Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from March, 2010

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. 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 p...

Maharashtrian Wedding Ceremony

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 pos...

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. 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 he...

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. 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 ...

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. 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 tw...

Bengali Wedding Ceremony

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 ...

Tilak Ceremony

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 h...

Sangeet Party

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 pl...