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Hindu Wedding Ceremony
Ganthibandhan (Tying the Knot)
The priest ties the wedding knot as a symbol of the permanent union
between the bride and groom as husband and wife.
Vaivahik or Agni Puja (Lighting of a Ceremonial Fire(Agni) in the
Mandap)
Evocation of the holy fire in the mandap takes place where the priest
sets up a small fire in a Kund (cooper bowl). In Vedic texts, Agni
(fire) is the mouth of Vishnu and symbolises the illumination of mind,
knowledge and happiness. The remainder of the ceremony is conducted
around the fire.
Shilarohana (Stepping on the Stone)
The brothers of the bride assist her in putting her right foot on a slab
of stone placed nearby. The groom says: "tread on this stone and be firm
like a rock (as you have vowed), overcome the enemies and trample down
the foes." With her strength, they will face life's difficulties
together.
Laja homa (Putting Parched Rice into the Sacred Fire)
Three obligations are offered to the sacred fire. The brother of the
bride puts into the bride's hand parched rice, half of which slips into
the bridegroom's hand. Mantras are chanted. The bride prays to Yama, the
God of Death, that he grants long life, health, happiness and prosperity
to the bridegroom.
Mangal-Phere (Walking around the Fire)
Ghee, flowers and husked rice are thrown into the agni, inviting the God
of fire to bless the couple. The couple then circles the agni four
times. Each time they stop to touch with their toe a stone in their
path. This symbolises obstacles in life that they will overcome
together. Three times the groom leads and the fourth, the bride goes
first. These four rounds stand for the four basic human goals: in dharma
(duty, religion), artha (wealth) and kama (deeds), the groom will lead
the bride and in moksha (salvation) he will follow her. After the
rounds, the couple is seated with the bride on the left. Just as the
heart is on the left side of the body, she will be the compassionate one
of the couple.
Saptapadi (Seven Steps)
The bride and groom take seven steps together around the fire. It is
said in Hindu philosophy that if two people walk seven steps together
then they will remain lifelong friends. They exchange sacred vows at the
beginning of each encircling walk. At the end of each walk, the open
palms of the bride are filled with puffed rice by her brother signifying
wealth and prosperity.
This ceremony binds the couple together with oaths taken in the presence
of their friends and relatives. The pundit chants the seven oaths and
the couple repeats them. The seven oaths, and steps, are:
1. Let us take the first step to provide for our household, keeping a
pure diet and avoiding those things that might harm us.
2. Let us take the second step to develop our physical, mental and
spiritual powers.
3. Let us take our third step to increase our wealth by righteous and
proper means.
4. Let us take out fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness and
harmony by mutual love, respect and trust.
5. Let us take the fifth step so that we may be blessed with strong,
virtuous and heroic children.
6. Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
7. Let us take the seventh step to be true companions and remain
life-long partners by this wedlock.
Pradakshina
Sapta-Padi may be followed or preceded by Pradakshina. The bride and
groom together circle the agni three more times offering the following
prayer: 'All things that we ought not to have done, all things that we
have not done that we ought to have done, may the Lord forgive us.' The
bride then comes to the groom's left side, leaving his right side free
to take on the world.
Saubhagya Chinha (Blessing the Bride)
The bridegroom blesses the bride by putting Kumkum or Sindoor (Vermilion
Powder) at the parting of her hair (or on her forehead) and by giving
her a sacred necklace (Mangal Sutra). The Mangal Sutra represents the
couple's togetherness, love and sacred union.
Haridaya-Sparsha (Touching of Hearts)
The bride and bridegroom touch each other's heart reciting promises to
each other. The pandit closes the wedding ceremony with his blessing,
the Aashirwaad, and the marriage is complete. The bride is then sent off
with her husband, a ritual known as Kanya Vidaai. As she leaves, the
bride's brother puts a shawl on her shoulders with a blessing for
happiness.
Chathurthi Karma
The bride and groom feed each other four times for nourishment of the
bone, muscle, skin and soul.
Aashirwaad (Blessings)
The priest blesses the bride and groom. Flower petals and rice are given
to the guests to shower them on the bride and groom with blessings. The
wedding guests can then give their individual blessings to the bride and
groom and once completed, the marriage ceremony ends.
Post-Wedding Rituals
Vidaai (Bride's Departure)
The farewell to the bride by her family and friends is a very emotional
episode. The bride is leaving her parents home to build a life with her
husband and his family. She leaves with tears of joy and sorrow.
Datar
The newly married couple participates in one more ceremony called Datar
(the salt ceremony). After the wedding reception, the couple goes to the
groom's house. The bride will cover her head and sprinkle milk in every
corner of the house. This symbolises that she will have the respect of
her new family and that if problems arise, it will be her responsibility
to help solve them. Surrounded by her husband's family, she then picks
up a handful of salt, passing it to her husband, who then passes the
salt back to her. This is repeated two more times and then the new bride
performs the same salt-passing ritual with every member of her new
husband's family. The passing of salt carries a profound analogy: just
as salt blends in and adds taste to any dish, the new bride will be
expected to blend in with her new family.
Pilucinchuanu
Before the wedding car departs, the priest will place a coconut under
the front wheel of the car and wait for it to be broken by the weight of
the car. The historic significance of this is that in the old days the
couple would use a horse drawn carriage and the breaking of the coconut
ensured that the vehicle was roadworthy for the journey.
Reception
Usually, the groom's family holds a reception. This usually takes place
following the wedding or day after the wedding.
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