Hindu weddings in India comprise of several customs that are celebrated by the families of brides and grooms. Thus, new couples should know about these important wedding rituals that takes place before and after the wedding ceremony.
Pre-wedding rituals
Engagement ceremony – This pre-wedding function is also called Sagai, when the bride and groom exchange rings in front of both their families. The exact time for this act is decided by consulting a pundit.
Mehendi ceremony – This ritual is also held before the wedding when the Mehendi paste is applied all over the bride’s hands and feet in beautiful designs. Other women of the bride’s family also apply Mehendi on their hands while dancing and singing, celebrating the occasion.
Sangeet ceremony – It is a celebration time when everyone sings and dances to share the joy of the bride in her house. Now, people hire DJs to play lively music and a choreographer who can teach them dance steps, to make the program more entertaining and successful.
Haldi ceremony – This ceremony is conducted on the morning of the wedding day. Family members and friends apply turmeric paste on the face and limbs of the bride and groom at their respective houses. Then they also smear turmeric paste on one another and have a lot of fun.
Tilak / Sagun Ceremony – For conducting the Tilak ceremony, the bride’s parents and other family members visit the groom’s house. The bride’s father puts a Tilak of vermilion on the forehead of the groom and showers him with various gifts, like costly clothes, sweets, and dry fruits. Likewise, elders of the groom’s family visit the bride’s house to bless her with an expensive heirloom of the family for the Sagun ceremony. Guests should be informed about these pre-wedding ceremonies by sending them Hindu wedding invitations online.
Post-Wedding Rituals
Vidaai – This is an emotional phase where the bride and all her family members are in tears while sending off the bride to her husband’s home. The bride should throw some rice five times backward while stepping out of her home as a mark of gratitude to her parents. Then her brothers will lead her to get into the vehicle that will take her to the new home.
Reception – The groom’s family organizes a reception party in the honor of the new couple at their house. The bride is officially introduced to their relatives and neighbors on that day. All the guests, including the bride’s family, are treated to a gala feast and entertainment.
Blessing Ceremony – This ceremony is organized at the groom’s place so that all elders can bless the new couple. The elders of the bride’s family are also invited to bless the bride and groom with expensive gifts while they seek their blessings by touching their feet.
DwarRokai Ceremony – It is a funny ceremony mainly seen in North Indian families where the groom’s sisters stop the new couple from entering the groom’s house. The groom needs to give in to their demands, by paying cash or promise of expensive gifts, to enter the home with his bride.
Griha Pravesh Ceremony – The bride is welcomed in the house of her husband and in-laws. She needs to push out a jar full of rice with her feet for entering the home. Then she has to step in a mixture of milk and kumkum, followed by walking over a white cloth, leaving her red footmarks behind.
Mooh Dikhai Ceremony – In this ceremony, the bride sits covering her face with a veil. All the elderly ladies of the groom’s family unveil to see her face and then offer gifts to her, starting with the groom’s mother. This is a way of introducing the bride to all the female relatives of her husband’s family.
Pag Phera Ceremony – This is the return of the bride to her parents’ home, after visiting her in-laws’ house. She is brought back by her brothers and after 3 nights, her husband comes to accompany her back to his home.
All these rituals of a Hindu wedding are meant to provide enjoyment to the new couple while introducing them to each other.