{"id":18212,"date":"2017-06-14T15:14:04","date_gmt":"2017-06-14T20:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=18212"},"modified":"2023-10-30T16:25:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T21:25:08","slug":"planning-a-traditional-indian-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/planning-a-traditional-indian-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a Traditional Indian Wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated on October 30, 2023<\/p>
\n

Planning a traditional Indian wedding is no easy feat! While it’s a beautiful event filled with many meaningful rituals, there is a lot to do. Many Hindu weddings last 4 to 5 days, depending on what customs are included. For a step-by-step guide, keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pre-Wedding Traditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before a traditional Indian wedding can begin, the wedding date, or muhurta<\/em>, must be chosen. This is usually done with the help of a priest who analyzes the bride and groom’s horoscopes to determine the best day and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Day Before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The day before the wedding, the rituals begin. The bride participates in the Mehendi<\/em> ceremony<\/em>, where the fronts and backs of her hands, forearms, feet, and lower legs are covered in henna. She won’t leave the house after the Mehendi is applied. Professional henna artists<\/a> who keep up with current trends are often in high demand for these occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other women in the bridal party and close female relatives also receive Mehendi, but the designs are less elaborate. The groom will be in a separate place with the male family members, where he may also put a few dots of henna on his hands. He will also receive oil in his hair as part of the groom’s tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Traditional<\/a>
Find professional henna artists on GigSalad.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Night Before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Later that evening, the Sangeet<\/em> is held. All the wedding guests are invited, and the celebration includes food, mingling, dances, and the introduction of the two families (although they’ve usually already met by then).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Wedding Day Ceremony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The big day has arrived! Traditional Indian weddings include very specific traditions, including prayers and rituals, which can lead to a 2-3 hour marriage ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Ceremony Begins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the wedding venue, the wedding begins with the Ganesh Puja<\/em>. This puja, or ceremony, is performed by the priest to invoke the Hindu elephant god, Lord Ganesh, to bring good luck to the married couple and their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony involves the bride and groom’s parents at the mandap<\/em>, which is a four-post canopy. Next, the Graha Shanti <\/em>is completed by the parents. It’s a prayer to the nine planets to bless the bride and groom with courage, peace of mind, and inner strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
The mandap, where the ceremony takes place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Groom’s Entrance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now the ceremony begins with the baraat, <\/em>or the groom’s grand entrance. It customarily takes place on a decorated horse, accompanied by the groom’s family members. However, some people opt to arrive in a limo or other luxury vehicle. If a horse is ridden, it’s normally from the groom’s house to the venue. It can become an impressive procession, with a band and dancers, though the groom will not take part in the fanfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"traditional
The groom’s entrance, or baraat, on a decorated horse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Once the groom arrives, he’s met by the bride’s parents. They apply tikkas<\/em>, or forehead marks, to the groom and his family. The bride’s mother will then perform an Aarti<\/em> over them all. This ceremony consists of lighting a candle that is passed around, accompanied by the Aarti song. It symbolizes wind, fire, water, earth, and space. The groom and his family are then welcomed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"traditional<\/a>
Photo credit, ShaadiShop.co.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Bride’s Entrance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the wedding morning, the priest will be reciting Sanskrit verses called slokas<\/em>. Their purpose is to bring positive energy into the ceremonial space. Once he announces “Kanya padhravo savdhan”<\/em> (which means “Please bring the bride”), the bride will enter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional Indian weddings include a bride wearing a red sari, and no other guest should be wearing that color. She is usually accompanied by her maternal uncles and whoever else she chooses to be a part of her entrance. Some variations have someone holding a white cloth in front of the groom so he can’t see her as she enters. She then joins the groom under the mandap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ceremonial Rituals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once the bride and groom are united, there are a series of traditional customs they take part in. This includes gift exchanges, symbolic rituals, and prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Exchange Gifts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Under the mandap, the bride and groom exchange flower garlands in a ceremony called the Jaimala<\/em>. They will also exchange vows if they have written them. Next, the groom is given a mixture of yogurt and honey by the bride’s father as a symbol of welcome and respect. Then gifts are exchanged between the bride and groom’s families in a ceremony called the Gau Daan<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kanyadaan<\/em> comes next, where the bride’s mother gives the bride a long necklace made of gold and black beads called a mangalsutra<\/em>. Finally, the father of the bride places the bride’s hand into the groom’s, stating he accepts the groom and wishes for the groom’s family to accept the bride. This shows acceptance of the new couple by both sets of parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"traditional
The Jaimala ceremony at a traditional Indian wedding.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Light the Sacred Fire<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After the Kanyadaan<\/em> is complete, the Vivaah Homa<\/em> begins. A sacred fire is lit, and the couple praises Agni Devta<\/em>, the Lord of Fire. This ritual is completed with the hopes of bringing Vishnu<\/em> (one of the principal deities in Hindu) into the ceremony. The priest throws a mixture of crushed sandalwood, ghee, and herbs into the fire and recites Verdic prayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remainder of the wedding is performed around this fire. “Id na mama<\/em>” is repeated, which means “it is not for me.” This phrase symbolizes the selflessness of marriage. The bride and groom also repeat a sacred pledge to request that Lord Agni send messages to other gods: Santati<\/em> for healthy children, Sampatti<\/em> for wealth and prosperity, and Deergharogya<\/em> for long and healthy lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"traditional
The Vivaah Homa ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The priest continues to pray, and the bride and groom repeat after him, with promises to be humble and faithful, both to God and each other. The groom will then take the bride’s hand to take her as his wife. The Rajaham<\/em> ritual is next; the bride’s brother (or another male family member) will pour rice into their open hands, which they offer into the fire. The bride and groom will then tie their scarves together, symbolizing their eternal bond during the Gath Bandhan<\/em> ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Walk Around the Fire<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

During the Mangalphera<\/em> (the Walk Around the Fire), the couple walks around the fire four times in a clockwise direction. The four circles represent the four goals in life: Dharma<\/em>, religious and moral duties; Artha<\/em>, prosperity; Kama<\/em>, earthly pleasures; Moksha<\/em>, spiritual salvation and liberation. The bride goes first to symbolize her determination to stand beside her husband through happy and sad times. Next, the couple takes seven steps together in the Saptapardi<\/em> ceremony. Each step represents a marital vow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n