The Ultimate Guide To Crafting An Indian Wedding Program

Indian weddings are complex, symbolic affairs, with numerous rituals to bless the couple's future together. The ceremony takes place in a Mandap, a four-pillared structure that represents the foundations of a fulfilled life.

A Hindu wedding program should include the following:

- Baraat: The groom's arrival, often on a white horse, accompanied by his family and friends.

- Milni: The groom is met by the bride's parents and close friends and presented with gifts and tokens of good luck.

- Ganesh Puja: A blessing from the priest, asking the Hindu god Ganesh to bless the couple and remove any obstacles.

- Kanya Aagaman: The bride's procession, where she is escorted by her family to the Mandap.

- Jai Mala: The bride and groom exchange brightly coloured garlands, symbolising their joining.

- Kanyadaan: The parents of the bride bless the union and give her away.

- Laaja Homam: The offering of puffed rice to the sacred fire.

- Mangalpheras: The couple circles the holy fire four times, with their scarves tied together.

- Mangalsutra: The groom recites from the Vedas and places a necklace on the bride, symbolising her new status as a married woman.

- Ring Exchange: The bride and groom exchange wedding rings and may recite vows.

- Saptapadi: Seven Steps in Sanskrit, where the couple takes seven steps together or circles the fire seven times.

- Ashirwad: Final blessings are bestowed upon the couple by family, elders, and the priest.

A Hindu wedding program should also include basic information such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as the names of the couple and other participants.

Baraat: The groom's arrival, often on a white horse, accompanied by family and friends

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 groom usually travels to the wedding venue on a mare, or a vintage car, chariot, or elephant in more modern times. The baraat can become a large procession, with its own band, dancers, and budget.

The groom is adorned in traditional Indian finery and usually seated on a ceremonial horse, elephant, or inside a vintage car. The horse is adorned to match the groom and is often fed grains to bring good luck and a safe journey. The groom usually carries a sword and is joined by a young boy, called a Sarbala, who acts as his protector.

The groom is accompanied by his family and friends, known as the "baraatis", who all wear matching turbans. The baraat is a joyful and exuberant affair, with music and dancing, and can go on for several hours. The groom's procession is a symbolic representation of his journey to marrying his wife and the joining of two families.

Milni: Meeting of the Families

The baraat procession reaches a meeting point where the groom is greeted by the bride's family. The groom's mother-in-law applies a tilak, or red dot, to his forehead and performs an aarti to ward off evil. This is known as the milni, a ritual where the elders of both families meet and exchange gifts.

The Groom's Arrival at the Venue

The baraat procession then continues to the wedding venue, often the bride's house, where the groom dismounts and is welcomed by the bride's family with an aarti, or blessing. The groom is then escorted to the mandap, a sacred canopy or altar where the wedding ceremony will take place. The mandap has four pillars, representing the foundations of a fulfilled life, and is the site of the sacred fire, Agni, the god of fire, who acts as a divine witness to the wedding.

The Bride's Arrival

Once the groom is seated at the mandap, the bride makes her own procession, the Kanya Aagaman, escorted by her family members to the mandap. The bride and groom traditionally do not see each other before the wedding ceremony and their view of each other is separated by a cloth called an antarpat. During the muhurtham, or unveiling ceremony, the antarpat is lowered, and the couple sees each other for the first time, symbolising the joining of their two lives.

Jai Mala: Exchange of Garlands

After the unveiling, the bride and groom exchange flower garlands, known as the jai mala, symbolising their joining and acceptance of each other and pledging their respect.

Ganesh Puja: A blessing by the priest, asking the Hindu god Ganesh to bless the couple

The Ganesh Puja is a ceremony that invokes Lord Ganesh, the Hindu elephant God who removes obstacles and brings prosperity, good fortune, and wisdom. It is performed at the beginning of the wedding rituals and is considered auspicious, with all auspicious ceremonies in the Hindu religion commencing with a prayer to Lord Ganesh. The Ganesh Puja is performed by the bride's parents and involves the groom's family as well.

The groom arrives at the Mandap (a raised platform where the ceremony will take place) and bows to the guests and family, expressing his gratitude for their presence. The bride is not present for the Ganesh Puja and will make her entrance after the ceremony.

The Ganesh Puja involves offering various items to Lord Ganesh, including:

• Modak (Lord Ganesh's favourite sweet)
• Red flowers (especially hibiscus)
• Coconut
• Durva grass (symbolising prosperity and riches)
• Betel nut (symbolising human ego)
• Red thread (considered auspicious)
• Lamp and incense or dhoop (to spread positivity and dispel negative energy)
• Sindoor and Chandan (to purify the soul and protect it from evil energy)

The ceremony also involves the groom's feet being washed by the bride's parents, who then offer him flowers and Madhuparka (a mixture of honey, curd, and ghee).

The Ganesh Puja is a beautiful and meaningful way to begin the wedding rituals, seeking blessings and a smooth journey ahead for the couple.

Kanya Aagaman: The bride's procession, often her first appearance outside her family on her wedding day

Kanya Aagaman is the arrival of the bride at the wedding ceremony. This is often the bride's first appearance outside her family on her wedding day.

The literal translation of Kanya Aagaman is 'the arrival of the bride'. The bride 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 which part of India the family is from, 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 one another until the ritual of Varmala, when the cloth is lowered. This symbolises the couple's two separate lives becoming one.

Rather than a traditional 'walk down the aisle', Hindu brides are ushered down the aisle on a small carriage, a Doli, which is usually carried by male relatives on the bride's side.

Jai Mala: The couple exchange garlands, symbolising their joining into each other's families

Jai Mala is a ceremony that takes place after the groom and his procession (baarat) arrive at the wedding venue. The groom waits at the wedding stage for the bride to make her entrance. When the bride arrives, they exchange garlands, placing them over each other's necks. This ritual symbolises the couple's acceptance of each other as partners and their joining into each other's families. It is also a physical representation of consent for the marriage.

The garlands, or Jai Malas, are usually made of flowers, with jasmine, marigold, roses, orchids, carnations and jasmine flowers with roses or marigolds being the most common combination. The flowers used in the garlands can vary across regions and communities. In the North, red roses and white flowers are preferred, while in the South, marigolds and orange flowers are traditional. The size of the garlands can also differ, with Southern Indian Jai Malas being longer and heavier, and Northern ones being lighter and more delicate.

The Jai Mala ceremony is a light-hearted and fun moment for the couple and their families. It is also a great ice-breaker for the bride and groom before they move on to the more solemn rituals of the wedding ceremony.

Kanyadaan: The parents of the bride bless the union and give her away

Kanyadaan is one of the most emotional moments in a Hindu wedding ceremony, not just for the bride but also for her parents. The literal translation of the term is "giving away the daughter". It is an age-old tradition where the bride's father presents his daughter to the groom, entrusting him with her future well-being.

The concept of Kanyadaan is not mentioned in the Vedas. During Vedic times, the consent of the woman was given utmost importance, and she entered the union as the groom's equal. However, as Hinduism evolved and accepted the Manu Smriti texts as the basis of modern Indian Hindu laws, the position of women changed, and they were placed under lifelong male guardianship. This gave rise to the concept of Kanyadaan.

During the ritual, the bride is considered a form of the Goddess Laxmi, while the groom is seen as Lord Vishnu. The parents of the bride initiate the union of these two Gods and give their consent for the marriage.

The ritual takes place after the Varmala ceremony, where the couple exchanges garlands. The father of the bride takes her right hand and places it in the groom's right hand. The mother of the bride then pours sacred water on the father's palm, which flows through the daughter's and groom's hands. The groom then places his free hand on the bride's right shoulder, symbolising that he will take responsibility for her well-being.

The ritual of Kanyadaan is ripe with deep religious symbolism. The groom is considered a representation of Lord Vishnu, and during Kanyadaan, the parents are offering their daughter, a significant piece of their existence, to him. This is considered the greatest offering one can present to the Supreme Being, and it is believed that the parents of the bride are absolved of all their earthly sins.

Kanyadaan is a highly emotional moment for the bride's parents as they give away their most prized possession and wish for her happiness. It is also an intrinsic part of the wedding, cutting the bride's ties with her family as she accepts her new family and life.

Frequently asked questions