The rituals of A hindu WEDDING ceremony
Hindu Wedding Ceremony Rituals
Hindu weddings are some of the most beautiful and auspicious celebrations in Indian culture. Not only are Hindu wedding ceremonies rich in history, philosophy, and culture, but the variety of food, colours, lights, music, and traditions make the occasion one you'll remember for decades.
Hindu weddings aren't just special days for two people to become partners. They are an assemblage of various events that connect two families as one. If you are not accustomed to Hindu weddings or festivals, all of this may sound intriguing yet confusing simultaneously. To clear all confusion, this article will discuss the basics of Hindu weddings and why they are so special.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT HINDU WEDDINGS
There is a lot to love about Hindu weddings. In modern times many of us associate attending weddings with an obligation to keep up appearances. Hindu wedding ceremonies help people break away from such a bleak mindset by highlighting the importance of celebration. From the well-seasoned food to the upbeat music, everything in a Hindu wedding embodies the concept of joy.
Hindu weddings don't have time for awkward conversations or backhanded compliments from people you haven't seen in years. This idea of being happy, loud, and celebratory to your heart's content is what makes Hindu weddings so unique. Furthermore, the pre-wedding events and games keep guests in high spirits all week.
HOW HINDU WEDDINGS STRENGTHEN BONDS
Hindu wedding ceremonies aren't just about two people declaring their love to the world. It is about a couple entrusting each other with loyalty and responsibility and acknowledging each other as family. To do this there are various rituals the couple embark on in the week of their wedding.
ENGAGEMENT
The engagement is one of the first pre-wedding ceremonies to take place. Engagements we see in typical Rom-com movies show the couple celebrating by themselves. However, the engagements in Hindu weddings are celebrated with the entire family.
The engagement ceremony is an intimate ceremony before the wedding. Hindu weddings usually have many guests. However, the engagement is only for the close relatives of the couple. In the ceremony, the couple exchange rings, and the two families begin bonding and getting to know each other.
MEHENDI
A Mehendi ceremony is an event only for women and children. This ceremony is organized by the bride’s family. However, women from the groom’s family attend as guests. This event allows older women to pass on their wisdom to the bride in preparation for her marriage.
The main theme of the event is applying henna on the bride’s hands and feet. It is believed that if the darker the bride's henna, the stronger the groom's love for the bride. Many brides also get the groom's name written in the henna design. Later, a game is played during the wedding where the groom must find his name in the bride's henna design.
SANGEET
The sangeet is a musical ceremony that helps the families of the bride and groom bond. The ceremony is often organized in the form of a singing and dancing competition. Here the couple’s friends and family put on performances to entertain the bride and groom.
The competitive element of the ceremony is carried out by putting the bride's side and the groom's side against one another. Both sides put on their singing or dancing performances. Though this is a competition, in the end, both sides laugh and argue about who won the competition.
HALDI
The Haldi is a pre-wedding ceremony organized by both families. However, the ceremony is held separately for the groom and the bride. This ceremony involves elders of the family applying turmeric paste on the bride and groom's faces and bodies.
Applying turmeric makes the bride and groom look bright and vibrant during the wedding. Furthermore, holy water is also sprayed on the couple by the elders of the family. This is a way for elder members of the family to congratulate and bless the couple on their marriage.
WEDDING (MANDAP)
Even with the pre-wedding rituals, various other wedding rituals are during the wedding. A mandap is a special place with a fire and other holy objects. A priest sits at the mandap with the bride and groom to carry out the wedding rituals.
These wedding rituals involve praying in front of the fire, exchanging necklaces, sprinkling holy water, and more. The most memorable wedding ritual is the "saat pheere," where the couple must walk around the mandap seven times. Each turn signifies a different promise made between the couple. After all other rituals are complete, the groom applies sindoor on the bride’s head.
POPULAR HINDU WEDDING TRADITIONS
Aside from the important religious rituals, you will also see many fun games and traditions for Hindu weddings. Here are some customs and games you might see at a Hindu wedding ceremony.
● Stealing The Groom’s Shoes: In this tradition, the bride's family and groom's family compete to take the groom's shoes. If the bride's family manages to steal the shoes, the groom must pay them money to get them back. However, this game isn’t competitive and it is custom to let the bride’s family win.
● Finding Rings In A Pot: In this game, a ring is dropped in a bowl of milk. The bride and groom must compete to get the ring out of the bowl. Whoever gets the ring first is declared the leader of the marriage. However, the game isn’t serious. Most times the groom lets the bride win or declares his bride as the real winner.
● Not Letting The Groom Pass: This is another fun game between the bride and groom's family. The bride's family blocks the door to the couple's suite. The bride and groom's family have some playful banter about letting them pass. However, in the end, the groom has to pay the bride's family to go in and see his bride.
CONCLUSION
Hindu weddings are all about celebrating love, friends, and family. I hope this article helped you learn more about Hindu wedding rituals and traditions. Now that you know the significance of Hindu weddings, I'm sure you'll have a greater appreciation for all the beautiful things Hindu wedding ceremonies stand for.
Hindu Wedding Photography
Hindu weddings are some of the most colourful and interesting events in Indian culture. The rituals surrounding them, such as marriage ceremonies for couples from different families or castes (or any other divisions), can be quite sacred - which is why it's important that you have a photographer who understands what they mean! When we photograph these Weddings our goal isn't just documenting an event; instead, we aim to capture every detail so your family will always remember how special this day was supposed to feel. This includes documented footage during all stages-from pre-nuptials through post-wedding celebrations with guests packed tightly around the first dance floor.
So if you are looking for a Hindu wedding photographer we cover some of the most prestigious locations in Birmingham, Leicester or London including all of the UK such as Rushton Hall, Oshwal Centre, Natural History Museum, Grovesnor House, Syon House, Moor Park - Watford & Fairmont Hotel Windsor.