THE HINDU WEDDING RITUAL. EXPLAINED!
The greatness of the diversity we celebrate about India well reflects in its festive, religious and social ceremonies. Ceremonies and celebrations show change from region to region. Wedding ceremonies for instance, within any given religion will take on different approaches, follow different customs and procedures in different parts of the country, why differ even in adjoining regions. For the same reason, a Chennai wedding will be markedly different from a Kerala wedding, a Bengali wedding, a Punjabi wedding or a Sindhi wedding, despite all of them belonging to the same Hindu religion.
Deriving from the core of the timeless rituals and customs, dating as far back as 3000 B.C., Hindu marriage rituals in each region have been adapted to suit the lifestyle of the people in the region, the sect and sub-sectthey belong to, their beliefs and, the background of the bride and the groom. The only thing that probably isn’t customised with the region is the wedding hall itself!
However they are or whatever region people may belong to, the basic steps involved in a Vedic Hindu Wedding Ritual are followed across the country, with minor modifications of course! The rituals are 14 in number. En Sesha is proud to lay them out for everyone’s broader understanding of the concept of Hindu Wedding Ceremonies.
Vara Satkaarah
Vara Satkaarah refers to the reception of the bridegroom and his family and friends at the entrance of the wedding hall. Welcoming them with holy chants by the priests and music played live on traditional instruments, the bride's mother blesses the groom with turmeric mixed rice, holy flowers, holy water and applies a tilak of vermilion and turmeric/sandalwood paste on his forehead.Madhuparka
The bridegroom is walked to the alter ceremoniously, and received on the mandap by the bride’s father. Vivah-Homam
The sacred fire or homam that precedes all auspicious endeavours is started, which creates an atmosphere of purity and spirituality. The significance of starting a homam with fire is that fire is one of the panchaboothas with the unique ability to retain and transmit divine energy. It is believed that the Homam will to invoke the Gods, deriving their grace and blessings as the Vedic chantings proceed. Kanya Dan
The bride is brought in to join the groom on the mandap/stage amidst the chanting of sacred mantras. The bride’s father ceremoniously gives her away to the groom.Pani-Grahan
Pani-Grahan signifies that moment or act of the groom taking the right hand of the bride in his left hand, accepting her as his wife.Pratigna-Karan
With the bride leading, the couple walk around the fire, taking solemn vows of loyalty to each other, promising love and life-long fidelity to each other.Shila Arohan
In an act of preparing the bride for the new life ahead, the bride’s mother helps the bride to step onto a stone slab and give her a few words of advice. Laja-Homah
The bride is required to offer rice as oblation into the sacred fire, while keeping her hands over those of her groom. Mangalya-dhaaranam
The groom adorns his bride’s neck with the Mangalsutra or the sacred thread, legally pronouncing himself as her husband. The groom proceeds to apply vermillion/kumkum on bride’s forehead bestowing her with the Soubhagyavati status. The bride in turn applies sandalwood tilak on the groom’s forehead declaring him as a Grahastha.Parikrama/Pradakshina
The bride and groom circle the sacred fire of the homam built for the ceremony seven times. This is considered as a step that binds them together as man and wife according to both the Hindu dharma and the Hindu Marriage Act as well. Saptapadi
A knot is made of the ends of the bride’s and groom’s garments. Thus brought together, the couple then take seven steps representing nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, long life, and, harmony and understanding.Abhishek
Abhishek signifies sprinkling of holy water, meditating on the sun and the pole star for their prosperity, happiness and, progeny.Anna Praashan
With Anna Praashan, the couple offers food into the holy fire and feed a morsel of food to each other in an expression of mutual love and affection. Aashirvadah
With the wedding ceremony completed, the couple seek the blessings of all the elders present in the wedding hall with them and their forefathers too.
