A Comprehensive Guide to Hindu Wedding Ceremonies
Weddings are beautiful moments to cherish, signifying the journey of two loving souls bound by love for eternity. Infusing the richness of traditions and customs into a joyous celebration, as seen in Hindu weddings, is indeed something worth experiencing.
Hindu weddings are elegant wedding celebrations that are deeply rooted in tradition, with exciting rituals that have a great connection to Indian traditions. Filled with vibrant colours, lights, and enjoyment, the sacred rituals in the Hindu wedding ceremony last for several days. While the rituals vary in different regions, the symbolic value of each remains the same. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide that provides insight into Hindu wedding ceremonies, here is all you need to know.
Exploring the Events and Rituals in the Hindu Wedding Tradition
Organising Hindu Indian wedding ceremonies requires a considerable amount of planning due to its elaborate customs, rituals, and traditions. Several factors contribute to the complexity of the planning. Hiring a wedding planner for an Indian wedding can make planning easier, alleviate stress, and make sure the celebration goes smoothly.
Take a moment to peruse the blog and gain insight into the significant ceremonies of a Hindu wedding. Delve deeper and explore the intricacies of diverse rituals observed in Hindu wedding ceremonies, which may vary based on regional and communal differences. It will also make sure the wedding respects traditions while showing what the couple likes.
1. Roka Ceremony/ Engagement
This is the first step towards the Hindu wedding ceremony and the official announcement of consent from the bride and groom. The Roka ceremony is conducted as a small event where both families join together, exchange gifts and bless the couple, sharing the happiness of the upcoming union of the bride and groom.
The event is made sacred by the presence of the Pandit, who performs puja to seek blessings from God. There will be a ring exchange ceremony where the groom and bride will exchange rings as the first step of the vow that they are taking together.
2. Mehndi Ceremony
The mehndi ceremony is an exciting as well as auspicious occasion in Hindu wedding ceremonies when the bride’s hands are adorned with mehndi.
Mehndi is a symbol of positivity and happiness, and this ritual is intended to wish the bride luck in her married life. The mehndi ceremony is not limited to the bride alone. In some traditions, the groom also applies mehndi to his hands and feet.
3. Sangeet Ceremony
The word ‘sangeet’ means to sing together and is one of the most exciting ceremonies in Hindu weddings. More than holding religious significance, the sangeet ceremony is a celebration of complete entertainment.
The bride and groom, along with their families and friends, sing, dance and enjoy themselves together, celebrating their happiest moments with the utmost joy.
4. Haldi Ceremony
The haldi ceremony is a common Hindu pre-wedding ritual usually celebrated a day before the Hindu wedding. The word ‘haldi’ means ‘turmeric’.
The close relatives of both families join together and apply turmeric paste to the bride and groom. Haldi is celebrated as a grand ceremony with songs, dance, and dhol (drum beats).
5. Wedding Ceremony
Commencing the celebration, the Hindu wedding ceremony consists of a series of wedding rituals that capture the essence of the day. Filled with great joy, the set of events unfolds a vibrant mood, weaving a symphony of elegance and enthusiasm.
Vara Yatra/ Baraat
The word ‘vara’ means ‘groom’ and ‘yatra’ means ‘journey’. The groom, along with his family, reaches the wedding venue in a grand procession.
The groom arrives on a horse or elephant and everyone rejoices with song and dance. In modern days, the groom arrives in elaborately decorated vehicles like vintage cars, sports bikes or even helicopters. This ceremony is also known as ‘baraat’.
Groom’s Welcome
Welcoming the groom is one of the most anticipated ceremonies at Hindu weddings. This ceremony goes by different names in various regions. In Gujarat, it is called ‘Ponkvu’ or ‘Ponkhana’, in which the bride’s mother performs the aarti and welcomes the groom. The groom breaks a pot with his feet, indicating his strength to overcome all future struggles and obstacles. In Punjabi culture, this ceremony is known by the name ‘milni’ in which the groom is welcomed with an ardaas (prayer).
Ganesh Puja
Worshipping Lord Ganesha has great significance in the Hindu wedding tradition to bring prosperity to the couple. The priest worships Lord Ganesha and prays to remove all obstacles and bring peace and happiness to the young couple’s lives.
Varpooja
Varpooja is the ritual of performing pooja for the groom. In this ceremony, the bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet and wipe them with a silk cloth, presenting him with food, clothes and sweets.
Kanya Aagman
Kanya Aagman, or the bride’s entry, is the ritual in which the bride’s parents, siblings and bridesmaids escort her to the wedding mandap.
In some cultures, the bride’s maternal uncle and aunt escort her to the mandap. The bride and groom are seated on the mandap but are separated by a white cloth.
Varmala
Varmala is the ritual in which the bride and groom exchange garlands with each other, signifying the union of the happy couple.
This Hindu wedding ritual is also known by the name ‘Jai Mala’ in some regions.
Kanyadaan and Paanigrahan
The word ‘Kanya’ means ‘daughter’ and ‘daan’ means ‘to give away’. Performed by the bride’s parents, the Kanyadaan is the ceremony of the parents giving away their daughter to the groom. As the bride’s parents perform this ritual, they symbolically transfer the responsibility of their daughter to the groom.
With the Paani Grahan ritual, the groom accepts the bride as his wife and holds the bride’s right hand with his right, signifying the mutual consent between the couple to live happily ever after.
Vivaah Homa
The “Vivaah Home” ritual starts with lighting the sacred fire. In the Hindu wedding ceremony, ‘Agni Deva’ or the God of Fire is worshipped before starting any auspicious event.
The priest, who performs the ritual, holds the fire in a copper bowl, chants sacred mantras and offers rice, oil, ghee, sugar and other sacred items to the fire.
Mangal Phera
In this Hindu wedding ritual, the bride and groom take four rounds around the fire, each representing the different goals of life. The bride takes the lead in the first three rounds of this ceremony.
The groom leads the bride in the last round, signifying the completion of the marriage ceremony.
The best part of this ritual is when the couple completes all four rounds and races to sit on their seats first. The bride and groom are then tied together with a dupatta or a scarf, symbolising their union.
Saptapadi
As ‘Sapta’ means ‘seven’ and ‘padi’ means ‘steps’, this Hindu wedding ritual involves the couples taking seven steps around the sacred fire. The seven steps in this ritual signify seven vows of marriage.
Saptapadi has such great significance in the Hindu tradition that the wedding ceremony is considered complete only with this ritual.
Sindoor and Mangalsutra
The groom ties a beaded yellow thread that is dipped in turmeric, known as the ‘mangal sutra’, around the bride’s neck and applies sindoor, a sacred red powder, to the bride’s forehead.
Mangalsutra and sindoor are symbols of blessed marriage and are worn only by married women.
Ashirwad
The word ‘ashirwad’ translates to ‘blessings’. As the name indicates, this Hindu wedding ritual involves the couple seeking blessings from the priest and elder members of the family.
The friends and family of the newly married couple shower them with yellow rice and rose petals, expressing their joy for the couple.
The Wedding Feast
Hindu weddings are incomplete without a lavish feast. After happily completing the marriage rituals, the guests are given a grand meal and they are kept entertained with songs and dances.
Vidaai
Vidaai is an emotional moment in the Hindu wedding ceremony when the bride officially leaves her parents and steps into a new life with her husband.
Starting a new chapter of her life, the bride joins the groom’s house, where the family members warmly welcome her.
6. Reception
After completing all the Hindu wedding rituals, it is finally time for the couple to kickstart their new journey together, surrounded by the love and support of their families. Parents and relatives from both families visit the couple, showering them with blessings and gifts, creating a beautiful scene of love and unity. The bride and groom cherish every moment of their long-awaited day in gorgeously decorated reception halls. By incorporating creative ideas into decorations, receptions nowadays are celebrated in specially adorned venues like ballrooms, mountain tops, or trendy event spaces.
Even with all the modern flair, some families still find ways to value and include Hindu wedding traditions. This can be seen in various elements of the celebrations, such as food, music, entertainment, etc. What else is more delightful than having a delicious meal filled with a variety of dishes that cater to both traditional and modern tastes? From traditional dishes to formal meals, reception feasts completely capture the essence of celebration.
Moreover, families integrate traditional values into the joyful reception ceremony by organising several events. Events like speeches from family members, vibrant dances, cake cutting, etc. add a special charm to the event, making it a moment to be cherished forever.
Enrich the Elegance of Wedding Traditions with LuxAus
The Hindu wedding ceremony is a beautiful reflection of the grandeur of Indian traditions and values. Planning and preparing everything for the wedding with utmost perfection is never a daunting task when you have the right wedding planner by your side. LuxAus, the best wedding planner in Sydney, is there to take the lead in making your event a unique experience. With our years of experience in hosting flawless events, you can expect nothing less than the best to make your special day unforgettable.