Hindu vivah or Indian marriage ceremonies are bright and colorful. Traditional marriage ceremonies may last for 3-4 days. Grandeur, color and fun are seamlesslyblended with culture and heritage in Hindu Vivah ceremonies. Each ritual has a story or a deep meaning to it. Detailed traditions of Hindu marriages can be found in ancient scripture named ‘Manusmriti’. Hindu Vivah’s traditions can be broadly classified in pre-wedding rituals, the vivah ceremony and the post vivah rituals.
Indian Wedding Rituals, hindu wedding rituals Shagun ceremony Traditionally the shagun ceremony holds an important place in the pre-wedding rituals. Once the girl and the boy have consented to the marriage, the elders in the families chose an auspicious date for the shagun ceremony. This date may be calculated with help of astral calendar often known as Panchanga. On the day of the Shagun, groom’s mother visits the bride’s house with gifts, clothes, betel nut, rice and incense. Jewelry and sweets are also added to the Shagun. Acceptance of the shagun by the bride signifies her formal consent to be the daughter in law of the family
Engagement or Sagaai / Mangani
Mere engagement is the word which denotes the future bonding of the marriage between boy and girl and denote boy and girl to Future husband and future wife.
Mehndi
Mehndi ceremony is organized by the women of the house. Female guests are invited to participate in the Mehndi function that is marked with music and dance.
Sangeet
Sangeet ceremony is held in the house of the bride and the groom separately. Sangeet ceremony consists of music, dance and fun.
Haldi
Haldi ceremony plays the vital role in the marriage and it is the most important and auspicious occasion in both bride and groom side. This ceremony is conducted a day prior to the wedding.
Navagraha pooja
Navgraha puja is performed separately at the bride and the groom’s houses in order to seek blessings from the nine planets. Navgraha puja is generally performed by the family priest.
Baraat
Baraat is the wedding procession, where the groom arrives at the marriage venue on a white mare. Friends, relatives and family members of the groom accompany Baraat.
Madhuparka
father of the bride then welcomes the groom to the vivah mandap. Holy fire is lit by the priest, who starts chanting the Vedic verses signifying the start of the wedding.
Kanyadaan
Kanyaa daan refers to giving away the daughter in marriage. During the Kanyaa daan ceremony, father gives the bride’s left hand in the groom’s right hand for the marriage.
Sapta-padi or Mangal phera
During this ceremony, the bride and the groom take seven phera around the vivah homa. Each phera symbolizes the marriage vow. It is also believed that the seven pheras mark the union for seven births.
Griha Pravesh
bride is welcomed in to her new house by her mother in law by applying Tilak on her forehead. She seeks blessings from the elders in the family.
Path phera
It is also known as pag phera in north India bride returns to her mother’s house on the fourth day after the wedding.
