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Wedding Dress

2011-08-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

What Style Wedding Dress Will Be the Most Flattering for Your Figure? By Dora Chupp

Choosing a wedding dress can be a heady experience and often an emotional one. We look at magazines and wedding websites. We dream and discuss our ideas with our families and friends. We can so easily ride those waves of emotion. When we see those beautiful gowns of satin, ruffles, embroidery and lace, we can so easily make a quick or impulsive decision and end up with a beautiful dress that is just not quite right for us. We end up having to have expensive alterations done or exchanging it altogether.

How can you choose the perfect style wedding dress that accentuates the positive qualities of your figure and hides those areas that you don't want to draw attention to?

Red Color Wedding Dress

t really helps to have a picture in your mind and a list in your hands, of what body type and shape you have. Once you know the best style choices for your figure, then the real fun starts. You are going to look absolutely stunning because your wedding dress is going to reflect and celebrate you, as a beautiful bride, looking your best.

Let's start with taking an honest look in the mirror. Few people have a perfect figure. We all have something that we would change if we could, so be honest about what you see. Make notes of what you see. List your size, weight, shape, your best and least favorite feature. You want to choose a style that shows off your best features and hides what you don't want to draw attention to. If you have large or wide hips you probably don't want to highlight them. If you have a tiny waist then you want to define it. If you are petite, you will want a style that will make you appear taller. No matter what your body type or shape might be, full figure, curvy, or a pear or triangle shape, there is a style that will be just right for you. Ask a friend or family member to help you identify the positives and negatives of your body type and figure and then choose a style of wedding dress that will work best for you.

The most common styles of wedding dresses and some pros and cans are;

Ball gowns, think of Cinderella, these gowns have a fitted bodice, defined waist and often a full skirt. This is a great style for thin, tall figures, slight pear shapes, small hourglass shapes or if you have a large bust. Avoid this style if you have large hips, are short, have a heavy pear or large hourglass shape.

A-line, think of draping naturally all the way down to the hem with the skirt looking like an A shape. This is a simple style that has vertical seams flowing from the shoulders on down. This style will work for almost everyone. It is great for short waists, full figures, large waistlines and generally has a slimming effect.

Princess, this style usually does not have seams at the waist. The skirt will typically have at least three vertical panels. This is another great choice for most body types, it will make almost everyone look taller and slimmer.

Empire Cut, this style typically is straighter than the A line although not body fitting, with a raised waistline starting right below the bust that will flow all the way to the hem. Most body types will be able to wear this style. It is a good choice for brides with smaller busts, because it tends to draw attention to the neckline and face. It will make you appear taller.

Sheath or column style, this style is meant to follow the natural curves of your body. It is very flattering if you are slender. However, avoid this style if you have a problem area that you don't want emphasized.

Mermaid or Trumpet style, this type of gown will emphasize your curves and hips, drawing attention to the back of the dress and will usually have a lot of draping from the knees on down. This looks great on hourglass figures but avoid this style if you have a protruding tummy or big hips.

Choosing the shape and style of your wedding dress does not have to be complicated. Taking the time to determine what will look best on your figure and understanding the styles of wedding dresses available, will make finding that perfect-for-you wedding dress easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Dora Chupp is a free lance wedding florist, volunteer counselor and aspiring affiliate marketer. She lives in the heart of Ohio's Amish country, enjoys her family, friends, great books, good coffee, cooking, long walks and sewing. Yes, I have sewn modest wedding dresses in the past. You can find out more at http://www.modestweddingdresses-4u.com

Kannada Pre Wedding Rituals

2011-07-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Well if you thought is Indian wedding is only a single day affair, you are definitely in for a surprise. Traditionally, wedding celebrations in India extend almost a week long and incorporates pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. In Karnataka, wherein Kannada wedding is practiced, marriage is a lengthy affair and constitutes of many rituals that are practiced before the actual D-Day. After the fixing of the union, the horoscopes of bride and the groom are matched and a date for the engagement party is set. Nischay Tamulam, Naandi custom, Kaashi Yatre tradition and Dev Karya ceremony are some of the ceremonies that take place as the pre wedding rituals. To get details about each of the pre-wedding Kannada rituals, browse through the following lines.

Kannada Pre Wedding Customs

Nischay Tamulam or Fixing of the Alliance
In the betrothal ceremony, the parents of both the bride and the groom agree for the marriage of their children. While the groom's family, present the bride with a sari, blouse piece, coconut and fruits, the bride's family gift the groom a dhoti, coconut and many fruits. As this ritual of exchange of gift takes place, the priest recites mantras.

Naandi Custom
Naandi custom is performed by both the groom as well as bride's family in their respective homes. This is done to ensure that the marriage takes place smoothly.

Kaashi Yatre Tradition
As a part of Kaashi Yatre tradition, the bridegroom pretends that he is very angry and leaving for Kashi yatra because nobody is making an effort to find a suitable bride for him. He makes an announcement of his Brahmacharya. He stops only when his maternal uncle persuades him by showing him the girl that he has chosen for him. Or else he makes an offer of marrying his own daughter to him.

Dev Karya Ceremony
Traditionally, this ceremony is performed on the day of the arrival of the groom's family to the girl's village. All the items of marriage are placed in front of the idol of Lord Ganesha, to seek his divine blessings. Thereafter, turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom, to lend glow to their skin. This takes place in their respective houses.

Kannada Wedding Ceremony

2011-07-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Unlike the other parts of India, wedding in Karnataka is not a glittering or resplendent affair. It, instead, is a simple affair that mostly is concerned with the practice of rituals and traditions. Kannada wedding is the marriage of kannadigas, as the people of Karnataka call themselves, and is based on their regional cultures and traditions. Though the ritual detailed in this section is that of a typical Kannada wedding, one should remember that there are different social communities in Karnataka and that the wedding rituals followed by each of them may vary a little.

Kannada wedding ceremony is full of fun and frolic. Though simple and least colorful, it is based on culture and faith on God. One of the most prominent features about the Kannada wedding is the practice of numerous rituals performed pre, per and post wedding day. Much before the wedding ceremony is due to take place; all the members in the family are engaged in preparations and organizations that are quintessential. The rituals practiced are simple and allow the families to have a good time together. If you are looking for detailed information about the Kannada matrimonial customs and traditions, look no further as given below are the traditional Kannada marriage rituals.

Kannada Pre Wedding Rituals
Well if you thought is Indian wedding is only a single day affair, you are definitely in for a surprise. Traditionally, wedding celebrations in India extend almost a week long and incorporates pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. In Karnataka, wherein Kannada wedding is practiced, marriage is a lengthy affair and constitutes of many rituals that are practiced before the actual D-Day.

Kannada Wedding Rituals
Wedding is one of the most blissful celebrations in one's life. In India, there is no specific wedding rituals and tradition. Different parts of the country celebrate differently. The Kannada wedding, that takes place in Karnataka, is marked by a number of unique rituals, which are practiced before, on and after the wedding day. Kannada wedding, unlike the resplendent marriage which takes place in other parts of India, is a simple affair.

Kannada Post Wedding Rituals
Wedding not just about the actual ceremony, but comprises of rituals and traditions that are practiced before and after the wedding. While mostly the days before the actual day is spent preparing and organizing for the day, post wedding rituals are far more relaxed and are mostly involved with welcoming the new bride.

Assamese Wedding Rituals

2010-11-09T15:06:00.001-08:00

Although different regions of India have varied rituals for wedding, the same thought of prosperity and goodwill of the newly wedded couple reflects in every part of the country. In the eastern state of Assam, the wedding ritual is in total contrast with that seen down south or at the western extreme of the subcontinent. The Assamese have a different perception about wedding, wherein the reception party can be held prior to the ceremony as well. Moreover, the rituals performed to honor the newly married couple are different and only one of its kind. Check out some interesting information about the Assamese wedding rituals, in the article.

Assamese Wedding Customs

Daiyan Diya

Daiyan diya is a traditional Assamese ceremony observed in the morning of the wedding. According to the tradition, curd is sent to the bride's house from the groom's place. The bride eats half of the curd and returns the rest to the groom's house. Thereafter, the bride and the groom are given a ceremonial bath.

Ceremonial Bath

The wedding day commences with the performance of the bathing custom. The bride and groom's mother visit the nearby river or lake with a pot and fetch holy water. The bride and the groom are bathed with the holy water, at their respective homes.

Arrival Of The Groom

The arrival of the groom calls for fun activities. According to the Assamese tradition, the bridegroom's marriage procession is not given entry into the bride's home, until they pay a heavy price, which adds to the fun element of the wedding ceremony.

Wedding Ceremony

The bride's mother welcomes her future son-in-law. In the mean time, the bride's younger sister washes the groom's feet, for which she is rewarded with a gift (mostly cash). Thereafter, the bride's brother lifts the groom and takes him to the wedding hall. On the other hand, the bride enters the wedding hall (or mandap) on the shoulder of her maternal uncle.

The bride and the groom sit at the mandap, facing the sacred fire. The couple then exchanges garlands and takes vows, amidst the chanting of mantras. Conch shells are blown to mark the tying of the wedding knot. The groom applies sindoor (holy vermilion) on his wife's hair partition. Thereafter, the friends and relatives come forward to bless the newly weds. The newly married couple then goes to the groom's house, where they are given a warm welcome. The bridegroom's mother performs the traditional aarti, to welcome her son and daughter-in-law.

Wedding Reception

The timings for the reception party are flexible in the Assamese community. According to their tradition, the reception can be held even before the wedding ceremony. During the party, lip smacking dishes are served to the guests. Fish and meat take prominent place in the menu for the wedding reception party.

Assamese Pre-Wedding Rituals

2010-07-20T12:26:00.001-07:00

Wedding is a prominent celebration in India. The rituals followed before, during and after the marriage vary largely, depending upon the region, where the ceremony is held. As far as the Assamese wedding is concerned, the rituals performed right from the preparations to the culmination of the occasion, are unique in their own terms. The groom's mother plays a prominent role during the pre-marriage ceremonies of an Assamese wedding. The custom of applying sindoor (vermilion) on the hair partition of the bride before the marriage is very typical to the Assamese culture. Explore the article to get more information about the Assamese pre-wedding rituals.

Assamese Pre-Wedding Customs

Juran Diya
The Juran ceremony takes place two days prior to the Assamese wedding. This function is a ladies-only affair, wherein the groom's mother, along with some close relatives, visits the bride's house. The bride's mother greets them and gives them a warm welcome with the xhorai, a brass plate, in which betel nuts and betel leaves are neatly arranged and covered with a gamocha.

Tel Diya
Tel Diya is the main custom followed by the Assamese, prior to the wedding. In this ritual, the groom's mother puts a ring and betel on the bride's hair partition. In addition, she pours oil that she has brought along, thrice on the betel. Thereafter, she applies sindoor on the bride's hair partition and presents her wedding trousseau. It also includes 'mekhla chadar', the traditional Assamese dress for women.

Pani Tola & Nuani Tradition
During the pani tola custom, the bride and the groom's mother fetch holy water, which is later on used for the bride's auspicious bath. Nuani tradition involves anointing and bathing the bride to help her get ready for her wedding ceremony.

Assamese Wedding Ceremony

2010-06-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

In the land of cultural ethnicity - India - you can witness myriad rituals and variations in the customs, as you travel across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. The traditions followed down south are entirely in contrast with those prevalent in the northern part of the country. It applies to the eastern and the western states as well. If you peruse the culture of the eastern state of Assam, you will see many variations in the customs observed during important ceremonies, like wedding. The traditional Assamese marriage is divided into two phases - the pre-wedding and wedding ceremonies.

The Assamese marriage is a two or three-day program, wherein the groom's mother pays a visit to the bride's house, before the wedding. The groom's mother greets her future daughter-in-law. She applies sindoor (holy vermilion) on the bride's hair partition.

Thereafter, she presents the wedding trousseau to the bride. On the day of the wedding, the bride and the groom are given auspicious bath in their respective homes. The bride's maternal uncle and brother play a prominent part during the wedding ceremony, which is conducted at a mandap. In this section, you will read all about the Assamese wedding ceremony and the rituals associated with it.

Assamese Pre-Wedding Rituals
Wedding is a prominent celebration in India. The rituals followed before, during and after the marriage vary largely, depending upon the region, where the ceremony is held. As far as the Assamese wedding is concerned, the rituals performed right from the preparations to the culmination of the occasion, are unique in their own terms.

Assamese Wedding Rituals
Although different regions of India have varied rituals for wedding, the same thought of prosperity and goodwill of the newly wedded couple reflects in every part of the country. In the eastern state of Assam, the wedding ritual is in total contrast with that seen down south or at the western extreme of the subcontinent. The Assamese have a different perception about wedding, wherein the reception party can be held prior to the ceremony as well.

Post Wedding Punjabi Rituals

2010-06-14T05:02:00.001-07:00

Punjabis love celebrations. Their marriage ceremonies are thus extremely grand and elaborate. Even after few days of marriage, the celebrations at the groom’s and bride’s places are on. The post wedding celebrations start right after the solemnization of marriage at the Mandap. Preparations for Vidaai and Ashwirwad ceremony go hand in hand. Once the couple is blessed by all the elderly people at home, the brother of the bride accompanies the couple for Vidaai to the main exit of their home. The celebrations after Vidaai takes place at the groom’s place except for the Pag Phere Ceremony at the bride’s home the next day after marriage. Read on to explore more…

Vidaai Ceremony
In the Vidaai ceremony, the bride departs from her parental house and bids goodbye to her parents, friends and relatives. While leaving the home, the bride throws back handful of puffed rice back at the main exit of her father’s home as a token of her father’s prosperity and good luck. Thereafter, she boards a beautifully decorated car and heads her way towards her new home.

Swagat Ceremony
After the marriage is over, the bride is welcomed at the groom’s house. She is welcomed by her mother in law at the entrance of her new home by putting the sarson ka tel (mustard oil) on both the sides of the entrance door. Then, a traditional aarti of both the bride and the groom is performed. Thereafter, the newly wedded couple goes to the pooja room and seeks the blessings of God.

Mooh Dikhai Ki Rasm
Mooh dikhai is the formal introduction of the new bride to the rest of the family. The mother-in-law gives the bride jewelry, cash and gifts. It is a ceremony to facilitate intimacy. The other relatives also give presents and cash to the bride.

Reception Ceremony
To make the bride feel at home, the groom’s parents usually throw a reception party. It is an occasion, where the newly wedded couple is given a warm welcome by all. It does not have an ancient origin. Infact, it is a western concept that is gaining popularity in India too.

Pag Phere
As a part of Phera Dalna ritual, the newly wedded couple visits the bride’s house on the next day after marriage. Usually, the girl’s brother comes to take them back to his home. The bride’s parents prepare a special lunch. Also, the newly weds are given lots of gifts and sweets. This is actually a formal introduction of groom to the bride’s family.

Punjabi Wedding Rituals

2010-06-06T15:38:00.001-07:00

Punjabi Wedding ceremony is an interesting ceremony full of several rituals and customs. The wedding preparations start day before the actual wedding ceremony. Overall, a Punjabi wedding is very vibrant and colorful. The wedding ceremony starts from the Chuda ceremony and at the groom’s place with Vatna ceremony. Like most of the Hindu wedding ceremonies, Punjabi wedding is also very ritualistic. If you are interested in knowing more about a Punjabi wedding, we have given a systemized list of rituals of Punjabi wedding ceremony in the following paragraphs…

Rituals at the Bride’s home-

Chuda
On the wedding day the rituals at the girl’s home begin with the Chuda ceremony. To commemorate the Chuda ceremony, a havan or puja is conducted by the pandit. Thereafter, the pundit ties a mauli on the to be bride’s wrist. The oldest maternal uncle and aunt play an important role in the performance of the ceremony. They fast till the event is completed. Chuda is basically a set of red and cream ivory bangles that is touched by all present. People touch the chuda and give their heartiest wishes to the girl for her future married life. Also, they sprinkle flower petals on the bride. Prasad is distributed to all. After that, the girl’s uncle, aunt, friends and cousins tie kaliras (silver, gold or gold plated traditional ornaments) to a bangle worn by the girl.

Vatna
Four lamps or diyas are lit and the bride is made to sit facing them. Oil is constantly poured into the lamps, so that the glow from diyas is reflected on her face. Vatna involves applying the paste made from turmeric powder and mustard oil all over the girl’s body by her female friends and relatives. This is done to make the girl look more beautiful on the special day of our life.

Ghara Ghardoli
The Ghara Ghardoli follows the Vatna. In the Ghara Ghardoli ritual, the bride’s sibling or sibling’s spouse visits the nearby temple and fills a pitcher with holy water. The girl is then bathed with this holy water. Thereafter, the bride wears their wedding attire.The ghara ghardoli and the vatna ceremonies take place at the groom’s house too. But over there, the boy’s sister-in-law brings the pitcher of water. As per the tradition, their wedding dress is presented to them by their respective maternal uncles.

Rituals at the Groom’s home

Sehrabandi
Like the bride’s home, the Vatna and Ghara Ghardoli are followed by the dressing up of groom in his wedding attire. After the groom has dressed up in his wedding clothes, a pooja is performed. Thereafter, the groom’s father or any elderly relative ties the "sehra" on the groom’s head. The boy also wears a pink color turban, which is touched by all the people present in the pooja. After the completion of Sehrabandi ceremony, all those who witness the function give gifts and cash to the boy as a token of good luck.

Ghodi Chadna
The Ghori Chadna is the final ceremony at the groom’s place. The groom’s sister-in-law lines the boy’s eyes with surma. Thereafter, the groom’s sisters and cousins feed and adorn his mare. To ward off the evil eye, people use cash and perform the Varna ritual. After that the boy climbs the horse and immediately leaves his home for the wedding venue.

Rituals at the Marriage Venue

Milni Ceremony
When the groom’s barat reaches the wedding venue, Milni ceremony is performed. The bride’s close relatives give a warm welcome to the groom and his relatives with flower garlands. Rose water is sprinkled on them. In the Milni ceremony, the girl's relatives give Shagun (a token of good luck) to the groom's close relatives. It is done in the descending order, beginning from the elder most. Cash and clothes are gifted.

Varmala
Varmala is the actual beginning of marriage rituals on the involves the exchange of garlands between the bride and groom. Friends and relatives of the bride and groom indulge in teasing and fun, to celebrate this happy occasion. An auspicious time or muhurat is chosen for the performance of wedding ceremony. At the time of muhurat, the purohit conducts a puja for the groom, in which the groom is asked to chant the first few mantras. It is during this time, when the bride’s sisters indulge in stealing of shoes. It is a fun tradition, in which the girls charge a fee for agreeing to return the shoes.

Kanyadaan and Phere
The wedding is actually solemnized with four important rituals- the Kanyadaan, in which the bride’s father giving his daughter's hand to the groom, the Mangalpheras in front of the sacred fire, the Sindoor ritual when the groom applies vermilion to the girl’s hair partition and the Mangalsutra Rasam when the groom ties a beaded necklace to the girl’s neck. When all these rituals are over, the couple gets up to touch the feet of all the elder members in the family and seek their blessings for a happily married life.

Pre Wedding Punjabi Rituals

2010-05-26T17:13:00.001-07:00

unjabi marriage traditions are very elaborate and ritualistic. They begin days before the actual wedding day in the form of pre-wedding ceremonies. Roka is the first pre-wedding ceremony where the two families formally meet to finalize the relationship between the two families. Roka is then followed by a series of colorful and interesting occasions like ‘Sagan and Chunni Chadhana’. As the actual wedding day comes near, the celebrations become more vibrant and vivacious. Sangeet is held only few days before the wedding day and is the most amusing pre-wedding ceremony. Mehandi is held a night or two before the marriage day and is important part of the pre-wedding celebrations. Read more if you are keen on knowing more about Punjabi pre- wedding rituals.

Roka Ceremony
Roka ceremony marks the beginning of a formal relationship between the two families. It is basically carried out to secure the commitment of both the parties. It is a small function involving the family members and close relatives of both the prospective bride and groom. The families involved exchange gifts, sweets, fruits and dry fruits.

Sagan Ceremony
Sagan ceremony can be held either at the groom’s house or at a banquet hall. A havan is performed by a pundit. Thereafter, the prospective bride’s father applies Tilak (made of kesar, rice grains and flower petals) on the boy’s forehead. All the relatives and friends of the girl’s side come forward to bless the prospective groom, offer sweets to him and give him cash/gifts.

Chunni Chadana
On the occasion of Chunni chadana, groom's parents and close relatives visit the bride’s house. The groom’s sister or sister in law presents the girl a red sari, as a token of acceptance of the girl in their family. Thereafter, the girl is dressed in the clothes given by the boy’s family. The main ritual of the ceremony is when the girl’s would be mother-in-law places a red chunni on the girl’s head and gives her some traditional jewelry. Following this is a ritual in which the girl is fed boiled rice and milk by all the relatives of the boy that are present at the time. The ceremony comes to an end with the exchanging of rings between the prospective bride and groom.

Sangeet
Sangeet is the musical program, which is held at both the bride as well as groom’s house. In the sangeet session, wedding folk songs are sung and all the relatives and friends dance to the tunes of the music. This ceremony is considered auspicious as the wedding songs are said to be full of blessings for the prospective couple. Also, this ceremony becomes amusing with interesting songs with teasing punches for the prospective couple and dance performances by every younger and elder member of the family.

Mehandi
Like other Hindu Weddings, Mehandi is also an important pre-wedding ritual of a Punjabi marriage. As a part of Kwar Dhoti, Mehandi is taken to the girl’s place by the boy’s sister and brother-in-law. This Mehandi is then applied to the girl’s hands and feet in beautiful motifs. Kwar Dhoti also includes dry fruits, specifically dry dates. The girl eats half of a dry date and the other half is given to the boy, this ritual is said to increase the love between the two.

Punjabi Wedding Ceremony

2010-04-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Punjabis are large hearted people who love splendor and grandeur. They are also keen on festivals and celebrations. This nature of Punjabis also reflects in their marriage celebrations. Like other Indian weddings, a Punjabi marriage ceremony is very ritualistic but also full of fun and frolic. It is in fact one of the most colorful and musical marriage ceremonies in the country. Each ceremony is like an excuse for merriment. A Punjabi Wedding is very vibrant and celebrated like a big carnival, exhibiting splendid grandeur.

A Punjabi wedding ceremony begins with Roka which is very much like an engagement ceremony where both the family for the first time formally announces the prospective marriage. The Roka is then followed by celebrations like ‘Sagan’ and ‘Chunni Chadana’ performed at the groom’s and bride’s family respectively.

The joy of a Punjabi wedding begins with the Sangeet and Mehndi ceremony from where the real fun and frolic starts. Bhangras and Giddas make a Punjabi wedding more colorful. Like other Hindu weddings phere and kanyadaan are important rituals of a Punjabi Wedding. A Punjabi Wedding ceremony solemnizes with Mangal Pheras and the bride is departed to her in laws home that very day.

Pre Wedding Punjabi Ritual
Punjabi marriage traditions are very elaborate and ritualistic. They begin days before the actual wedding day in the form of pre-wedding ceremonies. Roka is the first pre-wedding ceremony where the two families formally meet to finalize the relationship between the two families. Roka is then followed by a series of colorful and interesting occasions like ‘Sagan and Chunni Chadhana’.

Punjabi Wedding Rituals
Punjabi Wedding ceremony is an interesting ceremony full of several rituals and customs. The wedding preparations start day before the actual wedding ceremony. Overall, a Punjabi wedding is very vibrant and colorful. The wedding ceremony starts from the Chuda ceremony and at the groom’s place with Vatna ceremony.

Post-Wedding Punjabi Rituals
Punjabis love celebrations. Their marriage ceremonies are thus extremely grand and elaborate. Even after few days of marriage, the celebrations at the groom’s and bride’s places are on. The post wedding celebrations start right after the solemnization of marriage at the Mandap. Preparations for Vidaai and Ashwirwad ceremony go hand in hand. Once the couple is blessed by all the elderly people at home, the brother of the bride accompanies the couple for Vidaai to the main exit of their home.

Malayalee Post-Wedding Rituals

2010-04-06T14:55:00.001-07:00

Malayalee post-wedding rituals are limited to grihapravesham and traditional feasting, which makes the entire ceremony a very brief one. The one-day-long wedding is also followed by feasting at the bride and thereafter, at the relatives' places. Brief though, it is very touching to see the bride enters her 'new home', prosper the groom and his family's life. In addition, the eyes are often filled with tears, when the bride departs from her maternal home. Check out more information on the Malayalee post-wedding rituals in the following lines.

Malayalee Post-Wedding Customs

Reception
Generally, the reception is organized by the groom's family, soon after the wedding. However, nowadays, due to convenience, the reception can be held few days after the wedding. Family, friends and faraway acquaintance join in the reception to wish and bless the newly wed couple.

Grihapravesham
After tying the nuptial knot, the newly wed couple head towards the home of the groom. There, they are welcomed by the parents and family members of the groom. The sister-in law or the maternal relative of the groom welcomes the bride, with aarti. Thereafter, she hands over the traditional deep to the bride, who enters her 'new home', formally. Soon after grihapravesham, the bride and the groom are offered a sweet mixture of banana and milk, by their elder ones.

Visit To The Bride's Place
A day after the wedding, the bride and the groom, along with a couple of relatives of the latter, visit the former's house. A lavish feast is organized at the bride's house, to serve the guests. This is followed by a series of visits to the relative's home (of both the bride and the groom), where they are served with lip-smacking feast.

Malayalee Wedding Rituals

2010-04-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Malayalee wedding is a very short and crisp ceremony, which is held in the morning. The most preferred location to conduct a typical Malayalee wedding is the maternal house of the bride. However, with the passing time, people are opting for a more convenient venue for both the families of the bride and the groom, say, the auditorium of a nearby temple or the temple itself. Whether it is a very lavish wedding, with a long list of guests to witness, or a simple one, the rituals followed by the Malayalees are generally the same. Given below is complete information on the wedding customs followed in a typical Malayalee wedding.

Malayalee Wedding Customs

Seek The Blessings
Before entering the venue to tie the wedding knot, the bride and the groom seek blessings from their elder ones, at their respective homes. Thereafter, the bride and the groom get ready for the mandapam/venue. Friends of the bride help her in dressing her up, for the nuptial knot. Typically, the bride wears a two-piece sari (known as 'set saree') for the wedding. However, she can also opt for any other sari as well. She

is accessorized with jewelry (typically gold) and her braided hair is embellished with flower (generally jasmine). On the other hand, the groom is dressed up in traditional dhoti (mundu) and white or off-white silk shirt. Gold chains, gold bracelets and rings add to the appeal of his attire.

Welcoming The Bridegroom
After seeking blessings from their elder ones, the bride and the groom leave for the venue (where the wedding ceremony is held), from their respective homes. Traditionally, the family and friends from the bride's side reach the venue first, in order to welcome the groom and his acquaintance. Traditional drum (thavil) and nadaswaram (non-brass acoustic instrument) are played to welcome the groom's procession, which heads towards the venue.

At the doorstep of the venue, the bride's brother (father in some parts of Kerala) welcomes the groom by washing his feet with water. In return, the brother receives small gifts (gold chain, bracelet or money) from the groom. Thereafter, the groom is accompanied by two of his relatives, to the mandapam. The bride revolves three times around the mandapam and sits next to the bride, who is already present there.

The Nuptial Ceremony
The nuptial ceremony is often called veli. The priest conducts the marriage ceremony. In some parts of Kerala, the priest is replaced by the elderly family member of the bride or the groom. After taking rounds of the mandapam, the bride and the groom sit next to each other. Preferably, the bride is seated on the left hand side of the groom. At the muhurtham time, the groom ties the mangalsutra, (known as 'thaali' in Malayalam), around the neck of the bride. The priest hands over the garlands and bouquets to the bride and the groom, in order to exchange.

After exchanging the garlands, the bride's father does the kanyaadaan, by placing the hand of the bride over the groom's hand. After the kanyaadaan, the newly wed couple takes rounds of the mandapam, for three times. Thereafter, the groom applies vermillion (sindooram) on the bride's her in exchange of which, she applies chandan on his forehead. Thereafter, the couple seeks blessings for their parents, by touching their feet. Soon after the wedding, a feast is organized by the bride's family, wherein traditional Kerala dishes are served to the guest.

Malayalee Pre-Wedding Rituals

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The Malayalees start the preparation of wedding, well before the ceremony. Few weeks (or even months) prior to the marriage, the date and muhurtham are finalized for both the engagement and wedding ceremonies. Thereafter, the families of the prospective bride and the groom await for the wedding day, with a lot of expectations and anxiety. The pre-wedding days are filled with enthusiasm and celebration in both the bride and the groom's home, which largely includes feasting. If you want to know more about Malayalee pre-marriage ceremonies, then check out the following lines.

Malayalee Pre-Wedding Customs

Muhurtham
Well before the wedding, the parents of the prospective bride and groom exchange horoscopes to check for compatibility of the couple, who are going to tie the nuptial knot. If the horoscopes match, an auspicious time, called muhurtham, is figured out by the family astrologer, for conducting the engagement as well as the wedding ceremony. The date for the wedding is fixed by consulting the astrologer.

Nischayam (The Engagement Ceremony)
Nischayam (the engagement ceremony) is traditionally organized at the ancestral house of the bride, to announce the confirmation of marriage, formally. The private affair is witnessed by the family members and close relatives. However, with the changing time, people resort to venue away from their homes, such as, banquet halls. These days, friends and faraway relatives are also invited to witness the occasion.

Traditionally, the nishchaya thaamboolam (the engagement thali) is exchanged by the parents of the bride and the groom, on the ceremony. In the present time, the engagement ring is also exchanged during nischayam, especially when the marriage is few months after the occasion. The nischayam ceremony is followed by a lavish feast at the bride's home or the venue, wherein the traditional Kerala dishes are served to the guests.

Traditional Feast And Visit To Temple
Traditional food is served to the guests at the bride’s house, a day before the wedding. The bride is made to sit facing the east. She takes a traditional five-course vegetarian meal with her family members. In some Malayalee communities, the bride visits a nearby temple, along with few family members, in order to offer prayers to the Almighty. After returning from the temple, the bride seeks blessings from her relatives, by touching their feet. A similar ritual is followed by the groom at his house, a day before the wedding.

Malayalee Wedding Ceremony

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Contrary to the perception of the 'big fat Indian wedding', which generally involve a series of customs and ceremonies, the marriage organized in a typical Malayalee style is very simple and brief. Although elaborate rituals are not followed at a typical Malayalee wedding, the ceremony is very impressive to look at. The simple Malayalee marriage is generally divided into three phases. During the pre-wedding days, the muhurtham and date for the engagement and wedding are figured out. On the engagement ceremony, the nishchaya thaamboolam are exchanged by the prospective bride and the groom's parents. You can also witness the exchange of engagement ring on the same day, at many Malayalee weddings. The wedding ceremony is preceded by a ritual, wherein the bride and groom seek blessings from their elderly family members, by touching their feet. The custom paves the way for the nuptial knot, which is tied at the bride's ancestral home (preferably) or any venue, say, mandapam of a temple or the temple itself.

The wedding ceremony is followed by reception, traditional feast and grihapravesham. Overall, the typical Malayalee marriage ceremony is true delight for the eyes. In this section, we have elaborated the Malayalee pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals.

Malayalee Pre-Wedding Rituals
The Malayalees start the preparation of wedding, well before the ceremony. Few weeks (or even months) prior to the marriage, the date and muhurtham are finalized for both the engagement and wedding ceremonies. Thereafter, the families of the prospective bride and the groom await for the wedding day, with a lot of expectations and anxiety.

Malayalee Wedding Rituals
Malayalee wedding is a very short and crisp ceremony, which is held in the morning. The most preferred location to conduct a typical Malayalee wedding is the maternal house of the bride. However, with the passing time, people are opting for a more convenient venue for both the families of the bride and the groom, say, the auditorium of a nearby temple or the temple itself.

Malayalee Post-Wedding Rituals
Malayalee post-wedding rituals are limited to grihapravesham and traditional feasting, which makes the entire ceremony a very brief one. The one-day-long wedding is also followed by feasting at the bride and thereafter, at the relatives' places. Brief though, it is very touching to see the bride enters her 'new home', prosper the groom and his family's life.

Maharashtrian Pre-Wedding Rituals

2010-03-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Maharashtrian wedding is a ceremonious occasion filled with colorful rituals, which mesmerizes the spectator. The pre-wedding rituals are as lively as the wedding itself, which is an important turning point in every one's life. The pre-marriage ceremonies of the Maharashtrian wedding are organized to honor the couple, who are soon going to live a new life. Prior to the marriage, the bride and the groom are pampered in a number of ways, such as, applying turmeric powder and showering of gifts. In the article, we have given comprehensive information about the Maharashtrian pre-wedding rituals.

Maharashtrian Pre-Wedding Customs

Sakhar Puda
Sakhar puda, a pre-wedding ceremony, involves the exchange of a packet of sugar between the families of the prospective bride and groom. However, in the present time, the engagement ceremony is only known as Sakhar Puda, which takes place one or two days before the wedding day. In this ceremony, the groom’s parents present a sari to the bride. This symbolizes that the girl has been accepted in the groom's family. Her hands are accessorized with beautiful green bangles.

Kelvan
Kelvan is a puja, which is conducted to offer prayers to their Kuladevta (the family deity). It takes places in the respective houses of the bride and the groom, a few days prior to the wedding. All the relatives and family members of the bride and the groom are invited to the ceremony, which is followed by feasting.

Simant Puja
It is a traditional ritual, in which the groom’s family visits the girls' residence. On their arrival, the groom's family is welcomed warmly. Special lunch is prepared for them.

Halad Chadavane
On the day before wedding, the turmeric powder paste is applied to both the bride and groom at their respective houses by their family members and relatives. This is known as halad chadavane or the haldi ceremony. In order to apply the haldi, the bride is made to sit on a small table. She then receives a blouse piece and coconut in her sari's pallu, after which, haldi is applied all over her body.

Seemaan Pooja
Seemaan pooja is conducted right after the procession of groom arrives at the bride's place. During the puja, the bride's parents wash the feet of the groom; welcome him and his family members. The groom is rewarded with gifts, such as gold chain, watch or ring, by the parents of the bride.

Maharashtrian Wedding Ceremony

2010-03-19T15:21:00.001-07:00

The Maharashtrian wedding is full of pomp and show, exhibiting magnificent grandeur. The rituals followed in the marriage are reflect the indigenous Maharashtrian vibrant and colorful culture. Usually, marriages among the Maharashtrians take place in the morning, because the auspicious time (muhurat) chosen for the wedding generally falls in the day time. The wedding ceremonies last for about three days (including the pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals). The rituals followed during the occasion are simple, yet very impressive, which makes the spectator say that Maharashtrian wedding is truly amazing!

The preparations for the Maharashtrian marriage start well before the wedding, (known as pre-wedding rituals), wherein packet of sugar are exchanged between the prospective bride and the groom, followed by a couple of pujas and the Haldi ceremony. This is followed

by the wedding ceremony, which is also kept short and sweet. The post-wedding rituals are divided into two phases, wherein the bride bids goodbye to her home and enters her groom's to start a new life with him. Overall, Maharashtrian wedding ceremony is truly delightful to look at, right from its pre-wedding to the post-wedding customs. Here in this section, we provide you complete information on the rituals followed in a typical Maharashtrian wedding ceremony.

Maharashtrian Pre-Wedding Rituals
The Maharashtrian wedding is a ceremonious occasion filled with colorful rituals, which mesmerizes the spectator. The pre-wedding rituals are as lively as the wedding itself, which is an important turning point in every one's life. The pre-marriage ceremonies of the Maharashtrian wedding are organized to honor the couple, who are soon going to live a new life. Prior to the marriage, the bride and the groom are pampered in a number of ways, such as, applying turmeric powder and showering of gifts.

Maharashtrian Wedding Rituals
The traditional Maharashtrian wedding is organized with religious observance. It is a simple ceremony, wherein the bride and the groom tie the wedding knot and pledge their lifetime companionship to the other half, in a very special way. The wedding, which is usually held in a mandap, is a brief affair consisting of antarpaat, Laxmi Narayan puja and jhal phirawne.

Maharashtrian Post-Wedding Rituals
Maharashtrian post-wedding rituals are as simple as the customs followed on the day of the wedding. After tying the nuptial knot, the bride and the groom seek the blessings of the elderly people of their family, feast on a lavish dinner at the reception party and enter the latter's home to start a new life. The entire post-wedding ceremony, although observed religiously, incorporates a number of things that make it very interesting to witness.

Bengali Post-Wedding Rituals

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Proud of their cultural heritage, the Bengalis in India organize their wedding in a unique way and mark the culmination of the ceremony in their own impressive style. The rituals conducted post-wedding is divided into three broad phases, wherein the bride departs her maternal home and joins her groom, to settle down in the latter's home and start a new life there. The Bengali post-marriage ceremonies are very charming to look at. At times, they fill the spectator's eyes with tears, especially when the bride bids goodbye to her maternal home. If you want to know more about the Bengali post-wedding rituals, then go through the following lines.

Bengali Post-Wedding Customs

Bidaai
Bidaai, the highly emotional ceremony, is conducted soon after the nuptial knot is tied. As the bride steps out of her maternal home, she throws a handful of rice over her head, into her mother's aanchal. This gesture indicates that the bride has repaid all the debts to her mother and that she wishes prosperity to her maternal home, as she departs to prosper her man's life.

Basar Ghar
After bidaai, it is the time to bid a warm welcome to the newly wed, at the groom's place. The bride enters the groom's house after dipping her feet in a thali containing alta (red color) and milk. After the feet of the bride are imprinted on the floor of the house, her sister-in-law takes her into her new house. She is then presented with the traditional red and ivory bangles, which symbolizes that by now, she is a married woman. She is also presented with a metal bangle called loha, which she should wear for the rest of her life.

Bashi Biye
On the next morning after wedding, the groom applies vermilion on his wife’s forehead. Thereafter, the newly wed couple visits the mandap, where they worship the Sun God. The purohit is also present at this time.

Bou Baran
Bou Baran ritual is performed to give a warm welcome to the newly wed in the groom’s house. The female members of the house pour water under the vehicle, when the couple boards it. The groom's elder brother's wife takes a plate containing lac dye and milk and places it under the bride's feet. After the bride's feet are imprinted on the floor of the house, she is lead to the house. The elders of the house shower blessings on the newly wed couple.

Bharan Poshan & Bahubhaat
The bou baran ritual is followed by a welcome meal at the groom's house, when he offers a plate containing sweets and a sari to the bride, to symbolize that hereafter; he would take care and satisfy all her needs. The bride then prepares a rice dish, the ceremony that is known as bahubhaat, in order to serve the family. This custom symbolizes that she has finally entered into the family, as one of its member.

Kaal Ratri
An interesting Bengali post-wedding ritual is the kaal ratri, which is conducted on the second night after the wedding. According to the tradition, the bride and the groom are not allowed even to look at each other, during kaal ratri.

Dira Gaman
Dira gaman is a ritual wherein the newly wed couple visits the bride's house, for the first time after the wedding. It is this time, when the thread, which was tied on the wrist of the bride by the purohit during the wedding, is formally cut. This auspicious occasion is marked by the blowing of conch shells, accompanied by ululation.

Phool Shojja and Suhaag Raat
The culmination of the wedding is marked by phool shojja and the suhaag raat. Phool shojja means the decoration of the bride and groom's bedroom with flowers.

Bengali Wedding Rituals

2010-03-08T17:56:00.001-08:00

The tying of nuptial knot in the traditional Bengali style entails an elaborate and long affair, with series of colorful and charming rituals. Since wedding is a significant occasion in one's life, the day is organized in one of the most elegant ways, which makes a Bengali wedding a very special one to look forward to. The rituals truly mesmerize the spectator and leave him/her with only one thought in mind - Bengali wedding is truly amazing! In this article, we have described the Bengali wedding rituals observed by the Bengali people all over India.

Bengali Wedding Customs

Welcoming The Groom
When the marriage procession of the groom (with ringing of bells, blowing of conch shells and ululation) arrives at the doorsteps of the bride’s residence, they are greeted with fresh flowers. An elderly female relative of the bride holds the baran dala. The plate is first touched to the groom's forehead, then to the ground. Thereafter, it is touched back again to his forehead. The groom is then given sweets and sherbet. As the groom enters the bride’s house, rosewater is sprinkled on him.

Shubho Drishti Ritual
After the groom is welcomed by the bride's family, he is brought to the mandap, where the wedding is conducted. Meanwhile, the bride is carried to the mandap in a piri, accompanied by four of her friends. When all these are done, the bride keeps her eyes hidden with a beetle leaf that she holds in her palm. She is then rotated seven times around the groom and then placed in front of him. Now, the bride and the groom face each other for the first time during the wedding. It is wonderful to see bride blushing, when she peeps through the beetle leaf, which she holds in her palm, to have a glimpse of her significant half. This is called the shubho drishti ritual of Bengali wedding.

Mala Badal Ceremony
The shubho drishti ritual is followed by the mala badal ceremony, wherein the bride and the groom exchange flower garlands for three times, while the purohit chants the mantras (to conduct the wedding).

Saat Paak & Sampradhan
As a part of Saat Paak ritual, the bride is made to sit on a low wooden stool called pidi that is lifted by her brothers. Thereafter, the paternal or maternal uncle of the bride gives her away, which is known as 'sampradhan'. Now, the groom chants the mantra along with the priest. The girl is taken around the groom in circles seven times. It signifies their union.

Bengali Pre-Wedding Rituals

2010-03-07T10:39:00.003-08:00

Bengali pre-wedding rituals are very delightful to look at. The ceremonies conducted before the marriage symbolize that they eagerly look forward to the important day in the life of the couple, who are soon going to tie the nuptial knot. Bengalis have a very charming way of pampering the bride and the groom before the wedding, and for the purpose, they have set aside certain rituals that largely include pujas and exchange of gifts. This is often followed by feasting, which can be both simple and lavish. Go through the following lines to know all about the Bengali pre-wedding rituals.

Bengali Pre-Wedding Customs

Adan Pradan
Literally termed as give and take, the adan pradhan ritual involves the matching of ancestral lines (bangsas) of the bride and the groom, in the presence of a purohit (priest). This way, the two families ensure that the couple going to tie the wedding knot does not belong to the same gotra (lineage).

Aashirwad (Patri Patra)
The marriage alliance between the two families is confirmed by patri patra, a ritual that takes place a couple of days before the wedding. The purohit arrives at the residence of the bride or the groom, with an idol of Lord Narayan, to conduct patri patra. After the ritual is over, the bride's family pays a visit to the groom and blesses him in the presence of the priest. This is reciprocated by the groom's family.

Vridhi Puja
Vridhi puja is conducted a day before the wedding in the remembrance of the ancestors of the bride and groom. Beautiful Rangoli is made and Lord Narayan is worshipped. According to the tradition, the vridhi puja is conducted by a paternal uncle of the bride or the groom. Tradition demands that the uncle and the bride/groom should stay on a liquid diet during the vridhi puja.

Dodhi Mangal
Conducted at the dawn on the day of the wedding, Dodhi Mangal is a ceremony in which ten married women fetch water from a nearby pond in order to bathe the bride/groom. Thereafter, they serve a lavish feast to the bride/groom. The lip smacking meal consists of macher laija bhaja (fried fish), jal dhala bhaja (rice cooked in water), curd and chiruya.

Wedding Piris
Piris, wooden seats painted and decorated by a relative or friend, are used to seat the bride and the groom during the wedding ceremony. The wedding piris is usually brought a day before or on the wedding day, to the bride's home. Exchange of gifts takes place between the two families. When the wedding piris is handed over, conch shells are blown, accompanied by ululation.

Gae Halud Tattva
Gae halud tattva ritual takes place before the turmeric ceremony. The groom’s parents send some gifts for the bride. The gift, called the gae halud tattva, usually consists of six saris, cosmetics, fish, assorted sweets, curd, paan, dhaan and durba. A relative of the groom is chosen to deliver the gifts at the bride's residence. The relative, along with an entourage of servants bearing the gifts, are welcomed to the bride's place by blowing of conch shells. The bearers are rewarded with sweets and bakshish for their service.

Adhibas Tattva
In order to reciprocate the honor shown by the groom's family, the bride's family sends the former gifts, which is called abhidas tattva. The gift usually includes a saree for the groom's mother, and fish, sweets, curd, paan, dhaan, and durba. The gifts are arranged on a brass plate, borne by the servants from the bride's house. The bearers are warmly welcomed by the groom's family.

Snan
Snan is the bathing ritual that is individually followed by the bride and the groom, in late afternoon on the wedding day. During the snan ceremony, a couple of married women apply the paste of turmeric and oil on the bride/groom’s hair and body. Thereafter, the bride/groom is given a new set of clothes that is gifted by his/her in-laws. The old worn clothes of the bride/groom are given away to the napti (barber).

Sankha Porana
Sankha porana is the tradition of wearing shankha porana or conch shell bangles that have been dipped in turmeric water. This tradition is followed by the bride after bathing and dressing up in a new sari.

Dressing Up The Bride
Dressing up the bride is a ritual in itself, in the traditional Bengali marriage. The bride is adorned with jewelry and crown. When she is fully dressed and ready to go to the mandap, her face is adorned with a design of mukut using the chandan paste.

Mandap
In the preparation of mandap, two banana trees are planted and rice paste is used to make a large alpana. The mandap is beautified with fresh flowers and flashy lights.

Bengali Wedding Ceremony

2010-03-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

Bengalis have a rich culture to boast of and a whole set of interesting rituals for their marriages. Each Bengali wedding is made special in its own terms, by the colorful traditions and customs that are followed before, during and after the ceremony. Whether it is a simple or a lavish Bengali wedding, you would witness all the rituals strictly followed by the family of the couple. It is very interesting just to witness a Bengali wedding, because the people engaged in the preparations are fully animated, right from the pre-wedding to the post-wedding ceremonies, while the bride and the groom are pampered and made feel very special about themselves and the ceremony.

A Bengali wedding typically consists of rituals that are divided into three phases- the pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding ceremony. The pre-wedding starts a couple of days before the wedding, wherein

puja is conducted by the purohit, who conducts the marriage as well. The families of the bride and the groom honor each other through the exchange of gifts, which usually contains an assortment of sweets, fish, sari etc. After the haldi ritual and snan, the bride and the groom are brought to the mandap, where they tie the wedding knot. This is followed by a series of post-wedding rituals, which are as important as the wedding itself. Overall, a Bengali wedding is truly a delight to the eyes

Bengali Pre-Wedding Rituals
Bengali pre-wedding rituals are very delightful to look at. The ceremonies conducted before the marriage symbolize that they eagerly look forward to the important day in the life of the couple, who are soon going to tie the nuptial knot. Bengalis have a very charming way of pampering the bride and the groom before the wedding, and for the purpose, they have set aside certain rituals that largely include pujas and exchange of gifts.

Bengali Wedding Rituals
The tying of nuptial knot in the traditional Bengali style entails an elaborate and long affair, with series of colorful and charming rituals. Since wedding is a significant occasion in one's life, the day is organized in one of the most elegant ways, which makes a Bengali wedding a very special one to look forward to.

Bengali Post-Wedding Rituals
Proud of their cultural heritage, the Bengalis in India organize their wedding in a unique way and mark the culmination of the ceremony in their own impressive style. The rituals conducted post-wedding is divided into three broad phases, wherein the bride departs her maternal home and joins her groom, to settle down in the latter's home and start a new life there

Tilak Ceremony

2010-03-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Indian weddings is a grand and elaborate affair. The wedding celebrations begin days before the actual wedding day and last weeks after that. In between the wedding day and the formal finalization of marriage, several pre-wedding ceremonies take place. These pre-wedding rituals are actually traditional customs that are considered to be auspicious for the forth coming wedding as well as the married life of the would-be couple. They are also a way to mentally and emotionally prepare the bride, groom and their families for the marriage and develop familiarity between both the families involved. These pre-wedding rituals include several ceremonies like Roka, Sagaai, Saga, Sangeet and Tilak.

Among the pre wedding functions the ceremony of Tilak holds an important position. The Tilak ceremony is performed in most of the family according to their personal family tradition and culture. The ceremony is held in different styles according to different culture and caste. Mostly the ceremony is held at the groom's residence or at any temple. In Sikh religion, the ceremony is performed by a preacher or bhaiji from the Gurudwara who first recites the hymn and after that offers the groom a date and applies the tilak or tika on his forehead, marking the engagement. That's why it is known as a tilak ceremony. However, in most of the communities of Hindu religion, the Tilak is applied by the bride’s brother on the groom’s forehead.

In some caste it is called the Chenkai Ceremony. Traditionally, the bride and her mother do not attend this ceremony; mostly the male family members and relatives of the bride attend the function. In many families, the tilak and engagement ceremony is celebrated together. Traditionally, the bride's father looks after all the ceremonial activities. The ceremony of tilak brings together both the families where the elders of both the families. In fact, the actual motive behind its celebration is to enhance the bonding between the two families.

The Tilak ceremony begins from a pooja or havan where the bride and the groom’s family pray for a happy and auspicious future of the would-be couple. After the pooja rituals the bride's father offers gifts to the groom and his family members. The gifts include clothes, sweets and fruits and other items for the groom and his family members. Following the ceremony, the groom's father sends gifts of sugar, coconut, rice, clothes, jewelry and henna to the bride. Friends and relatives from the groom's family carry those gifts for the bride and her family members.

Sangeet Party

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Indian Wedding is not only about serious rituals and customs rather it is also full of several fun filled rituals and frothy moments. Though people in India regard marriage more as a religious affair, the elements of fun and frolic are also added into it, to make this emotional affair, somewhat light and amusing. In fact, most of the pre-wedding rituals are designed in away that there is a scope of entertainment. Be it haldi, mehendi or sangeet, all the pre-wedding ceremonies are full of light and amusing moments; however among all the pre wedding celebrations sangeet party is the most enjoyable one.

The sangeet ceremony is also known as ‘gaun’. This custom heightens the excitement of wedding festivities. In the earlier days the custom of gaun used to last for ten days but with the passage of time, as people didn't have more time to spend due to demanding work schedules, the custom has usually reduced to a one night function. At the bride's home women relatives and friends play the dholki and sing suhaag, which is a traditional folk song. Songs include 'jokes' about the in-laws, and would be husband how to have a successful marriage like and songs about the bride leaving her parents home. Similarly the women at the groom's home sing songs called ghoriya. Traditionally only the women celebrated this ceremony but nowadays the concept has changed as both men and women participate to celebrate this occasion.

In most of the families, the sangeet party is celebrated on an elaborate scale and is a very grand affair. However, in some families, it is also celebrated along with the mehendi function. It is generally done to save time. The sangeet party may be celebrated both as a separate or a joint event in both the families. However people generally prefer to make it a joint affair nowadays to make it more interesting and amusing. As a joint affair before the marriage ceremony, it also becomes a platform developing familiarity of the bride and groom with each others family.

Though sangeet function is an important pre-wedding function of all north Indian weddings, it is most popular trend among Gujaratis and Punjabis. Among the Gujaratis Garba dance is a favored alternative. They are mostly held in a big hall, which are beautifully decorated where people come dressed in ethnic Gujarati wear. The sangeet party mainly involves traditional dance, which is known as Garba, and dandia raas, which is dancing with sticks. The Raas Garba usually ends with a light supper for all those attending. In Punjabis, the Giddha nad Bhangra are the popular dance forms for the Sangeet night ceremony.

Mehendi Celebration

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Weddings in India are considered to be a sacred and sanctified ritual. They are long ritualistic and elaborate affair with lots of pre-wedding, wedding, post wedding ritual. The occasion of Mehendi is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals. It is fun a filled ritual, which is celebrated mainly by the bride's family. Different regions of the country celebrate the ritual in a different way according to their own marriage customs, rituals, and culture. The celebrations also depend on the wealth and status of the people. The bride's family celebrates Mehendi party for gathering bride’s friends and relatives for blessing the bride as well as for amusement.

The ceremony is mostly held at bride's place or sometimes in a banquet hall on the eve of the marriage ceremony or few days before the marriage. On this occasion a professional henna designer or some relative applies mehendi to the bride’s hands and feet. There are few places in India where it is a ritual that the first motif of henna or mehendi is applied by the bride’s sister-in-law whereas there are some places where the first mehendi motif is said to be auspicious if applied by bride’s mother.

The Mehendi or henna motif is not only the adoration of the bride rather it epitomizes her transformation from a virgin girl to a temptress for her husband. As per Kama Sutra, henna is one of the sixty four arts of women. Popular motifs of the bridal mehendi are conchshell, flowers, Kalash, peacock, doli and baraat patterns. The intricate motifs of the bridal henna also hide the husband’s name. It is said that the husband’s name in the intricate henna motifs is made for the groom who has to find out his name in his bride’s mehendi as an evidence of his sharp eyes and active brain to impress his girl.

Mehendi function is usually organized with the sangeet function. So, it has a festive feel to it with the women dancing and singing traditional songs on the mehendi ritual. The bride is dressed in light color clothes with light jewelry. According to the custom the bride must not step out of the house after the mehendi ritual until the wedding day. It is believed that the darker and deeper the henna stains the more the husband and the in-laws will love her bride. The ritual of mehendi signifies the strength and power of love in a marriage so it is regarded good omen for the would-be bride. It is said that the long the bride retains the mehendi, the more auspicious would be her future.

Engagement Ceremony

2010-02-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Marriage is regarded as the most important social as well as religious event in Indian culture. The concept of marriage can be traced back to Vedic times. Even now, it is considered to be the most sacred and vital affair in one’s life. An Indian weddings, as known to everybody, is extremely elaborate and intricate affair. The wedding related rituals begin days before the wedding ceremony in forms of pre-wedding rituals. One of the most important pre-wedding rituals amongst them is the Engagement Ritual. Though most of the people believe that this trend of ‘engagement ceremony’ came from the west but if you look deep in to the Indian traditions, the engagement ceremonies exist in one form or the other in different communities of India from a long time. It is known as misri, ring ceremony, aashirwad, and mangni in different Indian communities.

Engagement ceremony is almost celebrated in the same manner in almost all the religions except for certain variations according to their community and family rituals. Generally, the engagement ceremony is organized at the bride’s place or some banquet hall. The family and relative of bride and groom gather to celebrate the first formal party of the forth coming wedding ceremony. Both the families exchange gifts, sweets and good wishes. A formal ring ceremony is then done to solemnize the engagement ceremony. The prospective bride and groom are then introduced to each other’s family. A lunch or a dinner (depending up on the time of function) is organized for all the family members and guests present at the ceremony.

Different Kinds of Engagement Ceremonies in India

In Gujarati customs, the engagement function is called Sagaai. In a Sagaai, the bride's family arrives with ‘Matli', a steel container full of sweets and gifts for the groom and his family.
In Christians, the engagement ceremony is very much like a social gathering and formal announcement of marriage where the would-be groom and bride exchange engagement rings.
In most of the North Indian states, the ceremony is held as soon as the marriage details are finalized. Along with the ring ceremony, the ritual of ‘Tilak' i.e. greeting the groom with auspicious vermilion paste and rice is performed by bride's brother. Then the exchange of baskets of fruits, dry fruits and sweets takes place between both the families. The bride is also gifted with some traditional family Jewelry from the groom's parents.
In the South Indian families, the engagement ceremony is quite different from those of North Indian families; you will be surprised to know that the presence of the groom and bride is not compulsory on the engagement function. The engagement ceremony in South India is more like a commitment between both the families of the would-be bride and groom. The most important ritual in the south Indian engagement function is the exchange of 'tattu' i.e. 'engagement plate' which consists of coconut, flowers, turmeric, beetle nuts and beetle leaves.

Tilak Decor Tips

2010-02-25T04:33:00.001-08:00

Centered on the groom, tilak is a pre wedding ceremony and signifies that the prospective groom is affirmed by the father of the to-be bride, for his daughter. Mainly held at the groom's residence, the members from the bride's side bring gifts for the groom and his family in the form of fruits, sweets and clothing. Traditionally, the bride and her mother do not attend this ceremony. Mostly, it's the male family members and relatives of the bride, who attend the function. The Decor of the function usually varies according to the regions, as each region has its influence on the Decor. Since weddings, today, are mostly organized keeping a theme in mind, the decorations for the tilak ceremony also adheres to the same theme. To get tips on how to decorate the house for the tilak ceremony, read through the following lines.

Tilak Ceremony Decoration

The decoration for the tilak ceremony is dependant on certain factors such as the theme of the wedding, budget of the wedding or even personal taste.
If there is a definite color code or theme of the wedding, the Decor for the tilak ceremony would be done in the same manner. For instance, if red and green is the theme that is followed, the tilak ceremony Decor would also be done in the same manner.
The budget set is one of the most important factors, when it comes to decorations for the tilak ceremony. The amount of money you are willing to spend would determine the look of the ceremony place.
The entrance of the home is one of the first places, which requires appropriate concern. A colorful rangoli can be a very good option to explore. Using flowers, colorful powder, diyas, and so on, create an artistic rangoli. Also, place decorative kalash to enhance the look completely.
In case you want to give the place a traditional outlook, using Indian ethnic colors like orange, red, maroon or bandhni drapes, along with gold tissue surrounding the entire living area or the place where the tilak ceremony will be held, would serve as the best bet.
Add to the Decor by placing decorative vases filled with fresh flowers in strategic locations. Make sure you match the followers with the decoration theme and color code. The vase chosen can either be the royal antique one or an elegant crystal one. Marigold, gerberas and roses make the most popular choices.
Candles would go a long way in enlivening the ambience of the ceremony. They not only add grace and style to the Decor, but also emit sweet fragrance making the place blissful and idyllic. These days, there are different kinds of scented votives and aroma candles available. Choose one that adheres to the theme of your Decor.
If the ceremony is taking place at your home, make sure that all the rooms are tidy and decorated neatly. A messy room dumped with clothes is the last thing you want your guest to see.
Remember, the thali is also a part of the decoration. Make sure that you decorate it previously with all the necessary items in it. Generally, a thali is adored with bandhani cloth at its rim, with decorated bowl in it. While one bowl has a paste containing sandalwood and saffron, the other has a paste of kumkum and oil. Diya also features in the thali.

Wedding Kalash And Thali Decor Tips

2010-02-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

The ceremonies and rituals performed in Indian weddings have certain social significance. The rituals that are performed before, during and after the wedding symbolize the physical, spiritual and mental unison of the couple, who has tied the weddings knot, as well as the special bond between the families of the two. To indicate the union, certain things are used as 'symbols' of shagun for the ceremony. These include kalash and thali. The symbols indicate the strong tie between the newly married couple as well as their families. If you want to get some ideas for decorating your kalash and thali, this article will be handy. Go through the following lines and get some ideas for kalash and thali Decor.

Decoration Ideas For Kalash and Thali

Kalash Decor

Typically, kalash is a sacred pot containing a coconut that is surrounded by mango leaves. The sacred pot is usually made of brass. Silver kalash is also considered auspicious for the occasion, although it is hardly put in use.
Kalash can be decorated in a number of ways. Traditionally, people make beautiful designs on the outer portion of the pot. Painting is done outside the kalash.
If you are not adept at painting designs, then you may paste stickers on the outer portion of the kalash. Choose designs that look ethnic and truly Indian.
Earthen pot can be used as kalash, if it is beautifully adorned with designs. In many regions of the country, people apply a sacred red vermilion on the pot.
Since the arrangement of mango leaves (surrounding the coconut) is considered sacred for the entire 'symbol' of shagun, you should choose fresh leaves. Wash them well before use.
Talking about the coconut, you may either smear turmeric paste on it and apply a tilak made of vermilion, or leave it as such.
Ensure that the coconut you have chosen for the kalash fits into it, perfectly. It should be neither too small, nor too large for the container.

Thali Decor

People from different community of India decorate their puja thali for wedding, according to their own custom and traditions.
Thalis made of silver or brass is considered auspicious for the wedding ceremony.
To give a festive look to your thali, make use of banana leaf to cover the thali and draw a 'swastika' symbol at the middle of the plate. You may place a diya at the center of the thali and adorn its border with colorful flowers, to complete the look.
In some regions of the country, people also put arrange a handful of rice, flower petals, kumkum (sacred vermilion), sandalwood paste and various items required for puja in small clay containers, along with an incense stick.
To give a traditional and ethnic touch to your thali, make use of small clay containers to place the puja items and then keep the rest of the things around them.
You may also decorate your thali with bright golden and silver color paper. For the purpse, wrap the thali with the silver/golden paper and put zari border around it to give a bright look.

Sangeet Decor Tips

2010-02-23T09:29:00.001-08:00

Predominantly a ladies-only affair, sangeet is an important pre-wedding ceremony observed in different parts of north India. It is a fun occasion, wherein the close female relatives of the bride and the groom gather at their respective places, to celebrate it. The conventional way of celebrating lady sangeet is to sing traditional songs related to the auspicious occasion of marriage. Female relatives of all ages, from the teens to the old married woman, dance to the tune of the songs sung by the elderly female relatives and family members of the bride (at her place) and the groom (at his place). The songs are accompanied by playing dholak, the traditional drum seen in north India.

With the passing time, the way of organizing ladies sangeet has also changed. The lady sangeet pre-wedding ceremony has taken the shape of a party, wherein traditional singers and dancers are called upon to entertain the guests. Booking a DJ for the occasion is a hot trend, especially among the city dwellers. Therefore, ladies sangeet is not just a private affair of close female relatives, but a celebration that involves the participation of the kids and in some cases, the male acquaintances as well. People take special efforts to adorn their homes with decorative items, so that the place looks just like a party venue. Here in this article, we have provided you some ideas for ladies sangeet Decor.

Ladies Sangeet Decorations Ideas

You may resort to the traditional way of decorating your home. For the purpose, stick to the colors schemes that reflect the ethnicity of the Indian culture. Colors like orange, maroon, yellow and shades of red can best serve the purpose.
Choose a color scheme and stick to it. For instance, if you have chosen maroon as the color for your ladies sangeet party Decor, then decorate the venue with items that are maroon in color. You may also bring in variation by choosing two shades of the same color, for the venue.
Welcome your guests by hanging a wonderful banner at the entranceway of your home. Adorn the banner with bunches of miniature festive bells that are easily available at the stores.
Coming to the interiors, you may hang strings of ribbons and streamers from the ceiling. Place a beautiful centerpiece, say, a flower vase, on the center table of your living room. Arrange fresh cut roses in the vase.
Marigold is one of the chosen flowers for festive occasions in India. For the ladies sangeet party, you may decorate your home with garlands of marigold - hang them from the windowsills, door frames and at strategic locations all over your home.
Traditional look can also be given to the place by using drapes with heavy embroidery and mirror work.
If you want to impart a western look to the decorations, then make use of colors including pastel shades of green, blue, pink, peach, sea green or mauve. Exotic flowers like orchids, lilies and carnations can also be used for the Decor.
If fresh cut flowers are not available, you may resort to artificial silk flowers, which look similar to their fresh counterparts. The advantage of using artificial flower arrangements is that it gives the same fresh look in the house for days together, unlike in the fresh flowers, which need to be changed everyday.

Mehendi Decor Tips

2010-02-21T13:53:00.001-08:00

Mehendi is one of the important pre-wedding rituals followed in many parts of India. It holds significance, primarily in the northern parts of the country, where henna is considered auspicious for festive occasions. While mehendi is an indispensable part of the pre-marriage celebrations of Hindu and Muslim weddings, people following other religions have also adopted it, with the changing times. Today, most of the people conduct the mehendi ceremony at their homes. At the bride's place, on the first day of the three-day wedding, her hands and feet are adorned with mehendi. Intricate designs, which look very beautiful, are chosen for the bride.

Till some time back, a close female relative of the bride used to apply mehendi on the bride's hands and feet. Today, people prefer calling professional beauticians to serve the purpose. During the mehendi ceremony, the bride is adorned with henna, and jewelry. In addition, her relatives take pleasure in getting the mehendi done on their hands as well. The expenses for the mehendi ceremony is borne by the bride's parents, close family member or herself. On the other hand, at the groom's place, his female relatives engage themselves in applying mehendi. In many communities, the mehendi is also applied on groom's hands.

Since so much important is associated with the ceremony, the home, where the party is hosted, should be decorated well, so that the festive mood is reflected at the place as well. Moreover, the mehendi party should bring together all the right ingredients that allow the bride to relax a bit, so that she lets go her pre-wedding anxieties and enjoys a pleasant time with her family, friends and close relatives. Therefore, do not overwhelm her by overcrowding her place with heavy decorative items. Make use of simple, but attractive items, like ribbons, streamers and bells.In the following lines, we have given some ideas for the mehendi party Decor.

Mehendi Decor Ideas

Think about the style and the theme that you want to set for the mehendi party. Since it is a private affair, wherein only the close female relatives (apart from the family members) are called upon, keep the theme simple.
Decorating the place with fresh flowers and scented tea-lights is a nice idea. It will set a lovely ambience for the ceremony. Wind chimes, hung at the dividers of the rooms, would add to the overall appeal.
Hang a string of bells at the entranceway of the place. You may also welcome your guests by hanging a small banner at the entranceway.
Ensure that you provide the home with enough lighting. It is wise not to resort to dim lighting, because it is mehendi ceremony, wherein intricate designs of henna are carefully applied on the bride's hands and feet. Hang a crystal chandelier at the place, where the mehendi is applied.
The mehendi party mood can be reflected by making use of henna color scheme for the entire place. Arrange henna-colored throw pillows on the couch. Use shades of green for the comforters, bedding, table cloth and curtains. Choose the right shades of green for the purpose. Bring in variations by making use of contrasting shades of the color.

Mandap Decor Tips

2010-02-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Traditionally, Hindu weddings are solemnized at a well decorated mandap - a four-pole canopy erected at the center of the stage. Although the Decor of the mandap varies from region to region across India, the basic concept remains the same - to bless the bride and the groom, who tie the wedding knot. Mandap is erected at the wedding venue, primarily to conduct rituals like tying the mangalsutra, pheras and exchange of garlands (jaimala). However, in the present time, apart from the wedding rituals, pre-wedding ceremonies, such as engagement, are also conducted at a mandap. Therefore, the canopy holds significance, since it forms a part of the Decor of the important rituals of wedding. If you want to decorate a wedding mandap, then check out the article. In the following lines, we have given some ideas for mandap Decor.

Wedding Mandap Decorations Ideas

he wedding mandap can be decorated in bright combinations like red and silver, if you want to impart a traditional look to the Decor. Some of the colors that are considered auspicious for Indian festive occasions like wedding, include red, golden and silver.
You may use deep gold and red are the basic color, while decorating a mandap. Eye-catching colors like pink and green also look good, especially when you have decorated the mandap according to a chosen theme.
The canopy can be decorated with flowers both artificial and fresh. Provide a bright look to the mandap by using wall hanging and decorative artifacts.
Extensive use of flowers like marigold, roses and jasmine would impart a traditional look to your mandap. Make use of marigold garlands and bunches of roses, to decorate the canopy. Drape the garlands around the pillars of the canopy.
If you want to make the decorations look different from the traditional one, then opt for a westernized theme. For western look, you may make use of netted drapes, silver color instead of golden and complement it with fresh flowers like carnations, baby roses, lilies or orchid.
Instead of garlands, you may also make use of silk drapes to wrap around the pillars of the mandap. Ensure that you have chosen silk drapes that complement the color scheme chosen for the mandap.
To provide a perfect backdrop for the mandap, make a bunch of exotic flowers like orchids and carnations, or the most common ones like roses. Hang the bunch of flowers at the center, behind the mandap. That way, the backdrop for the mandap looks very attractive.
Line the area of the mandap with a bright carpet. Ensure that the flowers you have chosen for the backdrop are not in contrast with those, used to decorate the mandap.
Lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the look of the mandap. To set it apart from other places of the wedding venue, illuminate it with strings of yellow lights. You may resort to the economical options of LED lights, or go for the elaborate lighting fixtures.
Since the mandap is not left empty, you need to place a couple of chairs, for the bride and the groom to sit. While choosing the furniture, ensure that it goes well with the mandap decorations.

Engagement Decor Tips

2010-02-18T13:46:00.001-08:00

Engagement is an important ceremony, as it marks the beginning of the relationship not only between two individuals, but also between also two families. Different kinds of decorations can be seen in different parties, depending on the budget and the chosen theme. However, flowers and artifacts find a special place among the decorations used for the engagement parties, irrespective of the theme. The colorful decorations set the perfect ambience for celebrations and boosts up the party spirits within everybody. If you want to make your engagement party the most memorable one, then decorate the venue in a unique style that reflects your perception about beautifying a place. In this article, we have given some ideas for engagement party decorations.

Engagement Party Decor

Welcome the guests with a beautiful banner at the entranceway. The wordings of the banner should be legible and the font chosen for it should be colorful, sparkling and attractive. Tie a few bunches of balloons around the banner, to complete the look.
If you are decorating your engagement party venue in an ethnic way, then you may make use of bright red and golden colors for the flowers and artifacts like bells, wall hanging, etc.
Lighting is a decisive factor, which sets the mood for the venue. If you want to make the venue truly ethnic, then illuminate the place with lanterns and candles, instead of using electric lighting fixtures. If you want to create a romantic atmosphere, then you may dim the lights of the place, using dimmer switch.
You may make use of mirror work, heavy embroidery, wooden furniture and vibrant colors for the party venue. This is best applicable when you are decorating the room according to an ethnic theme.
Some of the popular themes chosen for decorating the venue of engagement party include fairy theme, royal theme and that inspired by Hollywood/Bollywood. Ensure that the decorations well complement the chosen theme.
Add substance to the party decor by breathing in 'life' to the decorations. Literally not possible though, you can always communicate the thought of the wonderful unison of the bride and the groom. You may make a collage with an assortment of photographs of the couple, right from their childhood to the present time. You may hang it in the center of the room, so that everyone's attention is drawn towards it.
The use of oversized decorative items for engagement parties is in vogue. You may make use of the over-sized cut out of engagement ring for decorating the party hall. Ensure that you have placed the balloons at locations that are catch the immediate attention of the guests.
In case you are arranging a buffet for your guests, then ensure that the table is arranged neatly and attractively. Adorn the table with a beautiful flower vase or a centerpiece made of fruits. Arrange the cutlery properly. Insert candles, placed on decorative candle holders, in between the dishes. Ensure that you do not overcrowd the buffet table.

Indian wedding dresses

2010-02-17T15:19:00.001-08:00

Ready to shop for the special occasion? Wedding is said to be the third passion of Indians. (Cricket and Bollywood are said to occupy the first two positions.) With the onset of autumn all the Indians are in the full swing for the wedding season. All the aspiring brides and grooms start hunting around the best set of indian wedding dresses for the special day.

Indian wedding is like a family festival. This is the time when all the relatives across the globe come together to bless the couple. Since it is a family get-together, not only the bride gets into shopping but it is the shopping spree for the entire family.

This year the market is all set with the bright colors. There are various colors and designs of lehenga- choli, heavy embroidered saris, salwar-kameez, etc. Vibrant and loud colors are back this year. In addition to the various shades of red and maroon which has been the lifeline of the Indian wedding, this year various shades of green and pink are also in demand. Pherozi or peacock blue with the contrast adds to the beauty. Orange and yellow with contrast of red and green would make you feel like the princess.

Flaunt your style with the lehengas embroidered with dabka, Zardozi, neemzari, sequins, swarovsky, crystal, kundan, cutdana, etc. Nalki and gota work is very much in demand. Addition of beads and jamawar patch with zari work will add to the enigma of your beauty.

Earlier the market didn't have much designs but now there are umpteen designs, fish tail cut enhances the beauty of the bride but unfortunately it might not look very appealing on the plum girls: so what, circular lehengas have always been in vogue. Umbrella cut lehenga also looks very sexy and attractive. A- Line lehenga looks beautiful too. The cholis have also turned designer, long ones with dabka, sequins, gotas or small ones with knotted back or noodle strap. It depends on the requirement and the body shape. Backless choli looks gorgeous. Designer necklines are also stunning. Dupattas with heavy work looks vivacious even with simple choli.

Well that is about the cuts and colors. Now the fabric, net and georgette always enhance the nubile cut of the lady. Saturn and jacquard are thick material which can save you from the chilling cold. Crepe, dupian silk and faux georgette are in demand. Whatever you plan to wear don't forget to buy a comfortable pair of footwear. On this special occasion, it's not only the style but the comfort, which matters a lot.

Groom don't get disheartened, the market has lot for you too. This year Angarkha is the main catch for you, Sherwani is evergreen as it's very decent and elegant. Silk kurtas with light embroidery are also the eye catcher. Aligarhi pajamas will be the ultimate match. Light shawls with light resham or zari embroidery on the border can be used or you can also take stole in contrast to your kurta. Mojdi, again with very light gold or silver embroidery would enhance your glow.

Being in vogue is today's demand but comfort should be the priority. Whatever you choose, right from the dress to the footwear and the hair do should be comfortable because wedding is not the end, it's the gateway to another responsible world. Choose wisely.

Indian wedding jewellery

2010-02-16T10:28:00.003-08:00

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Muslim Post-Wedding Rituals

2010-02-14T02:49:00.000-08:00

In India, wedding is something that cannot be restricted to a single-day celebration. People in different communities, following different religions, have their own way of honoring the newly wed couple, post marriage. The post-wedding rituals followed by Muslims are divided into four phases, wherein the bride is bid goodbye by her family and is welcomed to her 'new home', by the groom's family. All the four phases of the rituals are filled with touching moments. If you want to know more about post-wedding rituals followed by Muslims, then go through the following lines.

Muslim Post-Wedding Customs

Rukshat Ceremony
With tearful eyes, the bride’s family and friends bid her goodbye, before she leaves for her house with her husband. The bride’s father places his daughter’s hand in the hand of his son-in-law and requests him to take good care of his dear daughter.

Welcoming The Bride
Giving a warm welcome to her daughter-in-law, the groom’s mother raises the Quran above her head, as she enters her new home.

Chauthi Custom
Chauthi custom takes place on the fourth day after marriage, in which the bride visits her parental house.

Valimah Ceremony
Valimah ceremony is the lavish reception party that the groom’s family hosts for welcoming the bride. It is an occasion that aims to facilitate intimate relationships between the two families.

Muslim Wedding Rituals

2010-02-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

Wedding is an important turning point in everyone's life. The ceremonious occasion is organized and celebrated in myriad ways all around the world. Different communities of the society have their own way of organizing the most important occasion. The wedding rituals are broadly divided according to the religions. The Muslims all over the world have a unique way of tying the wedding knot. Most of the Muslim weddings in India, whether simple or extravagant, are arranged by following the age-old rituals. In the following lines, we have provided information on Muslim wedding rituals.

Muslim Marriage Customs

Welcoming The Baraat

To announce the arrival of groom’s baraat at the doorsteps of the bridal residence or wedding venue, the musicians play traditional songs. The groom and the bride’s brother share a drink of sherbet. The bride’s sisters come up with different ideas of playing pranks with the guests. They attempt to slap the guests playfully, using flower batons.

Nikaah Ceremony
Nikaah is the wedding ceremony that can take place at some convenient venue or else at the bride or groom’s residence. The ceremony is conducted by the Maulvi (priest). Close friends and relatives witness the happening of the event. The father of the bride and groom, addressed as Walis, have an important role to play in the performance of nikaah. The priest reads certain verses from the Quran. Thereafter, Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance) takes place.

The groom's side sends the proposal and the bride’s side gives her consent. For the legality of marriage, mutual consent is of prime importance. On the wedding day, the elderly members of both the families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). Mehar is a mandatory price that the groom’s family must pay to the bride.

Nikaahnama
Nikaahnama is a legal document that must be duly signed by the bride, bridegroom, Maulvi and Walis for the marriage to be legal. It contains a set of terms and conditions that must be abided by both the parties.

Blessing The Groom
The bridegroom seeks the blessings from the older women. As a mark of respect, the groom offers them ‘salaam’. People give their heartiest wishes to the newly wed.

Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf
The guests are served a lavish dinner. Men and women are usually seated separately, for dining. After the dinner, the newly wed get the chance to sit together for the first time. The heads of the bride and groom are covered using dupatta. Thereafter, the newly wed read prayers, as per the instructions of the Maulvi. The Quran is placed between the bride and groom and they are allowed to look at each other only through mirrors.

Muslim Post-Wedding Rituals

2010-02-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

Muslim Post-Wedding Customs

Rukshat Ceremony

With tearful eyes, the bride’s family and friends bid her goodbye, before she leaves for her house with her husband. The bride’s father places his daughter’s hand in the hand of his son-in-law and requests him to take good care of his dear daughter.

Welcoming The Bride

Giving a warm welcome to her daughter-in-law, the groom’s mother raises the Quran above her head, as she enters her new home.

Chauthi Custom
Chauthi custom takes place on the fourth day after marriage, in which the bride visits her parental house.

Valimah Ceremony
Valimah ceremony is the lavish reception party that the groom’s family hosts for welcoming the bride. It is an occasion that aims to facilitate intimate relationships between the two families.

Muslim Wedding Ceremony

2010-02-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Muslim wedding ceremony is celebrated with grandeur. Muslim wedding, known as 'Nikaah' in Urdu, can take place at any convenient time, because there is nothing like muhurat (the auspicious time) for the Muslims. Traditionally, the Muslim wedding is held at either the bride or the groom's home. However, in the present time, due to convenience and the availability of enough space to accommodate the long list of guests, Muslim weddings are organized in banquet halls, auditorium as well as community centers. Wherever the wedding is held, all the rituals of the three phases of wedding are strictly followed by the Muslims.

Muslim wedding is divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Pre-wedding rituals largely involve the exchange of sweets, fruits and visits to the bride and groom's houses. The pre-wedding rituals increase the level of excitement among the families of the bride and groom, who keenly look forward to the wedding day. The wedding is organized in an elegant and

charming way, while the culmination of the entire ceremony, known as post wedding rituals, is special in its own terms. If you are keen about knowing more about Muslim wedding, then go through our section, where we have provided detailed information on the rituals of Muslim wedding.

Muslim Pre-Wedding Rituals
Known as 'Nikah' in Urdu, the Muslim marriage is the most important ceremony for the Islam. It is a much awaited occasion, wherein the union of two souls is celebrated in an elegant and charming way. It is not just restricted to a single day. The formal procedures are divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding, each being different from the other.

Muslim Wedding Rituals
Wedding is an important turning point in everyone's life. The ceremonious occasion is organized and celebrated in myriad ways all around the world. Different communities of the society have their own way of organizing the most important occasion. The wedding rituals are broadly divided according to the religions.

Muslim Post-Wedding Rituals
In India, wedding is something that cannot be restricted to a single-day celebration. People in different communities, following different religions, have their own way of honoring the newly wed couple, post marriage. The post-wedding rituals followed by Muslims are divided into four phases, wherein the bride is bid goodbye by her family and is welcomed to her 'new home', by the groom's family.

Var Mala

2010-02-07T01:53:00.000-08:00

Indian wedding ceremonies today are a lavish affair, characterized with great pomp and gaiety, thanks to the infliction of commercialization. Right from lavish and stupendous Decor to sumptuous feasts and extravagant outfits and jewelry, weddings have become resplendent celebrations. However, the main essence of the festival, that is, the rituals and customs performed have managed to remain intact. The bride and the groom are mostly dressed in traditional Indian wear. While the bride wears ethnic Indian sari or lehenga and is adored with sparkling jewelry, the groom flaunts a traditional sherwani with a saffa or turban on his head.

Decription Of Var Mala

Talking about the wedding day functions, var mala or jai mala is one of most significant rituals that are performed. Var mala is a garland made out fresh flowers. Colorful and exotic looking, in the preset times, var mala is also made of artificial flowers. While the tradition of var mala is practiced in all the parts of India, the garland used varies from region to region. The var mala used in southern part of India is extremely heavy and long in size, as compared to ones used in North India. Red roses are the most picked choice for wedding garlands, though you can even go for orchids, carnations, and so on.

Var Mala Ceremony
Following the reception of the baraat, the groom is then taken to an elevated stage in the wedding place, where the var mala ritual is performed. While he is on the stage, the bride enters the wedding place escorted with her sisters and friends. She is then made to stand next to the bridegroom. It is here that the ritual of var mala is performed. The bride and the groom exchange their flower garland, by putting it around each other's neck. Var mala carries an important significance and implies mutual acceptance of both the bride and the groom towards each other, as future husband and wife.

Var mala is one of the occasions, when fun and frolic completely dominates the wedding scene. Mostly, the male relatives of the groom lift him, so that the bride is not able to put the var mala around his neck. At this, the male members of the bride even lift the bride and the two groups try to dissuade each other. According to the traditions, the bride first put the garland around the neck of the groom. After her successful attempt, it is the turn of the groom to try his luck. The lifts are mainly done to bring in the element of fun. It adds a chuckle and smile on the face of both the bride and the groom.

Mandap

2010-01-27T03:18:00.000-08:00

Today, Hindu weddings are celebrated on a large canvas. People are mostly influenced by the lavish portrayal of wedding ceremonies in Hindi movies. The Indian wedding normally is a four to five days affair and each day has a special significance and role. Just like the pre wedding functions such as sangeet, mehendi and engagement are celebrated in a grand manner, so is the main day wedding. These are also celebrated on a grand scale with lots of glitz and opulence.

Indian Wedding Mandap

In a traditional Indian wedding, the main day function is usually held at the bride's place. However, these days, garden areas, parks and farm houses are mostly preferred, as wedding venues. These open spaces are not only big but also pose to be the ideal location. The place where most of the wedding ceremony is held is a colorful and beautifully decorated mandap. Mandap can be explained as a canopy that is supported by four pillars. It is the stage for the wedding function. The mandap is mostly decorated in a traditional way and reflects the theme of the marriage. It is in the mandap that all the marriage rituals are performed.

As a sign of prosperity, the mandap is mostly adored in red and golden color. The four pillars of the mandap symbolize the parents of both the bride and groom. The pillars portray the vital role that both the parents have played, in bringing up their children and guiding them in time of need and despair. The wedding ceremony takes place in front of the sacred fire in the mandap, which is a witness to the wedding ceremony. According to Hindu tradition and custom all Hindu weddings should take place in mandap or canopy.

Mandap Decor Ideas

Mandap is one of the most decorative places in the wedding area. It is the place, where all main day rituals and customs are performed. Right from the saat phere to the kanyadaan, everything is performed in the mandap.
Flowers form the main decorative element on the canopy or the mandap. All the four pillars of the mandap are aesthetically decorated with a combination of flowers. Mostly, roses, marigold and daisies make the ideal combination of floral Decor. You can also go for seasonal flowers that are available during that time.
Decorative kalash are the next best bet for the mandap Decor. Intricately designed, kalash give ethnic and traditional look to the place. You can go for painted ones, ones that are embellished with mirrors or even those that have beautiful stone designs.
Drapes are a good option to explore. Adhere to your wedding theme or color code while choosing the drapes. There are umpteen options, however, in case you are looking for something traditional, bandhani would make a perfect choice. Use the drapes strategically to accentuate the look of the mandap.
Lights would suit the best when it comes to mandap Decor. Apart from enhancing the look of the Decor, these would also be extremely useful in adding more light to the area. Lights become quintessential, if the mahurat is at night fall, in an open space.
Adoring the mandap with bells definitely augments the beauty of the place and adds creativity and excitement to it. The best place to put the bells would be at the four pillars. Hang them from the roof of the canopy at the four ends is also a good option to explore.

Indian Wedding Day Functions

2010-01-26T07:48:00.001-08:00

In Indian society, marriage is not just a social custom. It is an institution, which teaches us lots of things about life. Wedding function is considered as the biggest event in one's lifetime, and to make this occasion a memorable one, people generally celebrate it in a grand manner. For a girl and a boy it is a transition from boyhood to manhood and girlhood to womanhood respectively. Marriage marks the beginning of a new life of the couple. Remember, in India, wedlock is not just about coming together of two individuals into oneness, but of two souls as one.

Hindu Wedding Day Rituals

In a Hindu marriage ceremony, the main day or the wedding day is characterized by performing a lot of rituals and customs. Though the ceremonies practiced in different regions are somewhat different, the basics of the ritual remain the same. The functions of the main day start with the reception of the baraat. Generally, in the Hindu custom, the groom, along with his parents, relatives and friends comes to the bride's place with a lot of fanfare and gusto. The parents of the bride receive the groom and the baraat at the entrance and perform a welcoming aarti.

After the welcoming aarti, the groom is made to stand at an elevated level while the bride enters the wedding place, along with her sisters and cousins. The two then stand facing each other, holding a wedding garland made of flowers. After the two exchange the garlands, the bride and the groom are taken to the mandap where the other rituals and rites are performed. Mandap is usually in the form of a canopy and is beautifully decorated with flowers, colorful personal adornment, and other items.

In the mandap, the bride, the groom the parents of the bride and the priest sit, while the rest of the family members sit around the canopy. All the rituals and customs of the wedding are performed in the mandap. One of the most significant rituals is the saptapadi or seven steps taken by the bride and the bridegroom together. A sacred fire is lit and the two circle around the fire, while the priest recites mantras and speaks of the real essence or spirit of marriage. Generally, it is here that the couple promises the seven vows by taking seven steps before God, symbolized by fire and light.

Another important ceremony performed in the mandap is the ritual of putting vermillion or sindoor onto the bride's head. In this, the groom fills the bride's center parting of the hair with sindoor, one of the sacred symbols of marriage. Then, the ritual of tying mangalsutra is performed. It is here that the groom ties the mangalsutra around the neck of the bride, while the priest recites Vedic hymns and prays. This black beaded sacred thread signifies the union of the bride and the groom. These are some of the important rituals and customs that are performed as a part of the main day function throughout India, irrespective of region differences.

Mandap
Today, Hindu weddings are celebrated on a large canvas. People are mostly influenced by the lavish portrayal of wedding ceremonies in Hindi movies. The Indian wedding normally is a four to five days affair and each day has a special significance and role. Just like the pre wedding functions such as sangeet, mehendi and engagement are celebrated in a grand manner, so is the main day wedding.

Var Mala
Indian wedding ceremonies today are a lavish affair, characterized with great pomp and gaiety, thanks to the infliction of commercialization. Right from lavish and stupendous Decor to sumptuous feasts and extravagant outfits and jewelry, weddings have become resplendent celebrations. However, the main essence of the festival, that is, the rituals and customs performed have managed to remain intact.

Solah Shringar for Indian Bride

2010-01-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

For an Indian bride, the wedding day is the most important day of her life. Most of the girls in our country have lots of dreams for this day, since it marks the beginning of their journey into womanhood. Different kinds of beauty rituals are associated with the wedding day, as her female friends and relatives gather together to prepare her for the most special occasion of her life. Almost all the girls wish to look their best and epitomize beauty on their wedding day. In India, the beautification of the bride consists of sixteen parts and covers almost every part of the body, right from the head to the toe. To get detailed information about the solah shringar of an Indian bride, explore the following lines.

Solah Shringar

Bindi

The first shringar of the bride, bindi has a strong religious implication and is a sacred symbol of a married woman. To make the bindi look utmost attractive, you can even decorate it with red and white dots around it and along the eyebrows.

Sindoor

A sacred symbol of suhaag, sindoor or vermillion is applied on the center parting of the hair and is a part of the shringar of a married woman.

Maangteeka
A hair accessory, Maangtika is worn on the central parting of the hair of the bride. It is mostly made out of gold.

Anjana
Kajal or kohl is one of the most popular solah shringar. It is basically applied on the edges of the upper and lower eyelids, enhancing the bride's eyes and making it attractive and appealing.

Nath
Nath or the nose ring completes the look of the bride, making her look traditional and ethnic. Made of gold, it is generally worn on the left nostril and is supported by a gold chain, which extends just behind left ear.

Haar
After the face, next comes the neck of the bride. It is adored with beautiful haar or necklace, which is usually made of gold and embellished with diamonds, pearls or stones.

Karn Phool
Ear rings or karn phool adorn the ear of the bride. Mostly, the ear ring flaunted by the bride is made out of gold and is extremely beautiful and heavy.

Mehendi
Mehndi signifies the essence of love in wedlock and is essentially applied on the hands and feet of the bride, to strengthen that bond of love. It is one of the most special pre-wedding rituals in India.

Choodiyan
Bangles or choodiyan adore the wrist of the bride and are usally made of glass, laakh or gold. Conventionally, brides adore their wrist with red bangles.

Baajuband
Baajuband or more popularly known as armlets are worn on the upper arms of the bride and are similar to bangles in their appearance. Mughal, Rajasthani or Jaipuri are the most popular designs of baajuband.

Aarsi
The fingers of the bride are adored with exotic rings. Aarsi is the thumb ring which the bride wears. It mostly has mirror embedded on it and enable the bride to have a glimpse of herself as well as her life-partner

Keshapasharachana
Apart from the make-up, hair style plays an imperative role in determining the look of the bride. Mostly, the hair is tied in the braid style, with hair accessories and flowers accentuating the look.

Kamarband
Kamarband is a waist band that is tied on the waist line of the bride. Made up of gold, it is embellished with stones, diamonds and precious gems and is beautifully designed.

Payal & Bichuas
Made up of silver, it is a thick chain that is tied on the ankle and is adored with tiny bells that make enticing sound. Bichuas or toe rings are similar to rings worn in the fingers of the hand, but are worn in the fingers of each foot.

Itar
Itar is a special fragrance that is applied on to the bride. It emits a special aroma and that helps the bride stay fresh despite the long elaborate rituals performed.

Bridal Dress
Made in bright bridal colors, such as red, maroon, gold or green, bridal dress comprises of saree, lehenga and salwar kurta. It truly brings out the eternal beauty of the bride.

Mangalsutra Significance

2010-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

A Hindu marriage symbolizes not just coming together of two individuals, but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love, oneness and spiritual growth. Traditionally, Hindu marriage is much more than just celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, companionship, dedication, and devotion from both the partners. Each and every rituals and customs associated with marriage portrays the real essence of wedding. Traditionally, there are five signs of marital status of women, according to Hindu culture- mangalsutra, toe rings, kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Talking about Mangalsutra, the word denotes a significant meaning. While mangal means aupiscious, sutra can be deciphered as a thread.

Significance Of Mangalsutra In Hindu Marriage

Mangalsutra, as such, is not just a jewelry item, but a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by married women, as a symbol of their successful marriage. An inevitable part of Hindu marriage ceremony, Mangalsutra refers to a revered symbol of wedlock. India being a land of diversity, different regions in the country have assigned different names for this scared symbol. While it is known as the thaaly or maangalyam in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil in Southern India, people in the northern part of India calls it Mangalsutra.

It is believed that the concept of this sacred thread had its roots laid down in South India. Having immense significance and importance, it traveled to North India as well and today, forms an imperative part of the wedding ceremony.

Mangalsutra is the token of dignity and love given to a bride by her groom. On the wedding day, the groom ties the Mangalsutra around the neck of the bride, while the priest recites Vedic hymns and prays. It signifies the union of the bride and the groom, amidst the presence of deities, who are believed to be attending the marriage. In some regions, the groom ties first and his sisters tie the rest. Talking about its appearance, this sacred thread is made of two strings of small black beads with a locket or pendant. Sometimes, it is also made of small beads of gold and black beads, with gold and diamond pendant.

Considered auspicious for married women, mangalsutra is believed to have divine powers. Each of the black beads in the Mangalsutra, signify protection from evil power and are believed to protect the marriage of a couple, essentially the life of the husband. Hindu women feel superstitious, when this scared thread breaks or gets lost. In the present times, mangalsutra are boasts of various designs and patterns. While the Gujaratis and Marwaris often go for a diamond pendant, Maharashtrians have a pendant that consists of one or two vatis and Bengalis in the meanwhile, have coral incorporated in the designing of the Mangalsutra.

Present Scenario
Today, the concept of wearing a mangalsutra has changed considerably. It is more of a fashion statement than a symbol of marriage, thanks to modernization. With the progressive times, the wearing of mangalsutra in working women has considerably reduced. There is also a marked change in the style and making of mangalsutra over the years. Previously, women used to wear simple design mangalsutra, with small pendants, but now, the trend is to wear short length ones, that too with a single string. Instead of gold pendants, they prefer diamond ones. However, the black beads have still managed to remain constant. Whatever may be the reason to adore it, mangalsutra surely symbolizes the real essence and concept of a Hindu marriage.

Hindu Marriage Rituals

2010-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

According to Hindu Sastra there are four stages of life, of which Grahastha Ashram or married life signifies the second stage. It begins, when a man and a woman come together and marry. In India, marriage is treated as an institution, which teaches the actual values of life. Every stage in life has its own charm and a married life is no exception. In India, a marriage is usually arranged by the respective parents of the bride and the groom and follows various steps. Marriage among Hindus is not only considered a union of two souls, but of two families.

Hindu Marriage Rituals And Customs

A Hindu wedding not only involves the bride and groom but the entire community, friends, family and relatives as everybody participates in their coming together of the to-be couple. The first and the foremost step is the selection of the bride and the bridegroom. While in love marriages, a boy and a girl themselves select their life partner, it is crucial when it comes to arranged marriages. Talking about arranged marriages in the Hindu custom, the parents select the prospective bride/groom for their son/daughter.

After the selection procedure is over, the family members of both the girl and boy ask the priest to suggest an auspicious date for the engagement of the two also known as misri or ring ceremony. Since India boasts of diverse cultures and traditions, the engagement ceremony rituals differ from region to region and community to community. However, the basic of all the rituals, mentioned here, form an indispensable part of Hindu wedding. In the betrothal ceremony, the to-be bride and the groom exchange wedding rings among each other. Sweets and garlands are also exchanged among the couple.

After the festive spirit of engagement, the next important ritual is the mehndi party. It is believed that the color of mehndi signifies the essence of love in a marriage, so it is put on bride's hand to strengthen that bond of love. The bride's family and friends mainly celebrate this ceremony. The female friends and family members of the bride rejoice and celebrate this occasion, as henna gets painted on her hands and feet. Apart from the bride, the family members also get their hands painted with henna. Singing traditional songs and dancing to the beat of music forms a major part of this ritual.

Among the other important rituals is the Sangeet party, wherein all the family members and friends of the bride and groom celebrate, by singing and dancing the night away. Along with song and dance there are arrangements for food and drink. A large affair, Sangeet party is most popular among Punjabis, Marwaris and Gujaratis, although most of the regions today also practice this ritual. Ghari puja is also another important religious ceremony, which is performed on the eve of the wedding day at the groom and bride's place separately.

On the morning of the wedding day, Pithi or Haldi, the cleansing ceremony is practiced during which the bride and bridegroom are pasted with turmeric powder in their respective homes, as a part of their beautification process. Talking about the actual marriage ceremonies, the Hindu wedding mostly takes place in a mandap or a tent, which is beautifully decorated with flowers. The main Hindu wedding ceremony is a long and elaborate affair, which lasts for several hours and is attended by a large number of relatives, friends, acquaintances and so on.

One of the most significant rituals the bride and the groom perform is the Saptapadi or saat phere around a scared fire and light, which is symbolic to God. While the bride and the groom take the seven circles, the priest or purohit recites the mantras and speak of the real essence and significance of marriage. It is also during this time that the groom fills vermillion or sindoor in the center parting of the bride and puts mangalsutra around her neck. Both sindoor and mangalsutra have strong religious implications and are sacred symbols of a married woman. These were some of the rituals and customs, which were generally followed in all the Hindu marriages.

Hindu Marriages

2010-01-17T10:08:00.000-08:00

Hindu marriages signify customs, rituals and elaborate celebrations and are full of fun and frolic. Indian weddings speak volumes of the rich culture, heritage and ethnicity of the country. Every region follows its own traditions customs and rituals for the wedding. A wedding is an important religious ceremony in the Hindu religion and one of the most important of the sixteen Hindu sanskars or sacraments. It is not only establishing the bond between two people, but also the bond between two families. Hindu weddings are usually hosted by the bride's parents and take place at a common place, decided by both the bride and groom's family. Generally, the marriage ceremonies take place at an open space, under a decorated canopy called mandap.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony

Talking about the varied customs and rituals followed, Hindu weddings extend up to four to five days. The ceremonies practiced are essentially divided into three parts - pre wedding customs, wedding day ceremony and post wedding rituals. The rituals and customs performed in each of the three phases have a deep significance and meaning. The pre wedding celebrations mainly includes engagement, sangeet, mehendi, haldi and tilak.

Coming to the wedding day ceremonies, it involves different traditional rituals, each having its own meaning and role. One of the most important rituals of Hindu wedding is the seven rounds or sapta padi taken together, around the sacred fire, by the bride and the groom, while the seven vows or promise are read by the priest or purohit. The bride and the bride groom take the vows before God, symbolized by fire and light. These seven promises taken together by the bride and groom build's the foundation of their relationship and marriage. It speaks of the loyalty, love, and commitment they would eventually share in their married life. Thereafter, post wedding ceremonies are performed, which mostly include vidaai and reception. This is the most emotional moment of the wedding, when the bride takes leave from her parents and other family members and takes her first step towards her new life in her husband's house. On reaching the new home, there are a number of ceremonies that are performed, right from welcoming the new bride to playing games and making merry.

Hindu Marriage Rituals
According to Hindu Sastra there are four stages of life, of which Grahastha Ashram or married life signifies the second stage. It begins, when a man and a woman come together and marry. In India, marriage is treated as an institution, which teaches the actual values of life.

Mangalsutra Significance
A Hindu marriage symbolizes not just coming together of two individuals, but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love, oneness and spiritual growth. Traditionally, Hindu marriage is much more than just celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, companionship, dedication, and devotion from both the partners.

Solah Shringar
For an Indian bride, the wedding day is the most important day of her life. Most of the girls in our country have lots of dreams for this day, since it marks the beginning of their journey into womanhood. Different kinds of beauty rituals are associated with the wedding day, as her female friends and relatives gather together to prepare her for the most special occasion of her life.

Wedding Decoration Tips

2010-01-13T09:28:00.001-08:00

Traditional Hindu weddings are grand affair. It normally takes place over several days with elaborate ceremonies, which lasts up to one week. Indian wedding function is divided in to three sections pre wedding functions, main day functions and post wedding functions. These functions include the entire family, friends and relatives in the celebration and involve many costume changes. The bride and groom are treated royally for the days preceding the wedding and are showered with gifts and attention. The main day ceremony is nothing less than a fairytale. On the day of the wedding the groom mounts a grandly decorated horse and rides to the wedding ceremony accompanied by his family and friends. Nowadays the grooms mostly travel by decorated car. The bride on the other hand is dressed in traditionally attire, which is normally a pink or a red sari with heavy zari work and embroidery on her wedding day and sparkling jewelry given to her by family and close friends.

arlier main wedding function use to take place on a mandap, which is normally decorated with flowers. Today modern Indian wedding decoration is a mixture of Indian ethnicity, richness and Western culture and custom. Mostly today's Indian wedding decorations are theme based, as people mainly don't have the time or resources. The mandap is decorated with red color cloth because red is considered auspicious for the wedding occasion. Hire a henna artist a day or two before wedding to entertain out of town guests and get them in the mood of the wedding. Flowers have always been a part of Indian wedding decorations. So there is an extensive use of flowers of different kinds like roses, jasmine, and many more.

Decorative tents or "shamianas" are often rented for Indian weddings celebrations. Different pattern of tents are available like bandhani print, Gujarati work and ethnic mirror work and satin cloth depending on the budget and theme of the wedding. And if your wedding is an outdoor one than shamianas are a wonderful idea. The full wedding place is decorated with elaborate carpets to line the tent. Gold and red are the colors associated with Indian wedding decoration so most of the Decor is of these two colors. The tents are lighted with Indian inspired lanterns and candles. Exotic incense stick is burn in the room to create a refreshing and pure atmosphere. In true sense the Indian wedding decoration is an amalgamation of Indian culture, tradition and custom and encompasses all the senses, which makes it an occasion to remember for lifetime.

Engagement Decor Tips
Engagement is an important ceremony, as it marks the beginning of the relationship not only between two individuals, but also between also two families. Different kinds of decorations can be seen in different parties, depending on the budget and the chosen theme. However, flowers and artifacts find a special place among the decorations used for the engagement parties, irrespective of the theme.

Mandap Decor Tips
Traditionally, Hindu weddings are solemnized at a well decorated mandap - a four-pole canopy erected at the center of the stage. Although the Decor of the mandap varies from region to region across India, the basic concept remains the same - to bless the bride and the groom, who tie the wedding knot. Mandap is erected at the wedding venue, primarily to conduct rituals like tying the mangalsutra, pheras and exchange of garlands (jaimala).

Mehendi Decor Tips
Mehendi is one of the important pre-wedding rituals followed in many parts of India. It holds significance, primarily in the northern parts of the country, where henna is considered auspicious for festive occasions. While mehendi is an indispensable part of the pre-marriage celebrations of Hindu and Muslim weddings, people following other religions have also adopted it, with the changing times.

Sangeet Decor Tips
Predominantly a ladies-only affair, sangeet is an important pre-wedding ceremony observed in different parts of north India. It is a fun occasion, wherein the close female relatives of the bride and the groom gather at their respective places, to celebrate it. The conventional way of celebrating lady sangeet is to sing traditional songs related to the auspicious occasion of marriage.

Wedding Kalash And Thali Decor Tips
The ceremonies and rituals performed in Indian weddings have certain social significance. The rituals that are performed before, during and after the wedding symbolize the physical, spiritual and mental unison of the couple, who has tied the wedding knot, as well as the special bond between the families of the two. To indicate the union, certain things are used as 'symbols' of shagun for the ceremony.

Tilak Decor Tips
Centered on the groom, tilak is a pre wedding ceremony and signifies that the prospective groom is affirmed by the father of the to-be bride, for his daughter. Mainly held at the groom's residence, the members from the bride's side bring gifts for the groom and his family in the form of fruits, sweets and clothing. Traditionally, the bride and her mother do not attend this ceremony. Mostly, it's the male family members and relatives of the bride, who attend the function.

Wedding Photography

2010-01-12T16:03:00.001-08:00

Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime situation, which requires an intuitive sensitivity to each and every aspect of the ceremony. Choosing a professional wedding photographer is one of the prerequisites to make the ceremony a memorable one. When it comes to marriage photography, the decisions are very often made on the basis of price. In fact, what you should be looking for in a marriage photographer is his/her ability to capture the precious moments of the ceremony, so that you will enjoy viewing the photos time and again, and cherish them for the rest of your life. Here in this article, we provide you tips that will help you know how to choose a wedding photographer.

How To Choose A Wedding Photographer

The best professional photographers usually do their bookings a year in advance. In case you want to have outstanding photographs for your wedding, then start searching for a professional wedding photographer few months prior to the ceremony.
You may consult your relatives and friends, who have held weddings prior to your ceremony. Ask if they liked the photography of their own wedding. Browse through their wedding albums.
If you have a list of photographers to choose from, then peruse their websites or portfolios, to scrutinize their photographic capabilities. Look at their wedding photo samples. Consider how they perform at different given environments and settings of wedding venue.
Peruse the works of the photographer. For the purpose, request him to bring two or three wedding photo albums, which are he has done recently.
Make sure that you see at least one album of an entire wedding, right from the start to the finish. This will enable you to figure out how the photographer has handled the entire ceremony.
Be sure to examine the color, clarity, exposure, composition and graininess of the photographs clicked by the photographer. This will help you determine the style of photography adapted by him.
Budget is an important aspect for the marriage photography. Clearly specify your affordability, to the photographer. Mention whether you want to capture the images of all the ceremony (pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals) or just want to frame the wedding photos. This decision will affect the budget.
Find out whether he has shot at your wedding venue before. If yes, then he may know the places to get good shots or the best ways to capture the special moments.
It is very important to discuss the wedding photography equipments as well. You should know the type of camera and equipment generally used by the photographer during wedding ceremonies.
In case your photographer uses a digital camera, make sure that the gadget is capable of taking images of at least 8 mega pixels. In case he uses an optical camera, ensure that he uses professional grade quality film instead of consumer quality film.
Every professional needs a backup equipment, in case his original equipment fails to work properly, during the ceremony. Check whether your photographer carries a backup with him or not.

Indian Baraat

2010-01-11T16:43:00.001-08:00

The traditional Indian wedding establishes a bond between two families and their cultures, apart from creating a very special relationship between the couple, who tie the nuptial knot. The marriage ceremony is a series of colorful events, spread over two to three days. One of the important and fun ceremonies is the arrival of the groom on the day of the wedding, at the venue. The groom's family members, relatives and friends accompany him to the wedding venue, in a marriage procession called 'baraat'. Groom's friends and relatives are called the 'baraati'. The wedding baraat is held with high esteem and the baratis are pampered by the bride's family, when they arrive at the wedding venue. The baraat is received in different ways in different parts of the country. In the following lines, we have given description about the baraat in Indian marriage.

Indian Wedding Barat

Traditionally in north India, the groom, dressed in his wedding attire, is seated on a white decorated mare, when he heads towards the wedding venue along with the baraati.
Before sitting on the mare, the groom is adorned with a saafa (turban, preferably pink or saffron colored) along with a sehara (floral veil), which is tied around his forehead, by his mother. Saafa is mandatory, but tying sehara is not a compulsion. In some regions of north India, a sword is also provided to the groom.
In the mare, the groom is accompanied by his younger brother, cousin or nephew who acts as his caregiver, who is called 'sarbaala'.
The baraatis are often accompanied by music band, which provides them with entertainment, while on their way to the venue. The baraatis dance to the tune played by the band.
A vivid display of fireworks contributes to the festive spirit of the marriage procession.
A contemporary approach to the ritual is to make use of a car, instead of mare. For the purpose, people rent a car, in which the groom is seated. However, to maintain the tradition, the groom travels a certain distance via car and then rides on the mare.
After reaching the wedding venue, the groom and the marriage procession are welcomed by the bride's parents and the elder members of her family.The bride's mother performs the aarti, when the groom enters the venue. In the mean time, the other members of the bride's family welcome others in the marriage procession.
The groom's acquaintance is introduced to the bride's family, friends and relatives. This ritual is known as milni.
Earlier, married women were not allowed to join the marriage procession. However, with the changing time, they have also become a part of the baraat. Nonetheless, married women are still not allowed at the interiors of rural India, to accompany the groom in the marriage procession.
The barati who comes in the procession are garlanded and seated. Cold drinks, snacks and sweets are served to them. They are also invited for dinner as the guests of bride's parents.
In most of the cases, all the expenses of the barat reception, marriage ceremony and the dinner are born by bride's parents in most of the cases.

Seven Vows Of Marriage

2010-01-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hindu wedding is all about rituals and customs, which teach us the actual essence of a blissful married life. The seven vows of marriage symbolize seven promises, which are sworn by the bride and the groom during the auspicious ceremony of wedding. During the marriage, a sacred fire is created with ghee and wooden sticks, in order to evoke Agni (fire god), which serves as the witness to the ritual of seven vows. The priest, who conducts the wedding, chants Vedic mantras. Amidst the blazing fire of the havankund and the chanting of mantras, the bride and the groom pledge their commitment to each other, for the lifetime. Known as Saptapadi/pheras, seven vows is a beautiful ritual observed in Hindu marriages, although the act of taking the seven vows varies from region to region, in India.

People following Hinduism believe that if a married couple walks seven steps around the fire of the havankund, they will remain together for the lifetime. Generally, before taking the seven vows, the bride is seated to the right hand side of the groom. After taking the pheras, the bride shifts to the left side of the groom - this symbolizes that she is now closer to his heart. In most of the Hindu weddings, the newly married couple takes seven pheras, with the exception of Gujaratis and Sindhis, who take four pheras around the sacred fire. In the majority of the seven pheras, the groom leads the first four pheras, while he is preceded by the bride during the last three pheras. Given below are the meanings of the seven vows of marriage.

Seven Vows In Hindu Wedding

The bride and the groom take the first step of the seven vows to pledge that they would provide a prospered living for the household or the family that they would look after and avoid those that might hinder their healthy living.
During the second step of the seven pheras, the bride and the groom promise that they would develop their physical, mental and spiritual powers in order to lead a lifestyle that would be healthy.
During the third vow, the couple promises to earn a living and increase by righteous and proper means, so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold.
While taking the fourth vow, the married couple pledges to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faith.
The fifth vow is taken to have expand their heredity by having children, for whom, they will be responsible. They also pray to be blessed with healthy, honest and brave children.
While taking the sixth step around the sacred fire, the bride and the groom pray for self-control of the mind, body and soul and longevity of their marital relationship.
When the bride and the groom take the seventh and the last vow, they promise that they would be true and loyal to each other and would remain companions and best of friends for the lifetime.

Famous Indian Weddings

2010-01-08T06:59:00.001-08:00

Indian Wedding ceremonies have always been known for their elaborative and ritualistic nature. As most of the Indian religions regard marriage to be a social as well as religious ritual, the wedding ceremony acquires dual importance in the Indian context. Apart from this, in Indian families the Wedding ceremony is also treated as an occasion of celebrations and display of riches and wealth. That is why, the trend of grandiose and ostentatious wedding ceremonies have caught the attention of the people in the country. When even the middle class people go far beyond their capacities to make their wedding ceremony pompous and extravagant, you can easily imagine the display of luxuries in a famous Indian Wedding.

Some of the most famous Indian Weddings in contemporary times have been the wedding ceremonies of Sahara Shree Family and the Mittals. The wedding ceremony of Subroto Roy's sons Seemanto and Sushanto have been one of the most grand marriage ceremonies of modern Indian times. Arranged in the Sahara city, Lucknow the wedding ceremony was attended by over 11,000 guests and the guest list included the all the big and famous names in India. The wedding ceremony was so grand that it would always be remembered as one of most exotic wedding ceremonies in the Indian History.

Another wedding, which became the talk of the town, was the wedding of Vanisha Mittal, the daughter of London-based steel tycoon Laxmi Niwas Mittal with Amit Bhatia, a Delhi based investment banker. The venue of the wedding was the famous Palace of Versailles, where the French 'Sun King' Louis XIV held court in the 17th century, and the 17th-century Vaux le Vicomte, acknowledged as 'the finest chateau and garden' in France. The wedding celebrations went on for six days and the total estimated budget of the wedding was £30m / $55million i.e. about INR 200 crores. The guest list included all big and famous names from Indian and British society. Movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Aishwarya Rai to name a few.

The marriage ceremonies of Indian film and cricket stars are no less grand. Raveena Tandon's marriage ceremony was held with all the possible grandeur at the Jag Mandir Palace on an island in Pichchola Lake in the Udaipur city of Rajasthan. Hrithik Roshan's wedding ceremony with his long time sweetheart Sussanne at the Golden Palms Resort and Spa, Bangalore was also no less than a fairy tale. The other Indian ceremonies which came to limelight because of their grandeur and magnificence are actress Karisma Kapoor and businessman Sanjay Kapur's wedding, actor Abhishek Bachchan and former Miss World and famous Indian actress Aishwarya Rai's wedding, Ace Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan Gavaskar's wedding with his childhood sweetheart Swati, Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja's wedding with Aditi Jaitely and Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's wedding with Anjali Mehta.

Muslim Wedding Ceremony

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look forward to the wedding day. The wedding is organized in an elegant and charming way, while the culmination of the entire ceremony, known as post wedding rituals, is special in its own terms. If you are keen about knowing more about Muslim wedding, then go through our section, where we have provided detailed information on the rituals of Muslim wedding.

Hindu Marriage Act

2010-01-03T13:38:00.001-08:00

Unlike West, marriage in India is regarded more as a religious and social affair than a legal affair. Despite a very detailed chapter on the Indian marriages in the Indian constitution, most of the people in the country are unaware of the laws associated with marriages. In a cosmopolitan culture like India where umpteen numbers of cultures and religion prevail under the same canopy, it is very difficult to regulate all the customs by same kind of regulation especially of the matter is related with sensitive issues like marriage and hierarchy. Therefore, different kinds of Marriage Acts have been defined for different religions in the country. The Hindu marriage is governed by, ‘The Hindu Marriage Act', which came into existence on 18 May 1955.

Basic Provisions of Hindu Marriage Act

The provision under the Act is that it applies to any person who is Hindu by religion and it is also applicable to Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhsas well as and the person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew, and who is not governed by any other law.
It extends to the entire India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and it is applicable to Hindus domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are outside the said territories.
Under this law the bridegroom should be of 21 years of age and the bride should be of 18 years of age. They both should be Hindu by origin and should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship. Neither party should have a spouse living nor any party should be subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy, either of them should not be suffering from mental disorders or should not be unfit for marriage and procreation of children and both should be of sound mind and capable of giving valuable consent.
Bigamy or Polygamy is now prohibited and as per law it is treated as an offence under the Indian Penal code.
Just like marriages the law also governs divorces. Under the law divorce can be obtained on the grounds of adultery, cruelty, desertion for two years, conversion in religion, unsound mind, etc.
The Hindu Marriage law has also described certain prohibited relationships whose marriage is not legalized. Like father and daughter, son and mother, brother and sister and many more.
The Hindu Marriage act also does not set any prescribe or particular ceremonial for marriage. It states that a Hindu marriage may be formalized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party. Where rituals include the saptapadi (seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage is said to be solemnized once the seventh step is taken.
It has now become mandatory to register a Hindu Marriage.

Arya Samaj Wedding

2009-12-22T06:23:00.000-08:00

In India, the wedding rituals and customs in any family are mainly based on the religion or community that the family follows. The community only decides the kind of wedding ceremony that a couple would have. There are many people in India who don't believe in these specific and staunch rituals or grand and elaborate celebrations of the Hindu wedding function. For them, who are not so particular about the rules and regulations of their religion and community or want to keep their marriage a low key affair, Arya Samaj Marriage is a very convenient wedding option for them.

An Arya Samaj wedding is conducted by the Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswathi in any of its temple. The marriage in Arya Samaj wedding is performed as per Vedic rites and thus does not require any flamboyance. In fact, simplicity is the main essence of Arya Samaj wedding. Though the Arya Samaj weding is meant only for Hindus, any non-Hindu can also be allowed to undergo the marriage rituals if he undergoes the process of conversion through Shuddhi i.e. Purification.

The Arya Samaj wedding ceremony is performed with the fire and other elements as the witnesses since they don't believe in idol worshipping. In an Arya Samaj wedding, the mantras, which are chanted, are translated into a language that the couple can understand so that the couple can relate themselves to the meaning and significance of the wedding mantras. This wedding is different from the traditional Hindu wedding in the sense that it does not involves elaborate rituals and the ceremony is not extended over a long period of time. The wedding ceremony lasts for an hour and the wedding expense is very low compared to the normal traditional Hindu wedding.

The main rituals of the wedding are as follows:

Madhuparka is a ritual in which the bride and the groom arrive at the venue of the wedding the groom partakes of 'Madhuparka', which is a mixture of honey, curds and cream. The bride gives the groom water three times, which he sprinkles on his feet, over his body and drinks it the third time. Similarly, the groom also follows the ritual. This ritual symbolizes the commencement of their journey into a happy married life.
The ritual of kanyadaan is the one in which the parents of the bride offer their daughter's hand in marriage to the groom.
Havanv is the ritual where the wedding is solemnized in front of the Agni or holy fire, which is considered life. The priest chants the mantras invoking blessing for happy married life.
In the Pani Grahan Sanskar the groom takes the bride's hands in his and chants mantras promising to be beside her in times of need and look after all her needs. Then there are rituals like Shilarohan, Lajahom, Parikrama , and Saptapadi, which are followed.
Lastly the ritual ends with the Aashirwaad ceremony where the newly wedded couple takes the blessing of all the elders in the family.

Sikh Wedding Rituals

2009-12-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

The Sikh wedding is generally held in Gurudwara, amidst the preacher of the religious place, family, friends and relatives. When it comes to a Sikh Indian wedding, the festive ambiance is set a week before the ceremony. The groom's sister and the bride's father play a prominent role during the wedding ceremony, apart from the family members. The Sikh marriage is a simple, yet elegant occasion wherein various rituals are followed before, during and after it. Given below is detailed information on the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals followed by Sikhs.

Sikh Wedding Customs

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Shagun or engagement is the ceremony that marks the beginning of the Sikh wedding celebrations. The ceremony is also called Tilak, which is performed by a bhaiji (preacher) of the Gurudwara. He reads hymns and then applies a tilak on the groom's forehead, to mark the engagement ceremony. On the occasion, the families of the prospective bride and the groom exchange gifts in order to confirm the engagement of the couple. The bride's father takes care of the ceremonial activities of the engagement. As a part of the shagun, a thali containing coconut, dry dates, sugar and money are sent to the groom's family by the bride's family.

Choora or the bangle ceremony is another important Sikh pre-wedding ritual. The occasion is organized at the bride's home, wherein the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride adorn her wrist with white and red bangles. Ornaments made of silver and gold, known as kalira, are tied to the bangles. The third pre-wedding custom followed by Sikhs is 'maiya', according to which, the bride and the groom are not allowed to leave their house for few days prior to the wedding. Gana is a pre-wedding ritual wherein an auspicious red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride, at their respective homes. It is regarded as a sacred thread that protects the bride and the groom from ill omen.

Vatna is a ritual celebrated a few days before the wedding ceremony. According to the tradition followed by the Sikhs, vatna, a scented powder consisting of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil, is smeared to the bride and the groom. This is followed by an auspicious bath.Mehndi is another pre-wedding ritual organized on the eve of the marriage.During the ceremony, henna (mehndi) is applied on the hands and the feet of the bride.

Wedding Rituals
Gharoli is observed in the morning of the wedding day, at the groom's home. During the occasion, the groom's sister-in-law, accompanied by other female relatives, go to a nearby well or Gurudwara to fill an earther pitcher (gharoli) with water, which is later used to bathe and the groom. This is followed by the wedding ceremony, which is called 'milni'. The groom's sisters tie a sehera (floral veil) to his forehead. They adorn his neck with a garland of currency notes. The groom's procession then heads towards the bride's house, where the milni ceremony is held.

During the milni ceremony, the bride and the groom's families embrace and wish each other. Shabads are sung and the ardaas recited as the procession enters the Gurudwara breakfast is served to the guests.After the culmination of the milni ceremony, the bride and the groom sit together to attend the Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan. The groom's sister drapes a chunni around his neck. She ties one end of the chunni to the pallu of the lehanga worn by the bride. The chunni could be pink, red or orange in color.Thereafter, the bhaiji of the Gurudwara recites hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which are then sung and the bride and groom, who encircle the Guru Granth Sahib. While walking around the Guru Granth Sahib, the groom leads the bride, with a sword in his hand. The marriage ceremony culminates here. This is followed by a grand feast.

Post-Wedding Rituals
The post-wedding rituals of a traditional Sikh wedding consist of vidaai or doli ceremony, which marks the end of the celebration. It is a very emotional affair for the bride's family. As the bride departs from her parent's house, she throws back handful of rice over her shoulder, thereby wishing prosperity for her parents and family, which she leaves behind to start a new life with new dreams and aspirations.

Marriage Legalities in India

2009-12-20T14:34:00.001-08:00

India is a land of many cultures and religions. So, it is important to remember the various legalities involved in marriages of different religion and community. India being a cosmopolitan country accepts personal laws of its citizen. As a result each citizen of India is entitled to have his own personal laws in the matter of marriage and divorce. In all the religions of India, marriage is considered to be a sacred ritual that is why this relationship is held in high regard in the Indian culture; however various legal implications are introduced in the marital regulations of the society, in order to overrule any discrepancy. In case you want to understand the basic marital legalities in India, here are few points you can refer to…

Basic Interpretation of Various Marriage Acts in India

It is important for everybody to know that all marriages should be registered to make it legal.
There are different rules and regulations for different religions. Like there are Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, and Christian Marriage Act and for the Parsee there is Parsee Marriage and Divorce Act.
Hindus are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, under which the bridegroom should be the age of 21 years and bride of 18 years, they both should be Hindus and should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship.
Divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 can be obtained on the various grounds.
Hindu Marriage is applicable also to the Buddhist, Jain or Sikh religions and the person who is not a Muslim Christian, Parsi or Jew, and who is not governed by any other law.

Muslims also have their own personal law, which states that Nikah or marriage is a contract and may be permanent or temporary and permits a man four wives if he treats all of them equally.
A Muslim marriage requires proposal (Ijab) from one party and acceptance (Qubul) from the other to legally solemnize a marriage. Marriage without free consent would be void and also, if it is proved that such consent has been obtained by means of coercion, fraud or undue influence.
Similarly for the Parsees there is a Parsee Marriage & Divorce Act, 1936, which governs their provisions of their marriage and divorce.
By the Parsi Marriage and Divorce (Amendment) Act, 1988 (5 of 1988), the extent of certain provisions of the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 have been widened so as to bring them in line with the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Bigamy or Polygamy is punishable offence in Parsi Religion.
For Indian Christian there is an Indian Christian Marriage Act 1889. The Christian marriage in India can be solemnized by any person or bishop who is either a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, any licensed minister of the religion or any licensed registrar. A person who has received episcopal ordination can also solemnize a Christian marriage.
Persons of any religion who get married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 are governed by the said act. Those who get married under a civil marriage or no formal marriage ceremony marry under the Special Marriage Act, 1954; do not need to take any further legal steps because in this case registration is itself the marriage ceremony.

Kanyadaan

2009-12-19T11:36:00.001-08:00

A Hindu Wedding is very elaborate and ritualistic. There are several compulsory rituals in a Hindu wedding that hold immense significance and deep rooted meaning in the Hindu Religion. The rituals of the Hindu wedding ceremony start days before the actual wedding ceremony. Sagaai is the first step towards the formal announcement of a marriage which is followed by various other rituals like Sagan, Haldi, Sangeet and Mehandi. Apart from the religious and ritualistic nature, a Hindu wedding is also quite an emotional affair. The most emotional of all the rituals of the Hindu Marriage is Kanyadaan when the father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom.

On the wedding day, the complete marriage ritual last lasts for hours due to several small and big customs that are considered auspicious as well as vital for solemnizing a marriage. Among all the main day wedding rituals, kanyadaan is the most vital and significant ritual. Kanya Daan literary means gifting away a virgin, the word is actually a combination of two words, Kanya and Daan, where in Kanya means a virgin and Daan means donation.

The ritual of Kanya Daan is performed just before the Mangalphere. Kanyadaan is a ritual in which the bride's father entrust her daughter to the groom, who is at the time of marriage considered to be a form of Lord Vishnu. As a condition for offering his daughter to the groom for marriage, the father of the bride asks a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in achieving three important goals of the life- dharma, artha, and kama. The ritual of Kanya Daan is considered very auspicious in Hindu religion. It is a very pious and dutiful ritual which is said to bring fortune as well as relief from the sins for the bride's parents.

In the ritual of kanyadaan the bride's parents normally her father or in his absence any elderly relative give their daughter to the groom by putting the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand (Hastamelap, which means joining of hands) while reciting sacred verse. The curtain separating the bride and groom is then removed and then the couple exchange flower garlands. When the father of the bride gives away his daughter to the groom, followed by the offering of gifts and presents, then the elders of the family place an auspicious white cotton cord around the couple's shoulder's to protect them from ill omen since cotton signifies unity, the bride and the groom shower each other with rice. This ritual is a symbol of couple's bond and love. The groom holds the bride's hand and they both take vows to love, be loyal, committed and protect each other throughout their life.

Indian Wedding Facts

2009-12-18T02:31:00.000-08:00

Indian wedding is a perfect blend of serious rituals and customs along with other fun filled rituals and frothy moments. Wedding marks the beginning of a new relationship not just between two individuals but also between two families and thus, there are various moments in the wedding ceremonies that help to build new relationships. Every caste and community has its own tradition and culture. India with such diverse cultural background showcases variety of rituals and customs. Here are few very interesting facts about various kinds of Indian Wedding:

Interesting Indian Wedding Facts

In many communities in the Hindu Religion, there is a wedding ritual in which the sisters-in-law hide the shoes of their jija or brother-in-law and return them only in exchange for money. It's a very fun filled and enjoying ritual.
In some communities, there are rituals where the hands of the couple are covered with a sacred cloth to ward off ill omen and evil eye during the pheras.
In Parsee marriage ceremonies, the sisters-in-law take gifts from their brother-in-law during the ritual of Haath Boravanu where the groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he pays money to them, Pag Dhovanu is another such ritual where the groom is threatened with milk on his shoes and chero chorvanu is a ritual in which seven strands of thread tying the couple are removed on payment.
In Gujarati custom the groom's mother-in-law tries to catch his nose on arrival of the baraat, as a reminder of the fact that he is taking away their daughter and is now responsible for her happiness.
Aeki-Beki is also very fun filled rituals among the Gujarati community. A tray or pot of water is mixed with milk and vermillion. A ring and a few coins are thrown into the mixture. The bride and groom are given seven chances to fish out the ring. The winner is considered as having a dominating personality and it is predicted amidst much laughter that he or she will rule the roost!
In Punjabi custom the bride's wear a Chuda, this is a set of red and ivory bangles by her maternal uncle. This custom is considered good omen for the bride as it is said to bring good luck to the bride in her new home.
Punjabi brides wear Kaleeres. These are silver or gold plated ornaments tied to the Chudas. It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the Kaleere. One interesting ritual related with the Kaleere is the custom in which a bride shakes her Kaleere over the unmarried girls in her family. It is said that if the Kaleere falls on the head of any of them, she is the next one to be married.
Another ritual which is found in almost every community is when the groom brings home his new bride; the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in. This is a fun filled and amusing ritual.

Marriages in Different Religions

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India is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse customs. Each religion has its own traditions and ritual. Different existing religions in the country- Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jewish, Buddhism, Jain and Christianity every religion has their own wedding customs. Though Indian wedding is mainly associated with the Hindu marriage ceremony, actually the Indian Marriage canopies the marriages of all the different existing religions in the country. If you are interested in knowing about the different Indian Marriages, you must go through this article.

Hindu Wedding

The Hindu Marriage is very popular as the majority of Indian population follows Hinduism. Though there is also much variation in the Hindu religious customs in accordance with the regions and communities, the overall customs remain same throughout. The Hindu marriage is held in a big marquee, either in the bride's home yard or in a rented wedding hall. Different rituals are held pre marriage, on the main day and post marriage. Customs like Ganesh puja, Haldi, Sagan, Sangeet and Sagaai are held before the wedding day. On the wedding the most prominent rituals are Jaimala, Kanyadaan, Sindoor, Mangalphere and Saptapadi. Generally, Hindu Marriages are very royal and extravagant, especially the north Indian Hindu marriages held at night.

Muslim Wedding
After Hindus, Muslims form a major chunk of Indian Society. Muslim weddings in India are also celebrated with equal pomp and gaiety. They have various pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Each ritual has an important significance. In the pre-wedding rituals, Mehndi ceremony is an important function. It is mostly celebrated at the bride's home on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a few days before the wedding. On the wedding day, there are rituals like welcoming the baraat. The main wedding ritual in Muslims is the Nikaah. It is held either at the home of the bride or at any other common venue. The ceremony is conducted by the Maulvi (priest) in the presence of the close friends and relatives. The priest then reads the important verses from the Quran. Thereafter, the ritual of Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance) takes place, the Groom sends his proposal to the bride. The marriage is said to be solemnized only if the girl gives her consent.

Christian Wedding
In India like the Hindus and Muslims there are vast majority of Christians too. A Christian Wedding celebration in India is simple yet charming. The wedding ceremony is conducted in the church. On the day of the wedding, the best man greets the bride with a bouquet. The best man is someone very close to the bridegroom. She is than accompanied by her father to the altar. In the presence of two witnesses from both sides the bride and the groom declare themselves to be husband and wife. The groom declares his wedding vows. The couple exchanges their rings and the priest blesses the newly wedded couple and declares them husband and wife. The couple then walks down the aisle together. Everyone then joins the couple for the reception party. Here, the wedding cake is cut, and everyone raises the toast in the name of the bride and the groom.

Sikh Wedding
Like Hindu, Muslim and Christians, Sikhs are also an important part of the Indian Society. Very much similar to the Hindu marriages, the Sikh marriages also involve different rituals and customs. The Reht Maryada, which is the official Sikh code of conduct, specifies certain guidelines that as long as both the boy and girl profess the Sikh faith and no other faith they are joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony. The guidelines strictly forbid any sort of dowry system, astrology and any other superstitions associated with wedding date or time. Different rituals are associated with the Sikh marriages, which are performed on different days.

Parsi Wedding
Compared to the other religions in the country, the population of Parsis is very less in the country, yet the Parsi rituals and traditions hold a distinct identity in the Indian society. In a Parsi marriage, the gathering on the marriage day is called Shahjan, the gathering for the queenly bride. The bridegroom comes first to take the seat in the room where the marriage is to be celebrated. The bride comes later. The Parsi lagan or marraige is called ‘Achumichu', which takes place either at a Baug or at an Agiary.

Buddhist Wedding
Buddhist Religion is also a very popular religion in India. Based on the principles of brotherhood and fraternity, the religion preaches simple living and high thinking. The Buddhist marriage in accordance with its principles is very simple and sober. With no religious obligations like horoscopes and astrology and no social obligations like feast and grandeur, the Buddhist marriage is more a family affair than a social or religious one. There is no hard-lined ritual for a Buddhist wedding ceremony; however people generally visit the temple and take blessings from the monks to solemnize the marriage.

Jewish Wedding
The Jewish population in India is very limited, yet they are an important part of our diversified culture. The Jewish traditions are interesting yet simple. In the Jewish religion, marriage is considered to be mandatory as a single person is considered to be incomplete. The Jewish wedding ritual can be divided into two basic phases- the kiddushinor engagement phase and nissu'in or the actual wedding. While kiddushin leads to a change in the conjugal status of the bride and groom, nissu'in or the actual wedding is important to bring a legal change. Kiddushin is a ring ceremony where the groom places a ring on the bride's right index finger and the bride just clenches her fist to show her acceptance. However, one the day on the day of nissu'in, the couple is joined in matrimony, under the chuppah.

Jain Wedding
Jain religion also forms an important part of Indian society. They have a very interesting culture that adds to the diversity of Indian traditions. Marriage is considered to be very pious in Jain religion. As the Jain community does not believe in wasting time and money over the pomp and show of marriage, they Jain marriage is comparatively a less extravagant and more ritualistic affair. The most important rituals of Jain Wedding Ceremony are Phere, Kanyavaran, Havan and Granthi Bandhan. Once these four rituals are completed, the wedding of the couple is said to have been solemnized.

Muslim Marriage Act

2009-12-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

India is land of diverse culture and religions. People of many religions live here with peace and harmony. Though similar constitutional rights and duties are assigned to all the citizens of the country, they are free to abide by their own social and religious belief. The marriage acts of different religions are framed in the Indian constitution in accordance with their social and religious set up, as the Hindu Marriages are framed according to the Hindu cultural beliefs and customs, the Muslim Marriage Act has been framed keeping in mind the social, religious and cultural traditions of the Muslims. Given below are the basic interpretations of the various sections of Muslim Marriage Act, for the understanding of common men…

Basic Interpretations Of Muslim Marriage Act

* Under the law, Nikah or marriage is a civil contract and may be permanent or temporary and no religious ceremony or ritual is necessary. It states that to have a valid Nikah or marriage under the Muslim law, presence of a Qazi or priest is not necessary. Merely a proposal in the presence and hearing of two normal males or one normal Muslim male and two normal Muslim female adults, and acceptance of the said proposals at the same time constitute a legal wedding under the Muslim Personal Law.

* The Muslim Marriage law permits a man four wives if he treats all of them equally.

* It is assumed that on completion of 15 years of age, a person attains puberty. If a person is of sound mind, normal and has attained puberty his or her marriage cannot be performed without his or her consent.

* To have a legal and valid marriage following conditions are to be satisfied like both should be of sound mind or the guardian in marriage should act on behalf of the person of unsound mind in arranging the marriage contract. Either the parties should have attained the age of puberty or the guardian in marriage on behalf of the party concerned should enter into the marriage contract.

* In case of divorce a husband can leave his wife without any reasons merely by pronouncing the word "Talak" thrice. However for a Muslim woman to obtain divorce certain conditions are necessary. The husband and the wife with mutual agreement can also put an end to the marriage.

* There are certain prohibited relationships, whose marriage is considered void. Like mother and son, grandmother and grandson, uncle and niece, brother and sister and nephew and aunt.

* There is a slight variation in the laws that govern the Sunni and Shia Marraiges. However, the basic elements are same in both of the cases.

Parsi Wedding Ceremony

2009-12-12T05:59:00.001-08:00

Like other Indian marriages, thewedding rituals and customs of Parsi community are also spread over a couple of days. In Parsi wedding also, the wedding celebrations are divided into three parts- pre wedding rituals, wedding day rituals and post wedding rituals. As marriage is a religious ritual encouraged in the Parsi religion, Parsi people consider marriage to be an occasion of social as well as religious celebrations. If you are keen about knowing the details of the Parsi wedding ceremony, given below is the detailed description of the Parsi marriage traditions from Pre-Marriage to Post Marriage Traditions.

Pre Wedding Rituals

Among the pre wedding rituals or customs we have Madhavsaro, which is celebrated four days before the lagan(marriage day), the families of the bride and groom each plant a young tree in a pot, amidst recitation of prayers by the family priest, and place this at the entrance of their homes. Generally a mango plant is used for this ceremony as it is treated as a symbol of fertility. The plant is watered every morning till the eighth day after the wedding and then transplanted elsewhere.

Adarni' is the third day before the lagan and it is celebrated as a day for exchange of gifts. On this day the groom's family visits the bride's home and presents her with all kinds of gifts like clothes, jewelry, etc. The relatives, neighbors and friends are invited for a traditional meal of sev and dahi, boiled eggs and bananas. The immediate day before the wedding is called ‘Supra nu Murat' it is more like the mehendi and haldi ceremony of the Hindus. In this ritual four married women are given a supra each, containing paan, supari, haldi, dates and a piece of coconut. While singing traditional songs, these supras are exchanged seven times among the women cross-wise, length-wise and breadth-wise. A fifth lady sits in the middle with a khalbatto and dry turmeric. Then a paste of it is applied by all to the groom and bride along with a showering of blessings.

Wedding Day Rituals

‘Nahan' is the day of the lagan. On the occasion of Nahan, the staircase, doorway and gate is decorated with beautiful decorative designs of rangoli(colorful motifs). According to the Zorastrians the time immediately after sunset or very early in the morning is considered auspicious for marriage. For the marriage ceremony the bride dresses in her ‘Madhavate', the white, ornate wedding saree given by her parents, while the groom wears the traditional ‘Parsi Dagli and Feta', a white kurta like garment and a black cap. The Parsi lagan is called ‘Achumichu', which takes place either at a Baug or at an Agiary (the fire temple). A stage is build up for the couple and before they step on it, the groom first, a ritual called Achumichu is performed. The bride's mother takes a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice, coconut, dates and water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be. In Ara antar ceremony the couple is made to sit facing each other with a cloth held between them, so they cannot see the other. Among the other main day rituals are Chero bandhvanu and Haath borvanu.

Post Wedding Rituals

In the post-wedding rituals the reception is held in a grand manner with varied menu of food, drink and music. The party is a whole night affair where all the guests have a lovely time. The menu mainly comprises of traditional Parsi dishes like Parsi bhonu like sarya (crisps), achaar - rotli (pickle and rotis), patra ni macchi (steamed fish), salli margi (chicken with potato crisps), lagan nu custard, pulao-dal and ice cream. The wedding ceremony ends with the couple being accompanied home by the bride's family and the Achumichu being performed once again by the groom's mother for the well being of the couple.

Hindu Marriage Act

2009-12-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

Basic Provisions of Hindu Marriage Act

The provision under the Act is that it applies to any person who is Hindu by religion and it is also applicable to Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhsas well as and the person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew, and who is not governed by any other law.
It extends to the entire India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and it is applicable to Hindus domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are outside the said territories.
Under this law the bridegroom should be of 21 years of age and the bride should be of 18 years of age. They both should be Hindu by origin and should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship. Neither party should have a spouse living nor any party should be subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy, either of them should not be suffering from mental disorders or should not be unfit for marriage and procreation of children and both should be of sound mind and capable of giving valuable consent.
Bigamy or Polygamy is now prohibited and as per law it is treated as an offence under the Indian Penal code.
Just like marriages the law also governs divorces. Under the law divorce can be obtained on the grounds of adultery, cruelty, desertion for two years, conversion in religion, unsound mind, etc.
The Hindu Marriage law has also described certain prohibited relationships whose marriage is not legalized. Like father and daughter, son and mother, brother and sister and many more.
The Hindu Marriage act also does not set any prescribe or particular ceremonial for marriage. It states that a Hindu marriage may be formalized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party. Where rituals include the saptapadi (seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage is said to be solemnized once the seventh step is taken.
It has now become mandatory to register a Hindu Marriage.

Punjabi Wedding Ceremony

2009-12-10T00:22:00.001-08:00

A Punjabi wedding ceremony begins with Roka which is very much like an engagement ceremony where both the family for the first time formally announces the prospective marriage. The Roka is then followed by celebrations like ‘Sagan’ and ‘Chunni Chadana’ performed at the groom’s and bride’s family respectively.

Pre Wedding Punjabi Ritual

Punjabi marriage traditions are very elaborate and ritualistic. They begin days before the actual wedding day in the form of pre-wedding ceremonies. Roka is the first pre-wedding ceremony where the two families formally meet to finalize the relationship between the two families. Roka is then followed by a series of colorful and interesting occasions like ‘Sagan and Chunni Chadhana’.

Punjabi Wedding Rituals

Post-Wedding Punjabi Rituals

Tamil Wedding Ceremony

2009-12-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

Tamilians have their own rituals followed before, during and after the wedding, which look very vibrant. All the customs are followed with religious observance. All the people, right from the prospective bride and the groom to the family members, friends and relatives have the festive mood, which is set by the ceremony. The ambience is filled with nothing but happiness and celebration. The festive spirits are boosted up among the people, witnessing the ceremony, by the colorful and elaborate rituals that are conducted before, during and after the marriage.

The pre-marriage rituals followed by the Tamil speaking Brahmins include fasting, puja and exchange of gifts. The groom is received by the family of the bride.

The wedding ceremony is also elaborate, which incorporates the rituals that are typical to the Brahmin community, such as oonjal, kashi yatra and kanyaadaan (wherein the bride sits on the lap of her father). Post-marriage, the bride and the groom are given treats and gifts. After swearing in as the wife, the bride enters the groom's home to prosper his life there. This is the way most of the marriages are conducted among the Tamil speaking Brahmins in India and all over the world. In this section, we have given detailed information on the traditional Tamil wedding ceremony.

Tamil wedding rituals are very elaborate. They involve a number of ceremonies that are performed to ensure that the bride and the groom, who are going to tie the wedding knot, enter their new phase of life in the most elegant manner. A number of ceremonies revolve around the wedding, which is very charming to look at. Every stage of the rituals is performed with religious observance.

Tamil Post-Wedding Rituals

After organizing an enthralling wedding ceremony, the family of the bride and the groom head towards preparing the venue for the post-wedding celebrations. While grihapravesh is the post-marriage custom common in almost every region in India, the Tamil Brahmins have their own way of culminating the auspicious ceremony.

Vikram Chatwal Wedding

2009-12-05T23:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to www.weddings-world.com - The Indian wedding has always been known for its grandeur and splendor. If a middle class wedding in India looks like a royal affair, you can easily imagine the grandeur of the wedding ceremony of the rich and famous people in the country. Indian families generally regard the Wedding ceremony as an occasion of celebrations and display of riches and wealth. That is why, the trend of grandiose and ostentatious wedding ceremonies have gained extreme popularity in the country. Some of the most famous Indian Weddings are the wedding ceremonies of Indian business tycoons, film stars and cricketers.

One of the most famous Indian weddings in the contemporary times has been the wedding of Vikram Chatwal with Priya Sachdeva. The year 2006 witnessed this global event of the marriage of Chatwal, the manhattan based hotelier with Priya Sachdev, a Delhi based model. On 18th Feb 06, the Manhattan millionaire tied his wedding knot with his beloved. Vikram Chatwal Priya Sachdev wedding was truly an epitome of splendid grandeur.

This grand marriage ceremony was a seven days long affair. The pre-wedding affairs started at the Shri Niwas Palace of Udaipur on 13th February, the couple had classical Pakeezah White Party. The Pakeezah party was then followed by the Fantasia Masquerade Island party at the famous Jagmandir Island. The second party was a colorful masks theme party. The enthusiastic celebrations were followed by a simple and private Mehndi function at Chatwal’s farmhouse.

The marriage party as expected was a larger than life ceremony. Vandana Mohan took over the charge of planning this wonderful wedding. The wedding party was a theme party that got inspiration from the royal colors. Flower decorations consisted of exotic tiger lilies and tulips. In the lounger room, arrangements were made for the baratis to have cognacs and cigars. The stage decoration was inspired by the marriage of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs. The stage was embellished with beautiful paintings in the background. A major attraction of the wedding was the fabulous dance performance by Shiamak Davar.

Apart from the top class ambience, the wedding was also at its best on the social charts. Its guest list included people from Iran to USA. Clintons, steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and his son Aditya, supermodel Naomi Campbell, Prince of Iran, Prince Nicolas of Greece, US Congressman Joe Crowley and UK industrialist SP Hinduja are a few big wigs, who graced this glitzy mega event. The wedding would always be remembered as one of the grandest wedding ceremony of the century.

Indian Wedding Outfits

2009-12-04T22:03:00.001-08:00

Most of the times you are left stranded, while looking for a decent place to shop for an exclusive collection of Indian wedding outfits. Even if you happen to find one, it may present poor quality and/or service. To avoid such mishaps, you can always put your faith on our professionals to fulfill your requirement for Indian wedding outfits. With our years of experience and know how, we give a shape to your desire. We presents you the latest trends in Indian wedding outfits that match your personality and taste. Our assortment of Indian wedding outfits is very unique and hence every groom gets an opportunity to look the best.

Comprehensive range of Indian wedding outfits

We have built the huge inventory of Indian wedding outfit thus giving you a wide collection to select from. From traditional Indian wedding outfits to the most contemporary wedding outfit can be explored at weddings-world.com. We offer you the most durable and

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By leveraging on the technological growth and making it easy for our customers to reach us, We have built an online presence. Shopping for your Indian wedding outfit is made effortless at weddings-world.com. Via our secured virtual store, you can shop for the Indian wedding outfits at any hour of the day and from the console of your house. Shop with comfort for Indian wedding outfits at weddings-world.com!!!

Shadi Tips

2009-12-03T02:10:00.001-08:00

How to Plan a Wedding at Chilford Hall in Linton, Cambridgeshire, England
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Guide to Indian Weddings
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Modern Day Wedding Dances: Couples Break Traditional Rules
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An 'Indian' Wedding
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Successful teachers are those who take the time to familiarize themselves with the students in their classrooms. Understanding each child's background and unique set of circumstances aids in educating them to their full-potential. By Stephanie Welch

Best Indian Wedding Cake Toppers
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What Are Indian Marriages like ?
The traditional Indian marriage is about bonding not of two people but of families,traditions and values. By Shazneen Pathak

Tamil Wedding Ceremony

2009-12-03T00:11:00.000-08:00

The pre-marriage rituals followed by the Tamil speaking Brahmins include fasting, puja and exchange of gifts. The groom is received by the family of the bride.

Tamil Pre-Wedding Rituals
Tamil wedding is a vast affair, wherein a number of rituals are followed. Well before the wedding day, people (including the family members of the prospective bride and the groom) are engaged in the preparations of the ceremony, which is considered a very important turning point in the couple's life. This is the reason why, marriage is given supreme importance and a number of ceremonies are conducted before, during and after it.

Tamil Wedding Rituals
Tamil wedding rituals are very elaborate. They involve a number of ceremonies that are performed to ensure that the bride and the groom, who are going to tie the wedding knot, enter their new phase of life in the most elegant manner. A number of ceremonies revolve around the wedding, which is very charming to look at. Every stage of the rituals is performed with religious observance.

Tamil Post-Wedding Rituals
After organizing an enthralling wedding ceremony, the family of the bride and the groom head towards preparing the venue for the post-wedding celebrations. While grihapravesh is the post-marriage custom common in almost every region in India, the Tamil Brahmins have their own way of culminating the auspicious ceremony.

shadi

2009-12-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

>> Arya Samaj Wedding >> Indian Wedding Facts
>> Christian Wedding >> Kanyadaan

>> Hindu Marriage Act >> Marriage Laws in India

>> Indian Muslim Wedding >> Sikh Wedding

>> Muslim Wedding >> Maithil Brahmin Wedding

Welcome to our www.weddings-world.com - Traditionally, Indian wedding extends to be a week long affair and speaks of the tradition, culture and heritage of the country. In Indian wedding, there is an event for almost everything. Generally, the wedding is divided into three parts - pre wedding, wedding and post wedding. Rituals like 'Haldi', 'Mehandi' 'Sangeet' and 'Tilak' are pre wedding rituals. Before the wedding, the to-be bride and the groom's families visit each other and exchange costly gifts to each other along with sweets, fruits and dry fruits.

The parents of the bride and the groom exchange gift in the form of dress for the bride or the bridegroom and display them to the other family, as a part of their love and honor. The pre-wedding ceremonies are followed by the main day wedding ceremony, when the nuptial knots of the bride and the bridegroom are tied. There is an elaborate wedding feast for all the family and friends that are invited. The wedding itself is a long, stretched out process, when all the Hindu deities are called upon and asked to bless the new couple. The bride and the bridegroom take seven steps around the fire, vowing devotion and love to each other and agreeing to take care of each other in all circumstances.

Amidst such rituals and customs, there are various events that bring about a chuckle and laughter in the wedding ceremony. One such instance is when the younger sister of the bride tries to steal the shoe of her new brother-in-law and asks money as ransom. After the wedding ceremony, there are the post wedding functions alike 'Vidaai' or 'Doli', when the bride leaves for her new home. This is the most emotional moment of any Indian wedding, when the bride take leave of all her family members to start a new life in her husband's home. However, remember India is a diverse land and the rituals practiced would vary from region to region.

>> Malayalee Wedding >> Sindhi Wedding

>> Kannada Wedding >> Telugu Wedding

>> Kashmiri Wedding >> Maharashtrian Wedding

>> Oriya Wedding >> Assamese Wedding

>> Tamil Wedding >> Jewish Wedding

>> Bengali Wedding >> Marwari Wedding

>> Punjabi Wedding >> Buddhist Wedding

>> Jain Wedding >> Gujarati Wedding