The Hindu wedding rituals may vary
depending on which part of India the bride and the groom are from.
Notwithstanding regional variations and diversity of languages, culture, and
customs, the basic tenets of a Hindu marriage are common throughout the Indian
subcontinent. A Hindu marriage is called Vivah and the wedding ceremony is
called Vivaha samskar. In Hinduism a marriage is considered a samskara
(sacrament) because in Vedic tradition it is an important turning point in the
life of a householder and in the destiny of the souls that depend upon the
marriage for their return to the earth.
Hindu marriage ceremonies are colorful,
and the celebration may extend for days depending upon the social and economic
status of the bride and the bridegroom. The rituals associated with Hindu marriages
vary from caste to caste. However, there are a few rituals that are common to
most marriages.
The Hindu marriage rituals can be broadly
classified into pre marriage rituals, marriage rituals and post marriage
rituals. Pre marriage rituals include a formal get together of both families,
usually at the bride's place, to facilitate a meeting between the bride and the
groom. Once they give their mutual consent, parents proceed with other
arrangement such as fixing the marriage date, writing a formal declaration of
marriage called the lagna patrika, choosing the marriage hall, finalizing the
guest lists, printing the invitation cards, exchanging gifts, and reaching a
formal agreement about dowry and duties and responsibilities of both sides
during the marriage function, etc.
The common marriage rituals include
inviting the bridegroom to the marriage place called mandap, giving away the
daughter as a gift to the groom called kanyadan, tying a knot called
maanglsutra, holding the bride's hands and accepting her called panigrahan, and
walking seven steps together around the fire altar called saptapadi. All the
rituals are performed by a Vedic priest accompanied by appropriate Vedic
chants. The marriage is performed in the presence of gods as the witnesses. As
in other Vedic sacrifices, Agni, the fire God acts as the primary recipient of
the offerings that are made to gods in the marriage. The bride is also one of
the offerings. The Chants which are used in the marriage ceremony are mainly in
Sanskrit. But, the priests also use native languages while giving instructions
to the groom and the bride during the ceremony to help them perform the
rituals, take the oaths or chant the mantras.
Common post-wedding ceremonies include,
arranging some traditional games between the bride and the groom to increase
their playfulness, watching the star Arundhati, sharing a meal, receiving
blessings from the elders, family photographs, and driving the bride from the
marriage hall to where the groom and his family stay or live. At the main
entrance to the groom's house, the newly married couple are welcomed with
traditional aarati. The bride kicks a vessel of food grains that are kept at
the entrance of the house, before stepping inside first with her right foot and
next with the left foot since right foot is considered auspicious. The event
marks the beginning of the householder's life for the couple.
Marriages, according to Hindu beliefs are
made in heaven, and once you are married, the bond is supposed to last for
seven lifetimes. It is considered to be a turning point in an individual’s life
as he enters the second important phase or ashram of his life – the
‘Garhasthyaashram’. The Hindu wedding ceremony can stretch to any length of
time. For
a religion as ancient and rich as Hinduism, its customs are as countless as
they are timeless. Every single custom and practice in a wedding ceremony has
deep philosophical and spiritual significance. Throughout the world the Hindus
adhere to these set of rituals and continue on the traditions of marriage that
is unique amongst those in the world.
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