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A traditional Hindu Wedding is comprised of a series of religious ceremonies and rituals. It is meant to unite two persons so firmly that, although they retain two separate bodies, they become one in spirit. Vivaha is the sacred, spiritual partnership between two individuals in mind, body, spirit, and soul in this and their future lives. The Wedding ceremony has now concluded and the Maharaj, along with parents and elders of the couple's families offer them blessings for a long and happy married life. The couple bend down to touch the feet of the Maharaj and their family elders as a form of worship known in the Hindu ceremony. The Mangal Sutra is a sacred necklace made from black beads that the groom ties around the bride’s neck.
Chanted by the priest in Sanskrit verse, the prayers that compose the Hindu wedding ceremony are derived from Vedic scriptures that are over four thousand years old. Married women from both sides bless the newlywed couple for eternal married life , health, wealth, prosperity, happiness, peace, and children. The wedding ceremony continues in the mandap around the Holy fire, Agni, an eternal witness to the marriage.
An Easy Breakdown of Wedding Ceremony Outline
24 Cool Ketubah Designs for Jewish Weddings Plus, the meaning behind this special Jewish tradition.42 Fun Wedding Send-Off Ideas for Your Final Exit Time to make your ceremony and reception exit epic. The cooling effect it creates on a bride's hands and feet are said to help relieve stress and headaches. Additionally, according to lore, the darker the henna designs on a to-be-weds skin, the more loved they will be by their in-laws and new spouse. Plus, they're encouraged to avoid housework for as long as the stain stays on their hands, which can be for up to three weeks. The priest gives the final blessing to the members of the congregation. It's the same prayer that the priest recites at the end of every weekly mass.
He vows to protect her through all adversities, which may occur in her family life. The parents of the bride offer her hand to the bridegroom in marriage, placing the care of their cherished daughter in his hands. The groom accepts the bride as his equal partner and agrees to marry her. The groom adorns the bride with the auspicious necklace, or mangalsutra, a symbol of unity, love, and friendship.
The Processional
Next, the officiant will offer an introduction and some thoughts on marriage. This could be a brief recounting of your love story, words on what marriage means to you, or a statement about the ceremony to come and what it represents. The bride places her right foot onto a stone and with the assistance of her brothers makes offerings of puffed rice into the sacred fire, asking for the protection of her husband. The act of placing the bride’s foot upon the stone means that she should become strong and fixed like the earth. For a higher spiritual purpose the groom is given a final opportunity to leave before the bride enters. He is asked if he would like to abandon worldly life and lead the life of an ascetic.
The raised curtain is removed and the bride and groom see each other for the first time. This Hindu god of wisdom and salvation is called upon to bless the bride and groom and all those present. Having taken these steps together, I assure you that I will not swerve from the path of my love and friendship with you. Let us be kind, loving, considerate, good and open-hearted to each other.
Sikh Wedding Traditions
The rabbi and/or cantor have the option of leading the processional or arriving from the side to mark the beginning of the ceremony. The grandparents of the bride, who are the first to walk down the aisle, will sit in the first row on the right side followed by the grandparents of the groom who will sit on the left side. The groomsmen will then enter in pairs followed by the best man. Finally, the groom, escorted by his parents, will walk to the chuppah. The bridesmaids follow in pairs then the maid of honor, the ring bearer, or flower girl.
The Vidaai is a touching and emotional farewell to Jaimini by her family and friends as she begins her new life with Varun and his family. The priest prays for blessings from the supreme Lord for the well- being of the newlyweds and of those assembled. The couple touches the feet of their parents and the elders of both the families to demonstrate their respect and also receive blessings for their future life together. Traveling by horse, the groom is accompanied by his family and friends to the wedding venue. Music and dancing sets the mood for the celebration of his arrival. He is then welcomed by the bride’s parents and her family, an aarti is performed, and the groom and his family enter inside.
Readings
Jaimini’s brother, Chirag, places rice into the couple’s hand signifying the bride’s transition to her new family. Each completed circle signifies one of the four essential aspects of life according to the Vedic philosophy – duty and ethics, wealth and prosperity, love and family, and spiritual liberation. There's definitely a specific script that most Christian denominations adhere to for the wedding ceremony order of events, but there's some room for flexibility depending on the denomination.
The bride and groom leave the mandap as a married couple and receive blessing and a shower of flower petals from all of their guests. This portion of the wedding is very emotional because it includes the farewell to the Bride by her parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. She leaves with tears of both joy and sorrow, but carries the very best wishes of all who witness her matrimonial ceremony. Vidaai marks the departure of the bride from her parental house. She conveys her good wishes for her parents through this gesture. A beautifully decorated palanquin or car takes her to her new home.
“Historically, the groom arrived riding a horse, but now they might come in modern forms too, like luxury cars or motorcycles,” Dr. Singh shares. It’s an exciting start for both wedding parties who are about to join together. Sometimes, the bride’s relatives will tease the groom, asking him for coins or gifts in exchange for getting inside the gurdwara. This is often for just keeping up with cultural traditions, as the bride is seen as being “taken” by the groom, so he must “earn” his way to her. "The bride and groom perform a garland exchange under a mandap or a beautifully decorated, raised canopy-like platform," says Miller. The bride's parents will join the couple's hands, as a symbol of giving their daughter away.
The priest will offer guests peace and will encourage guests to do the same. Attendees turn to their neighbors and greet each other with a sign of peace, typically a handshake. If you are unable to fit all your loved ones into the bridal party, assign them to readings instead, which are a big part of the mass. Otherwise, assign them to bring gifts to the altar as part of the offertory. This marks the end of the ceremony where you bless each other by showering each other with rice, saffron, and turmeric. The groom is greeted by the parents of the bride and her closest friends during the milni.
Whilst reciting the verses , the veil is removed and the bride and groom exchange garlands (Jai-Malas). Emily offers the first garland and by doing so declares she has chosen the groom at free will. Jignesh will return the compliment by offering her a garland in return as a welcome to a new life and with a promise to look after her. Ganesh applies Sindoor to Amanda’s forehead, which she will always do for herself from this day forward. This sacred moment, a lifelong treasure to the couple is indicative of their union based upon the highest principles of Sanatan Dharma. As this moment is a most sacred one, the bride and groom must be covered while this is done.
After the couple processes down the aisle, a minister or lay chaplain will start with opening remarks and welcome the guests to the ceremony. The minister will then address the couple's family and friends and speak to why everyone has gathered to celebrate the to-be-weds. The minister then addresses the couple and talks about why they're ready to marry the other person. The next step is the affirmation of intentions which is when the minister asks the couple if they're present of their own will and want to be married to the other person.
In Hindu tradition, marriage is viewed as the second stage of the four stages of life. As well as being the union of two souls, it is also regarded as a bond between two families. The Hindu wedding ceremony is based on ancient traditions and rituals originating from the Vedas, the Sanskrit books of knowledge that form the foundation of Hinduism. This sacred ceremony unites two individuals so firmly that they become one spirit despite retaining separate bodies, enabling them to begin their life together. The ceremony takes place in a mandap built to represent the universe. The four pillars of the mandap signify Jaimini and Varun’s parents.
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