HINDU WEDDING CEREMONY

 

As a priest for an event, Purohit welcomes you to the wedding ceremony of (name of the Bride) _______ and (name of the Groom) _______ according to the Hindu religious rituals. Purohit performs this ceremony with appropriate recitations of the rituals at an appropriate event.

 

A study of the Hindu religion provides an understanding of mankind cycle right from the birth to the death of the individuals. According to Hindu religion there are 16 rituals that one has to follow during the life span. The wedding ceremony is one of the religious rituals. At this moment, two different souls on the earth are uniting together as married couple. The Hindu religion is known as "Sanatan Dharma" because it is prevailing since last 5,000 years. This religion believes about the existence of 3,30,000,000 Gods and Goddesses, which is nothing but dignifying every soul on the earth. This includes Vedic Deities, Planet Deities, and Animal Deities. In other words it believes the existence of God or Goddess in mankind as well as in every creature on the earth.

 

Wedding ceremony is performed in the presence of Gods and Goddesses like Lord Ganesh, Lord Water, Lord Fire, and several other Gods and Goddesses. In ancient times it was a time frame about a week or so that rituals were performed. However, nowadays in this dynamic world, ceremony is condensed and generally it takes about two days according to prevailing traditions of the cultural people.

 

At the present time, this ceremony is divided into two parts like pre-nuptial ceremony and wedding ceremony.

 

Pre-Nuptial Ceremony

This includes several rituals like:

 

“Ganesh Pujan by Bride and Groom’s parents”: As a part of fulfillment of any Hindu religious ritual, Lord Ganesh is worshipped at the beginning of the ceremony, hence Ganesh Pujan is performed at Bride’s as well as Groom’s residence.

 

“Mandap Pratistha”: Green vegetation is important in the life. Lord vegetation is worshipped to bestow the married couple for availability of food and vegetation through out their lives. As a symbolic representation a branch-stick of the tree is worshipped and later on it is sowed in the soil of compound of residence. Five paternal family uncles sow a branch-stick in the compound. Maternal family uncles present “paneter” (white colored sari to wear at the time of marriage) to Bride including ornaments and costly costumes to Bride and Groom. Female members of both the families sing marriage songs to grace the occasion. This is performed at the Bride as well as Groom’s residences.

 

“Graha Shanti”: “Graha shanti’” is to worship planet deities for providing happiness in the lives of the married couple. Hindu religion believes nine planets for the said worship. A fire is lit in the fire container and “ahuti” (wood and herbs) is devoted as food to the fire for honoring the deities. Graha shanti is performed at Bride and Groom’s residences.

 

“Mehendi and Pithi”: This is the process for enhancing the beauty and the glamour to Bride and Groom. Mehendi is an herb that gives a red color on the applied surfaces. Tiny designs are applied on the palms and legs of Bride. Female family members and friends also apply mehendi on their palms. Pithi is yellow colored herb and is applied on Bride as well as Groom’s face and body. Sandal wood oil, saffron, butter cream and other herbs are added for enhancing glamour of Bride and Groom.

 

Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony is performed at Bride’s house or a place selected by Bride, generally a “mandap” (designated area in a marriage hall) on a wedding day. Major participants in the ceremony are Bride, Groom and Bride’s parents. Groom’s parents are also involved, however, for a little while only. The ceremony follows in the following sequence. 

 

“Ganesh Pujan by Bride’s parents”: Lord Ganesh is worshipped in the “mandap” by Bride’s parents for accomplishing the wedding ceremony.

 

“Pokhana”: Bride’s mother (accompanied by all the hosts) receives Groom along with his family and friends on the gate of the “mandap”. Later on, Groom along with his family and friends are offered appropriate seats, especially, Groom is offered seat in the mandap. Groom’s parents are also offered seat in the mandap for the “vagdan” ceremony.

 

“Inviting Guests”: All the guests for the wedding ceremony are formally invited and offered appropriate seats to them.

 

“Vagdan”: Vagdan ceremony is an approval of the wedding relations for the new couple by both the parents of a Bride and a Groom. In this ceremony Groom’s father declares Groom’s father’s name, grandfather’s name, and great grandfather’s name. Subsequently, Bride’s father declares Bride’s father’s name, grandfather’s name, and great grandfather’s name. Completing this ceremony, Groom’s parents are released to take their seats in the front row with the other invited guests.

 

“Invite Groom and offer Madhupark”: Bride’s father formally invites Groom to the mandap, worships Groom, washes the right thumb of the leg (this is a symbolic respect towards the guest of honor), and offers “Madhupark” (a nutritive mixture consisting of yogurt, honey, and (“Ghee”) purified butter).

 

“Manglashtak”: A curtain is placed against Groom and priest chants holy recitals (Bride’s female family members may also join for singing Manglashtak) that compare examples of the marriages of Gods and Goddesses. Priest bestows couple with blessings for the successful marriage. Mean while Bride is brought (sometimes carried on shoulders) to the mandap by Bride’s uncles (mother’s brothers).

 

“Invite Bride”: Bride’s parents formally invite Bride to the mandap and offers her a seat. Bride’s mother worships Bride and washes right thumb of the leg.

 

“Hasta-Melap”: Bride’s father declares that he willingly accepts the marriage proposal from Groom and hands over Bride’s hand to Groom’s hand with a reciprocal promise that Groom will fulfill Bride’s all responsibilities. This is an ever-best offering in the life of an individual to offer daughter’s hand in son-in-law’s hand, which is very well known as “Kanya-Daan” in Indian culture.

 

“Ganesh and Fire Pujan by Groom”: As a part of the ceremony, Groom performs Lord Ganesh and Lord Fire Pujan.

 

“Mangal-Fera”: As it is well known that the Hindu wedding is performed in the presence of Lord Fire. Bride and Groom encircle the container of Lord Fire. They encircle four rounds symbolizing the rounds for “Aarth” (earning part of life), “Kaam” (sexual part of life), “Dharma” (religious part of life), and “Moksha” (final destine of life or death). At the first three rounds, Groom leads the round. Encircling the round of Moksha Bride leads for completing the round. This is an Indian way of looking the real life situation that there is nothing more important than the life of husband and that is why Bride leads the final round of Moksha. Bride’s father offers the “Daan” (presents) like gold, silver, cow, and Kanya-Daan (his daughter) as a Daan to the son-in-law. Indian culture honors the Kanya-Daan as an auspicious event in any individual’s life.  

 

“Sapta-Padi”: These are the seven vows undertaken by Bride to Groom.

1.     Bride’s first vow explains that I will be your partner for all your sorrows and happiness of the life.

2.     Second vow refers that I will take care of you including our children and all extended family members with available resources at the home.

3.     Third vow promises that my dear, you are everything for me. I see you in the form of God. I will always use sweet voice for my conversations and have your blessings.

4.     Fourth vow mentions that I will always obey your orders.

5.     Fifth vow establishes that except my biological cycles, I will always be prepared and enjoy romance with you and will not think of anybody else in my life.

6.     Sixth vow promises that oh my dear, I will never cheat you in my real life.

7.     Finally, Bride’s seventh vow mentions that my dear, since you have promised to fulfill all my needs, I will spend my time to help you in achieving all your goals for Aarth, Kaam, and Dharma.

 

“North Star”: The North Star has unique place in the universe. Like wise Bride and Groom promises each other that they will have eternal love in their hearts like a North Star.

 

“Kansar”: Bride’s mother offers Kansar (sweetened all purpose flour is deep fried, which is known as “Sata” with an added ghee to Sata) to Bride and Groom. First, Groom four times offers Kansar to Bride and later on Bride four times offers Kansar to Groom.

 

“Sindur, Mangal-Sutra, and Ring”: Groom offers a “Sindur” (red dot in the forehead) and offers a “Mangal-Sutra” (necklace ornament) as a promise to fulfill all Bride’s needs and protection to Bride from any of the obstacles in the life. As a reciprocal promise Bride and Groom exchanges Ring at this time showing their love for each other. Audience congratulates the married couple.

 

“Saubhagya”: Saubhagya is provided to Bride for the long life of Groom by the five female members of Bride’s and Groom’s families whose husbands are alive.

 

“Blessings”: Audience bestow Blessings and good wishes to married couple for their eternal married life.

 

“Mandap Vadhamana”: Mandap is honored as a closing of the ceremony.

 

“Viddai”: This is the final event of the ceremony that is the send off event for Bride by her parents that she will leave her parents and stay with the Groom.

 

Every one wishes Congratulations and all the best wishes to the married couple…