In the Hindu culture, wedding is celebrated as just like other festivals like Diwali or Holi. According to Rig-Veda, an ancient Indian Sanskrit scripture, the Hindu marriage procedure is based on the marriage of Surya, the daughter of the Savita (Sun) to the Ashwinikumar. Also, marriage means switching to the first phase of life, i.e. Brahmcharya (Student life) to the second phase of the life, i.e. Grihsthashram (building household and family and children).
In Hindu religion, marriage is a sacred ritual with profound moral and ethical values. It consists of different religious customs which both bride and groom perform with the help of religious man called Pundit (A Brahmin who is well aware of all the rituals of the marriage). The main aim of the religious customs is to tie both bride and groom firmly and live their married life with full of love, care and respect.
In the marriage ceremony, the bride’s family is the hosts and the groom’s family and relatives are guests. Let’s discuss all the wedding rituals one by one and understand the meaning of them.
1-Jaan Agaman: Welcoming the Groom’s family
The Jaan or Baarat, the singing and dancing procession consisting groom’s family and relatives, reaches to the marriage venue, mostly banquet or marriage hall. The bride’s family welcomes them with sweets and aarati, to express their gratitude and happiness.
2-Ponkhnu: Welcoming the Groom
The bride’s mother welcomes the groom by aarati and sweets. Sometimes she stretches the nose of the groom as part of a jest. After the aarati, groom and his family are escorted to the marriage hall.
3-Ganesh Poojan:
According to the Hinduism, before starting any sacred event, prayers to Lord Ganesh is performed to bless the occasion and keep it hurdles-free. Also, a pundit performs customs to get the blessings from the ancestors of the bride and groom.
4-Kanya Aagman (Arrival of the Bride)
Now, it is the time when a priest calls the bride to come to the marriage spot called Mandap, by telling, “Kanya Padhrao Saavdhaan”. The Bride, escorted with their family comes to the Mandap.
5-Kanya Daan (Giving away the Bride)
The bride’s parents perform this ritual. Bride’s father washes the legs of the groom and with the chanting shlokas, hands over his daughter to the groom.
6-Pani Grahan
In this custom, the groom takes the right hand of the bride in his left hand and accepts her as his life partner amidst the chanting of the sacred mantras.
7-Vivah Hawan:
According to the Indian tradition, Agni Deva (God of Fire) is the holy witness of the wedding rituals to symbolize the divine present of the lord during marriage ceremony. A priest lights the sacred fire in the Mandap.
8-Mangal Phere (Circling the Sacred Fire)
In this ritual, the bride and groom walk around the sacred fire seven times and vows to stay with each other in high and low times in the life. After each round, a bride’s brother put rice and grains in the bride’s hands to promise his support in times of need. In the first three rounds, a bride leads the groom and in the next four rounds, a groom leads showing balance and completeness in the life. This ritual is performed by keeping in the mind four aspirations in the life: Dharma (fulfilling the duties to each other), Karma (For the holy deeds), Artha (Prosperity) and Moksha (Salvation).
9-Saptpadi (Taking seven divine steps together)
This ritual is the most meaningful ritual in the marriage ceremony. Here, a bride and the groom take seven sacred steps together and agree to the seven vows. The seven vows are about planning a family together, about showing respect, love and care for each other, about being together for the whole life and achieving salvation together.
10-Mangal-Sutra (the holy thread of commitment)
The groom places Mangal-Sutra on the bride’s neck and applies Sindoor (red vermillion powder considered a symbol of sacredness) on the crown of her forehead. It signifies the bride as a married woman. Afterwards, a bride and the groom, seeks blessings of parents and other elders.
11-Bidaai (Bride goes to the groom’s home)
Finally, the bride leaves for her now “new” home; to the groom’s home. She bids final goodbye to his parents and other relatives. This is a touching moment for the bride and her family and relatives and the atmosphere turns up emotional and tearful.
In India, marriage is considered a holy commitment of not only between the bride and the groom, but for the families between them. Marriage is a grand celebration and an occasion of celebration and joy.