Wedding Day

The brother and female relatives of the bride go to the groom’s house to accompany them to the bride’s house.They ties a choti to the groom which is the point on the head receiving the sun’s ray thus blessing him with power and protecting him from any nazar.

The priest ties a red cloth around the groom’s neck with a coconut at the end of it. The white cloth from the Misri Pooja is also tied around his neck with kharchi for his sister (in return for her attendance and blessings) tied in one corner, longa (for happiness), rice (for protection and goodness) and elachi (for fragrance) on the other three corners.

The brother also steps into the kitchen to see where his sister will be cooking after her marriage and wishes that she will always be happy.

Swagatam (Welcome)

The bride’s mother does aarti to the groom before he enters the house since he represents the form of Vishnu on that day. She also takes a string and measures from his ear to foot to see that the couple has a good height difference. The groom covers his ear during this time to prevent anything bad from entering it.

The bride comes out to receive the groom where he places his foot on hers to denote his dominating strength in their future life together.

The girl’s parents also wash the couple’s feet with milk and water since they are the embodiments of Lord Vishun and Goddess Laxmi for that day due to all the prayers they have performed. The groom’s sisters adorn the bride with jewels to welcome her to their family.

Hathialo (Goining of the hands)

In this ceremony, the corner of the bride’s sari is tied to a scarf which is worn by the groom. The right hands of the couple are tied with a thread that has been blessed with religious incantations. The typing of the hands signifies and eternal bond that will join them forever. The couple then pray to the gods to give them strength and bless their union.

The Wedding Ceremony

The priest, in the presence of family and friends, performs the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom are seated in front of a holy fire and the priest recites various religious sayings from the Holy Scriptures.

According to the Hindu religion, fire is considered the sustainer of life. It is believed that the gods and goddesses sit around this auspi cious fire. The priest directs various family members to give offerings into the holy fire. The couple walks around the fire exchanging vows of duty and love, fidelity, respect and a fruitful union. The groom then places the bride’s hand on his forehead, to denote that he accepts her as his wife for better or for worse, in health or in sickness and that it is his destiny to marry her.

The couple’s heads are held together implying that although they are separate individuals, from this day onwards, they are one in mind, body and spirit.

The couple sits in the Vivah Mandap along with the priest, parents and close relatives. They begin a series of prayers to god in all forms invoking his blessings for every step in the couple’s future.

Ganesh puja * Omkar Puja
Laxmi Puja: We pray to Goddess laxmi for constant affluence, shakti and divine force.

Nav Graha Pooja:
Sixty four Devis: We pray to the sixty-four devis (Durga-Mata, Kali, Saraswati Mata, etc…) to bless the couple to see their married life with shakti and to guide and advise each other.

Dus Dikpal Pooja: Mantras are chanted asking God to protect the couple from all directions and guide them wherever life takes them.

Naga Devta: A form of god represented by a snake (drawn with grains) is called upon to create a good atmosphere and for equilibrium and steadiness of the earth.Varun Devta Pooja

Sixteen Divine Mothers: We pray to the sixteen mothers (e.g Gauri Mata, Padma Mata, Sachi Mata, etc.) for the well being and prosperity of the couple.

Havan Kund: fire is considered an element symbolical to god’s power in the universe. Two pieces of wood (representing body) are lit up to portray spiritual enlightenment beyond the body’s identification. Grains, herbs, ghee and spices are put into the fire together with religious hymns recited by the priest.

In this way, we invite all the forms of god by creating a fragrant and pleasing atmosphere for them to come and sit around the fire to witness the marriage and bless the couple.

Vedi, Mangala Astak and Ashirwaad: the priest reads mantras from a book that is placed on a Vigiri (hand-fan) together with rice and flowers. He then showers the couple with the flowers and rice wishing them a long and happily married life. He gives them ashirwaad by holding their heads together implying that although they are two separate individuals, from that day onwards, they are one in body, mind and spirit.

The bride’s brother, chacha, mama and father offer ahuti to angi Devte with havan sangria three times and pass the blessings to the couple for good neseeb and wish that the bride will be as happy as Goddess Rukmani, Goddess sita give Godess Ganga in her new life. They also give ashirwaad to the couple wishing them togetherness and eternal happiness.

Mangala Pradakshina Phera: the bride and groom walk around the holy fire four times. The Cosmic Energy, relatives and friends as their witness, they exchange vows to support each other in Dharma (religion and duty), Artha (wealth and responsibilities), Kama (family and fedility) and Moksha( Salvation) thus leading to a fruitful union filled with love and respect for each other. The groom then sits on the right of the bride as a symbol that they are married and to keep his right arm free to protect his wife.

Kanya Daan

(Entrusting of the Daughter)
Giving away a bride is considered to be one of the greatest deeds in the world. Due to this, the parents of the bride fast the entire day until the wedding ceremony is over. The gesture of entrusting the bride unto the safe-keeping of the groom is symbolised by holy water flowing from the parent’s hands into groom’s hand through the bride’s. The groom then places the bride’s hand on his forehead denoting that he accepts her as she in and their destiny to be with each other.

Saptapadi: the bride accompanied by the groom puts the toe of her right foot on seven small piles of rice. They ask seven promises from each other on nourishment, moral support & strength, chastity, happiness in parenthood, commitment, cherishment and eternal friendship, respect and love.

Seven Promises
1) We are here today to-enter into a new phase of life together, filled with love and respect for each other.
2) Together, we shall nourish each other’s strengths, power and fortune.
3) Together, we will fill our heats with joy, peace, happiness, and spiritual values.
Together, we shall raise strong and virtous children
5)Together, we will cherish each other in sickness and in health, in happiness and sorrow, and we will work for the prosperity for our family.
6)Together, we will remain life long friends and partners bound by our marriage vows.
7)Together, we take final step and complete our spiritual union in the eyes of god. Our love and friendship have become inseparable and firm May our marriage last forever.

Varmala

Mangal sutra, Mang Bharna and wedding ring: the groom ties a sacred necklace made of gold and black beads around the bride’s neck as a symbol of their marriage. He puts sindhur (sacred red powder) on her forehead and a line in her hair for their long lives together. The groom puts a wedding band around the fourth finger of the bride’s left hand also implying that she is a married woman. The bride touches the feet of the groom accepting him as her husband whom she will respect and love forever.

Mithai Khilana: the couple feed each a sweet dish signifying the beginning of their new and sweet life together.

Senan Ji Gadjani: the parents of the couple embrace and feed each other sweets welcoming the start of their new relationship.

Aarati, Palaow, Ashirwaad and shant Path: the couple does aarti to the different forms of God at the temple. The priest chants a prayer where everyone holds a piece of cloth asking God for his blessing. He also thanks god for witnessing the sacred wedding and asks for peace and happiness for all. The couple then bow and touch the feet of elders for blessing to lead a happy married life.

Ashirwaad (Blessing)

The priest explains to the couple their responsibilities to each other and then gives them his holy blessings. This completes the marriage ceremony.

Bride enters her New Home: the bride first steps into a thali of water with her right foot symbolising her purity like goddess Laxmi before stepping into the house. When entering the house, a lid is placed over her head while she sprinkles water and milk around the house with her fingers. The former signifies that she will respect her new family and veil its shortcomings. Sometimes a lamp is put over the head signifying that she will spread light into the house.

That sprinkling symbolises that she will try her best to solve any misunderstandings that may occur. The groom breaks a coconut implying the removal of ego (hand coconut) to reach a spiritual level.

Datar (Salt Ceremony)
After friends and family have greeted the couple, they leave for the groom’s house. At the entrance of their new home, the bride’s feet are rinsed by the grooms parents. A cover is placed over her head as she sprinkles milk in all corners of the house. This signifies that she will maintain the respect of the family and that if there are any misunderstandings within the family, she is supposed to help solve or “cool” them. Surrounded by her new family, the bride exchanges a handful of salt three times, first with her husband and then with members of her new family.

This symbolises her complete blending into the new family just as salt mixed with food loses its identity yet its presence is felt because it gives the food taste. Moreover, it is believed that one must always be faithful to the household where salt is eaten. The bride’s name sometimes changes when she gets married. This is due to Numerology which would benefit the couple in their future life together. This also reminds the bride that she will be starting a new life with a new home.

The day after the wedding, the bride usually visits her mother’s house for the day. The merriment usually continues until most of the relatives and guests who have attended the wedding return to their homes.