Indian Wedding Traditions & Customs
When it comes to weddings, there is no place as diverse as India.
Traditionally Indian weddings are multi-day affairs and involve many intricate ceremonies.
Ceremonies such as a mehndi – the painting of the hands and feet of the bride. Instead of corsages, garlands are presented to guests of honor, and lots of rose petals or flowers are thrown for good luck.
3 Parts to The Indian Wedding
Typically, the wedding is divided into three parts: pre-wedding, main, and post-wedding.
The pre-wedding includes all the preparations and a party the night before. Each side of the family can meet each other and dance and have fun. A Pandit offers a prayer with family members to provide the couple with a happily married life together as husband and wife.
The parents do not eat before the wedding to remain pure for the occasion. Both parents usually give the bride away.
Symbolism is employed to represent the union of the two souls. The brides outfit consists of a red sari heavily embroidered with gold thread.
She accessorizes with traditional ornate gold jewelry.
Bride’s Saree is tied to Groom’s Scarf
The bride’s saree is tied to the groom’s scarf. During a similar ceremony, a cord is tied around the couple’s necks.
The cord is typically tied by elders of the bride and groom to protect them from evil.
Mandapa, the wedding altar, a decorated four pillared canopy, is built the day of the wedding and the groom is welcomed by his future mother-in-law.
Watch For The Shoe Thief!
The groom’s feet are then washed and he is offered honey and milk.
His sister-in-law will attempt to steal his shoes and if she succeeds, the groom must pay her to get them back.
An Indian groom typically wears a turban with a veil of flowers. It is believed that the flowers provide protection from evil spirits.
The Mangala Sutra Tied Around Neck
In Indian weddings, the Mangala Sutra is tied around the bride’s neck instead of exchanging rings.
The mangala sutra is a cord with two gold pendants and is tied in three knots by the groom to symbolize the bonding of the two souls for 100 years. This necklace lets others know that the bride is married.
One fun ceremony is called mangal pheras. This is when the bride and groom circle the sacred fire four times to represent dharma, artha, kama, and moksha and they run to their seats—whoever gets there first will rule the household.
Dharma, artha, kama and moksha are vows that the couple take. Dharma – represents duty to each other, family and society; Artha – providing for material needs of the family; Kama – unconditional love and Moksha – striving for enlightenment.
In Saptapadi, the bride is helped by the groom to touch seven betel nutes with her right toe while they recite seven vows.
Blessing Whispered by 7 Married Women
Then, blessings are whispered in the bride’s right ear by seven married women from the bride’s side of the family. Finally, the bride is carried out by her brothers after the wedding.
The bride then leaves for the groom’s home where her mother-in-law has placed a vessel filled with rice at the entrance of the home.
The Spilling of the Rice
By touching it with her right foot, the bride is supposed to spill the rice to signify wealth and to signify that she accepts her new responsibilities.
Aeki Beki, is another fun game for the newlyweds.
It is called where a tray of water is mixed with milk and sindoor (vermillion) and it is filled with coins and a ring. It is said, the one will rule the household is the one who finds the ring four out of seven times.
The wedding day is concluded with prayers.
