What To Expect at a Hindu Wedding

What is a Hindu Wedding Like?

A Hindu wedding is a celebration of love, family, and tradition. The couple will meet at the mandap (or altar) where they’ll exchange vows and garlands. They’ll often be accompanied by family members and friends who will bear witness to this union. The wedding ceremony is a two-part ritual. First comes the pheras, where family and friends walk around the couple seven times. The second part is the shringar, which is when the groom adorns the bride’s hands and feet with jewelry. The ceremony may last up to a few hours. The couple will exchange vows and rings, and some may choose to exchange additional gifts like a tray of sweets or a shawl. The Hindu wedding ceremony is often followed by a reception, where guests are served a lavish meal as they dance the night away.

Shringaar: The Marriage Ritual

Shringar is the act of adorning the bride. It is a beautiful ritual where the groom decorates the bride with flowers, jewelry, and clothing. He adorns her hands, feet, and head. This is often done in front of an altar as the groom places a flower garland around the bride’s neck and then places a bindi on her forehead. The groom wraps a shawl around the bride and places a necklace around her neck. In some regions, the groom will place jewelry around the bride’s wrists. At the end of the ceremony, the groom will offer his bride a tray of sweets. This ritual signifies the groom’s love and adoration for his bride. Shringar helps the bride feel beautiful and boosts her self-esteem. This is an important ritual as it signifies the beginning of the bride’s new life with her husband.

What to wear to a Hindu wedding

For the groom, white is the traditional colour. However, nowadays, grooms can wear anything from a western tuxedo to a sherwani or kurta, depending on the region and family tradition. If you are the bride, you can wear anything from a sari or lehenga to a gown or traditional bridal wear. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask the groom or the bride if they have any advice. Some families may have a family tradition that dictates what type of outfit brides should wear for the occasion.

Festive food at a Hindu wedding

Indian weddings are a great place to indulge in delicious, authentic Indian cuisine. Expect to find a variety of vegetarian dishes, sweets, and beverages at the reception. Most Indian weddings have a thali where guests can serve themselves a variety of vegetarian curries and sides like dal, rice, and raita. Thalis often have one or two vegetarian curries, a lentil or rice dish, and a yogurt dish such as raita or pickles. Many other dishes will be served at the reception as well. These include biryani, shrikhand, pakoras, and desserts like gulab jamun and kulfi. These dishes will vary based on the region the wedding is taking place in.

Find Out Which Corner of the Room Is Which

If you’re attending an Indian wedding, you’ll likely notice that guests are seated in different corners of the room. It’s important to know what each of these spaces represents. The bride sits in the northeastern corner. The groom sits in the southwestern corner. This is to represent their new union. The groom’s parents sit in the southeastern corner. The bride’s parents sit in the north-western corner. There is often a chair or stool in the northeastern corner for the groom’s sister. She is the one who ties the bride’s mangal sutra (iron wedding necklace) during the ceremony.

Dholak ceremony

A dholak is a traditional Indian drum that is played at the end of the ceremony. It’s used to announce that the wedding is over and the couple is now married. It can also be played during the reception as music for dancing. The dholak ceremony is when the groom’s family gifts a dholak to the bride’s family. Traditionally, the groom’s family would also give the bride’s family gold or some other form of monetary gift. This is not always the case nowadays.

Havans and Aarti ceremony - Come for Dinner!

Havans are Hindu fire rituals. They are often done as part of a wedding ceremony. The first havan is performed as part of the pheras. This is done to signify that the couple is one. A second fire ritual is done during the reception, often after the meal is served. This is done to signify that the couple is together and invited guests are welcome to enjoy the food. A havan is often followed by an aarti ceremony. This is when guests are invited to come and enjoy the food. It is a great way for the couple and their families to show their appreciation for their guests.

Knot-tying ceremony: Kandhanam and Kanyadaan

Kandhanam is when the groom’s family ties a sari on the bride’s family. This is a symbolic gesture, as the groom’s family is tying the bride’s family to them. The bride’s family then gives a gift to the groom’s family. Traditionally, this gift is money or gold. This is often done in the groom’s house before the couple goes to the reception. Kanyadaan is a ritual where the bride’s family gives the groom’s family their daughter’s hand in marriage. This is something that is done only once in a bride’s life, on her wedding day.

Conclusion

Hindu weddings are a beautiful blend of the old and the new. The ancient traditions are still alive and well, but they are being modified and modernized to fit contemporary lifestyles. The ceremonies and rituals are evolving with the times, but they are still as meaningful and significant as ever. If you’re attending a Hindu wedding, it’s important to understand what each tradition and ritual means. It’s also important to be respectful and not get in the way of any of the events. Be sure to thank the hosts for the wonderful celebration.