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Hindu Marriages
Hindu marriages signify customs, rituals
and elaborate celebrations. Traditional Hindu wedding ceremonies
mostly lasts for four to five days. And the function is divided
into three parts pre wedding ceremony, main day ceremony and
post wedding ceremony. Each day has its own significance and
meaning. The pre wedding celebrations mainly includes
engagement, sangeet, mehendi, haldi and tilak. Each of the
custom has an importance. The main day function is the wedding
day and the post day rituals include vidaai and reception. These
are some of the important rituals and customs that sum up the
Indian marriage ceremony. A wedding is an important religious
ceremony in the Hindu religion and one of the most important of
the sixteen Hindu sanskars or sacraments. It is not only
establishing the bond between two people, but also the bond
between two families.
Hindu weddings usually take place at bride's place or at a
common place decided by the bride and groom's family. The
marriage ceremonies are supposed to take place at an open space
under a decorated canopy usually called mandap. The main day of
the wedding involves different traditional rituals. And each of
the rituals has its own meaning and role. One of the most
important ritual of Hindu wedding is the seven step or sapta
padi taken together by the bride and the groom while the seven
vows or promise led by a priest or Brahmin. They take the vows
before god symbolized by fire and light. These seven promises
taken together by the bride and groom build's the foundation of
their relationship and marriage. It speaks of the loyalty, love,
and commitment they will share in their married life.
Today the wedding ceremony is celebrated in an elaborate and
lavish manner. With commercialization of everything wedding too
has become a commercial affair. But still today also the actual
essence and reason behind marriage function remains intact. The
bride and the groom are dressed in traditional Indian wear.
Where the bride wears ethnic Indian sari and jewelry and the
groom wears traditional sherwani and pagri or turban on his
head. The wedding place or mandap is beautifully decorated where
family members, relatives and friends gathers to enjoy dinning
and lunch for four to five days of the wedding celebration.
People from different strata of the society celebrate according
to their status but the real significance behind the marriage
remains same in every society. And that is coming together of
two souls for eternity. This is what Hindu wedding is all about.
About tradition, culture and enjoyment. |
