Indian Wedding Rituals: A Brief Overview of Marriage

India is a wonderful country with countless rituals and traditions and Indian weddings are no exception. There are a number of Indian wedding rituals and traditions to solemnize the sacred bonds of marriage. Indian weddings are amazing occasions to eat, party and have fun.

India is a large country with diverse cultures and castes. Indian wedding rituals continue to vary depending on the caste, community and location of the bride and groom. For example, you may notice an obvious difference between Hindu weddings, Christian weddings, and Muslim weddings. Whatever the tradition, the basic motto for wishing couples a happy married life remains the same.

Indian wedding rituals have been inherited from the previous generations over a long period of time and are still considered sacred. In due time, these traditions have had some modern influence, but the basic principles remain intact. For a better understanding of the wedding rituals in India, we have to go through some of the customs.

building pandal:
Pandals are small open rooms made of cardboard, bamboo canes and bright cloth wrappers. The pandal is further adorned with flowers, lights, and other accessories.

inviting deity:
The couple and their families invite the deity for a smooth and trouble-free marriage. The bride undergoes a beauty treatment by applying a paste of turmeric and sandalwood to her skin.

chanting of mantras:
With the chanting of Vedic mantras, the week-long wedding proceedings begin in full swing. The couple and their relatives pray to God for a peaceful life after marriage. The prayers also include a wish for the children and their well-being.

Pani-Grahana, Asmarohana and Lajahoma:

In the Pani-Grahana ceremony, the groom holds the bride’s hands as his hand for life. In Asmarahona, the groom invokes the firmness of his wife. In the Lajahoma ceremony, the groom pours rice into the hands of the bride and together they offer the rice to the holy god of fire.

Agnipradikshana:
In this ritual, the couple takes a round of the sacred fire, asking Lord Agni for permission for the union. After that, they give the seven rounds around the sacred fire.

mangal sutra:
It is one of the important rituals of the Indian wedding in which the groom ties the sacred thread around the neck of the bride. She wears it throughout her life. Sometimes this thread is embellished with gold and diamonds.

griha pravesham:
It is the ceremony in which the bride enters her new home to start a new life. The groom’s family receives the bride ceremoniously.

Indian wedding traditions are considered sacred affairs and are willingly followed by couples with great respect.