An Indian Hindu wedding is strictly observed according to the ancient cultural norms laid down in the Vedas. In the Indian society a wedding is not just the coming together of two people rather two souls. In fact, a wedding also brings two families closer, which thereafter share a bond of respect and affection. As a result, there are a number of traditions and customs associated with the Indian Hindu wedding ceremony. These traditions are the essence of the marital institution, thereby strengthening the significance, chastity and faith in the same. The spiritual significance of five common and most important rituals is mentioned below:
Kanyadaan
As per tradition, groom is considered a form of Lord Vishnu and presenting him gifts is deemed as the greatest honor for the parents of the bride. As a result, they offer their daughter to the groom, who is their most cherished gift. As a symbol of acceptance, the groom touches the right shoulder of the bride, promising to take care of her and holding her responsibility.
Mangalsutra
The word mangalsutra can be deciphered as ‘sacred thread or cord’; as ‘mangal’ means auspicious and ‘sutra’ means thread or cord. Though in appearance it looks like a jewelry item, it is definitely much more than that.It depicts the union of the husband and the wife and protects them from evil.A mangalsutra is tied around the neck of the bride by the groom during the wedding rituals. It is a symbol of marriage and is worn by the bride until her husband’s death.
Seven Vows
The seven vows or pheras can be said to contain the crux of the practice of marriage. This is attributed to the fact that love marriages performed in temple, marking the holy priest and the almighty as the only witness, only consist of seven vows or pheras. These seven vows are the seven promises which the bride and the groom do to each other for a happy and prosperous life. They are bound together by an unseen bond protected by these promising words. These seven vows are known as Saptadi, which are performed along with Mangalpheras, which is revolving around the sacred fire.
Solah Shringar
Solah shringar are the sixteen adornments, which aim at making the bride look beautiful from head to toe. In fact the process itself pays attention on all her body parts, embellishing them stunningly. Thus, all the brides go through this complete makeover for that special day. Moreover, it is considered that a girl starts her new life after marriage, so she should feel good about herself. This is why solah shringar is a mandatory practice for all the to-be brides.
Wedding Barat
Barat is one of the most fun filled traditions in the entire wedding ceremony. It is basically the procession, which proceeds from the house of the groom, towards the wedding venue. The procession is attended by the all the relatives and friends from the groom’s side.
With all the blessings showered from the Gods above (for marriages are made in heaven !), all the relatives and the elders wish the newly wedded couple a happy married life. And such an eventful journey has to start by celebrating with dance and music! And this is where we come into the picture, with our wedding choreography plan. We train the bride, groom and guests and set the mood for an enjoyable Sangeet Sandhya, so that it remains an unforgettable memory for every person across all age groups.
