Baraat Swagat and Dwarpuja (Welcoming of Groom)

The groom arrives with his family and friends (baraat procession) and is warmly greeted by the bride’s family and friends. The bride’s family welcomes the groom and asks him if he is prepared to make the commitment of marriage to their daughter. The bride’s mother places Kumkum (red vermilion powder), signifying good luck, on the groom’s forehead and he is then asked to break the Sampat (earthen pot) filled with ghee (melted butter) and cottonseeds.

The pot represents the world; the contents within symbolise the different experiences the couple will encounter in their life journey together. The groom is then escorted to the mandap where he awaits the bride’s arrival.

Vishnu and Varpujan

At the mandap, the ceremony commences with a prayer to Lord Ganesh, who is the remover of obstacles and provider of good luck. He is also the symbol of peace, truth, friendship, brotherhood and happiness. The groom, his parents and the rest of his family are invited to participate in the prayer. The groom’s feet are cleansed with milk and water to purify him for a new life ahead.

Antarpat

The Antar Patt (veil) is placed in front of the groom, signifying the separate lives of the bride and groom, which will soon end with their Union.

Kanya Aagman

This is the time to welcome the kanya (bride) to the mandap. The bride’s uncles (mamas), escort her to the mandap. While the priest recites verses to bless the bride and the groom, the Antar Patt is removed, signifying commencement of their lives as unified souls.

Exchange of Garlands

The bride and groom proclaim their mutual love, respect and acceptance of one another by bestowing a garland of fresh flowers on each other. The sweet scent of fresh flowers symbolises happiness of a married life.

Civil Ceremony

The bride and groom recite vows to one another stating their commitment to their marriage. They exchange rings symbolising their never-ending love.

Kanyadaan

The Kanyadaan (the giving away of the bride) is a very sacred step in the wedding ceremony, which is performed by the bride’s family. They summon the presence of God and give her hand in marriage to the groom. At this juncture, varmala – a loop of cotton thread wound 24 times signifying different characteristics and virtues of human life – is put around the shoulders of the bride and groom, symbolising the sacred union of the couple. The varmala does not contain a single knot to signify there shall be no break in the union; it binds the two together to fulfil each other’s role sincerely.

Hastamelap

The hastamelap is a physical joining of the bride’s and groom’s right palms and constitutes a very important aspect of the wedding ceremony. While chanting slokas (holy verses), the priest places a sacred betel nut in the groom’s right palm. The he places the bride’s right palm on top of the groom’s right palm and finally covers the palms with a red cloth. The priest proclaims that the union has the approval of the families and is conducted in the presence of family, friends and the community.

Vivah Havan

The wedding ceremony continues in the mandap around the holy fire, which is an eternal witness to the marriage. Agni, lighted by the priest, is a symbol of purity and signifies the presence of God at the ceremony. All commitments made in the presence of the Agni are thus, made in the presence of God.

Mangal Fera

With Agni as a witness, the couple performs mangalphera (walking around Agni) four times, solidifying their marriage and makes them husband and wife. The four rounds symbolise their journey of life along the four paths of life:

1st Phera – Dharma (Obligations and Duty) – Duty to each other, family and society
2nd Phera – Aartha (Wealth and Prosperity) – Earning honourably and supporting one another
3rd Phera – Karma (Deeds) – Unconditional love
4th Phera – Moksha (Enlightenment) – Eternally uniting with God through prayers and meditation.

At the onset of each round, the bride’s family fills the couple’s palms with rice, oats and green leaves, signifying great health and bountiful wealth, prosperity and happiness. The grains are offered to the fire as a sign of giving up worldly possessions in order to receive rewarding blessings. The groom leads the first three rounds, and the bride leads the fourth round. After the final round, both will step on a stone and offer a prayer for their mutual love to be firm and steadfast like the stone. The priest asks the couple to sit down and whoever sits first is believed to rule the household.

Saptapadi

The bride and groom perform the Saptapadi (the seven sacred steps) near the fire, representing the seven vows and promises they make to each other:

1. Together we shall nourish each other, avoid what is harmful to healthy living, and cherish each other in sickness and in health.
2. Together we shall develop physical, metal and spiritual powers to attain peace, happiness and spirituality.
3. Together we shall aim to increase our wealth by righteous means, prosper and share worldly goods, and conquer all obstacles that we may encounter.
4. Together we shall acquire knowledge, courage, strength, happiness, and live in harmony with mutual love and respect.
5. Together we shall be blessed with strong and virtuous children and share responsibilities of home and children.
6. Together we shall always be true to each other, work together for prosperity and happiness, and cherish this world.
7. Together we shall strive for longevity and remain life-long partners forever.

Mangalsutra, Sindoor and Ring Exchange

The groom adorns the bride with a mangalsutra, a necklace of gold and black beads, reflecting eternal respect and love for her. He then places sindoor (red vermilion powder) along the parting of the bride’s hair. The colour red symbolises the dawn’s redness as this is the first day of their journey together as husband and wife. Both mangalsutra and sindoor constitute traditional signs of a married woman. Also, the bride and groom exchange wedding rings as a symbol of eternal love for each other.

Kansaar Feeding

The bride’s mother provides kansaar (Indian sweets) for the newlyweds. The bride feeds the groom four times, signifying that it is her duty to feed him and their family. Likewise, the groom feeds the bride four times indicating that he will fulfil his duty as a husband to provide for her and their family.

Akhand Saubhagyavati – Blessings

Married women from the couple’s family come and bless the bride by whispering “Akhand Sau Bhagyavati”, in the bride’s ear, which means “good luck, prosperity and a long, happy life”.

Ashirvaad – Blessings

The priest declares the bride and groom as husband and wife and blesses the newlyweds with a happy and prosperous life together. He asks the congregation to join him in showering the couple with blessings and good wishes. The couple then seeks blessings from family and friends as the ceremony concludes.

Vidaai

After lunch, is the Vidaai ceremony. The Vidaai is a touching and emotional farewell to the bride by her family and friends as she begins her new life with her husband and his family. The bride throws handfuls of rice over her head, signifying that she is returning all that her parents have given her over the years, and praying that the house of her childhood remains prosperous and happy.