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most colourful ceremony one could see in India is Hindu Marriage. A
series of enchanting scenes, such as colourful procession with dance & music,
grand welcome, Jaimal (garlanding) ceremony,
delectable cuisine
and Vedic rituals in presence of Fire god, is a wonderful experience of sheer
delight.According
to Hindu belief marriages are settled in heaven, but celebrated on earth.
It is believed
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that
the Almighty has already decided a suitable life-partner of a boy or girl.
However it is the responsibility of parents of boy as well as girl to find
out this already decided life-partner.
Normally, the parents of the prospective spouses get together either through a
common relative or through a matchmaker. The families discuss each other's
backgrounds and work out the
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modalities of the bondage. Traditionally, the boy's family
would negotiate with the girl's family for dowry. The higher
the amount of dowry, the better the proposal. Nowadays,
although the dowry system has subsided among the educated
people, girls are always sent to their in-laws homes with
large sums of money,
beautiful saris, jewellery and other
valuables. All these things are given with niceties and no negotiation.
For most
people in India, the betrothal of the young couple and the
exact date and time of the wedding are matters decided by the
parents in consultation with astrologers. At Hindu weddings,
the bride and bridegroom represent the god and the goddess,
although there is a parallel tradition that sees the groom as
a prince coming to wed his princess. The groom, decked in all
his finery, often travels to the wedding site on a caparisoned
white horse or in an open limousine, accompanied by a |
procession of relatives, musicians, and bearers of ornate electrified lamps.
For the initial ceremony of Dwar Pujan (prayer at the
entrance), the bridegroom with his some close relatives and
friends, sit at the entrance, where a
red
mark (tilak) of vermilion and turmeric
powder is applied on his
forehead in presence of the priest chanting Mantras. At the same
timebride's mother blesses the groom with rice and trefoil while waving
the lighted lamps in front of him. At the time of Dwar Pujan, rest of the party is welcomed inside
and entertained lavishly.
After the Dwar Pujan, the groom is escorted by the relatives of the bride
to an elevated platform, elaborately decorated with flowers and lighted
lamps. |
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After some
time, the prince is joined by the most elegant lady of the night in red coloured Sari and beautiful gold jewellery. Yes! It is the time for
one of the most beautiful moments of a wedding ceremony, Jaimal,
in which both bride & groom exchange garlands of fresh flowers in presence of all
the relatives & friends, acknowledging the life-long bondage. Jaimal is
followed by a long photo-session including Prince, Princess and near&
dear ones. Next in the queue is Grand Dinner- a wide range of
Indian Delicacies!
Later bride & groom are escorted to the Mandap (alter) by their parents
for the core ceremony of Agni Sakshi that goes on past midnight. The
young couple circumambulates the sacred fire |
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(representing the god
Agni) seven times, called Agni Pheras. At the same time they take
solemn vows of loyalty, steadfast love and
life-long fidelity to each other,
with the fire as their prime witness. Hindus believe in rebirth and hence by
taking seven rounds it is believed that the souls of the bride and the groom
are married together for the next seven lives, including the present. Each
round of the god Agni is accompanied by the recitation of a mantra,
which explains its significance.
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Pheras and Vachans (promises) give weight and credibility to the
institution of marriage. Apart from giving it a legal sanction, they infuse
the spirit of sharing and loving in the couple- the essentials of a successful
married life. Ask any of the couples what they felt while taking the Pheras
and they will tell you that it was the most uplifting experience for them,
translating and transforming life in a matter of seconds!
It is only after the completion of Agni Pheras, the groom ties the
Mangalsutra around bride's neck, and puts Sindoor (vermilion
powder) on her hair parting, thus solemnizing the wedding. This is followed by
the Aashirvad ceremony- benediction by the elders.
The farewell ceremony- Vida Samaroh is held next day when the girl is
sent off to her husband's house to start a new life! |
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