbolises human ego and is offered to Lord Ganesh.
- Red thread, also called Kalawa, considered auspicious in many Hindu traditions.
- Lamp and incense or dhoop to spread positivity and symbolise positive energy.
- Sindoor and Chandan to purify the soul and protect it from evil energy.
The Ganesh Puja is considered auspicious and essential in every Hindu family, and it is believed that worshipping Lord Ganesh before the marriage brings prosperity to the couple's life.
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Kanya Aagaman: The bride's procession
Kanya Aagaman is the bride's first appearance at the wedding. The literal translation of Kanya Aagaman is 'the arrival of the bride'. She is escorted to the Mandap, a raised platform where the ceremony will take place, by her maternal uncle and aunt, signifying the acceptance of the union from the maternal side of the bride's family. Depending on the region, the bride's sisters, friends, and cousins may also join the procession.
The bride and groom are separated by a white cloth and are not allowed to see each other yet. This symbolizes the couple's two separate lives.
Rather than walking down the aisle, the bride is traditionally carried in on a small carriage called a Doli, which is usually carried by the male relatives on the bride's side.
Once the bride reaches the Mandap, the ritual of Varmala begins.
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Kanyadaan: The parents of the bride bless the union and give her away
Kanyadaan is one of the most sacred and important rituals in an Indian wedding. This ceremony, which symbolises the bride's transition from daughter to wife, is one of the main rituals in a Hindu wedding. The ritual involves the father of the bride providing his formal permission for the marriage and placing the bride's hand in the groom's hand, symbolising the transfer of responsibility for her care and happiness.
Welcoming the Groom
The bride's family welcomes the groom to the wedding venue. In some traditions, the groom's soon-to-be mother-in-law applies a red dot to his forehead.
Veneration of Ancestors
The couple offers prayers to their ancestors, seeking their blessings.
The Kanyadaan Vow
The bride's father or guardian vows to offer his daughter in marriage.
Washing of the Groom's Feet
The bride's family washes the groom's feet to symbolise respect and acceptance and to prepare him for the responsibility of caring for the bride.
Giving Away the Bride
The bride's father places her hand in the groom's hand, symbolising the transfer of responsibility for her care and happiness.
Tying the Knot
The groom ties his scarf to the bride's attire, symbolising their union.
Offering of the Mangalsutra
The groom places a sacred necklace around the bride's neck, symbolising her marital status.
Seven Steps (Saptapadi)
The couple takes seven steps together, each representing a marital vow.
Blessings and Prayers
Elders and guests bless the couple for a happy married life.
Culmination
The couple concludes the ceremony by seeking blessings from the gods and family.
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Frequently asked questions
A Hindu wedding is a physical, spiritual, and emotional marriage of two people and their families. The ceremony unites two families and is very important from physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual perspectives.
Some of the rituals involved in a Hindu wedding include the Baraat (the groom's arrival accompanied by family and friends), Milni (the groom is met by the bride's parents and close friends), Ganesh Puja (a blessing by the priest asking the Hindu god Ganesh to bless the couple), Kanya Aagaman (the bride's procession), Jai Mala (the bride and groom exchange garlands), Kanyadaan (the parents of the bride bless the union and give away the bride), Laaja Homam (the offering of puffed rice to the sacred fire), Mangalphera (the couple walks in circles around the sacred fire), and Ashirwad (final blessings bestowed upon the couple).
The mandap is a temporary structure constructed for the purpose of the marriage ceremony. It is a wedding altar that may appear on an elevated platform and is decorated with anything from flowers and greenery to fabric and crystals. The couple is traditionally joined beneath the mandap by their parents and the ceremony officiant.
In the center of the mandap, a fire is kindled to signify the viability of the ceremony. A Hindu marriage is a sacrament, not a contract, so fire is kept as a witness. Offerings are also made to the fire during the ceremony.
