| Wedding
Style : Hindu Marriage
During
the Hindu wedding ceremony, the bride and groom take the sapta-padi or
seven steps together, promises led by a priest or Brahmin. The couple
takes the sapta-padi before God, the Radiant One, symbolized by fire and
light. Thus, their promises are witnessed by Godšs wisdom, truth, and
justice.
Todayšs Hindu weddings are celebrated lavishly by family and friends.
They also provide an opportunity for the parents to observe prospective
eligible prospects for their other unmarried children.
The wedding usually takes place at the bridešs home with the bride wearing
a beautiful sari. Usually a large tent is erected and filled with beautiful
interior decor: flowers, colorful personal adornment, and jewelry. Other
places for the wedding are a garden, courtyard of the bridešs house, a
blocked-off street or square. Weddings are elaborate celebrations with
about 100 relatives gathering for the occasion. Guests enjoy dining and
lunch on their three-day visit. Sumitra Singhšs father was so pleased
on the occasion of his daughteršs wedding that he had roses thrown to
the earth from an airplane.
Because peoplešs wealth and status differ and every state within India
has its own customs, language, and manner of dress, Indian marriage customs
and ceremonies vary.
Pre-wedding customs:
When the groom, his relatives, and friends arrive at the bridešs
town, the bridešs parents hold a welcome ceremony. After the groom dines
at the bridešs home, the bride and groom stand on a decorated wood plank
as priests hold a curtain between them. While the bridešs bridal party
(maternal uncle and bridesmaids) stand behind the bride, the priests chant
marriage songs and the guests shower rice and other grains over the couple.
Wedding
ceremony: The priest or Brahmin officiates at the wedding ceremony.
The wedding begins when the curtain is removed and garlands of sandalwood
chips are placed around the necks of the bride and groom.
Bridal upliftment of Dharma:
The bridešs father gives his daughter to the groom for the upliftment
of Dharma. The father includes his daughter in the three Purusharthas:
Dharma for right conduct, Artha for prosperity, and Karma for the enjoyment
of legitimate gratification.
Marriage symbols: After the bride applies
sandalwood paste to the groomšs forehead, he makes a round red mark on
her forehead for her to display as long as they are married. The offerings
of puffed rice and purified butter from the hands of the bride and groom
are thrown into the fire, representing the Radiant One, while the priest
removes the darkness by chanting more mantras, which are blessings.
Vows: Vows
in a Hindu marriage are made before a fire that represents the deity,
the Radiant One; thus vows are witnessed by the Godšs wisdom, truth, and
justice. The husband accepts his wife as a token of good fortune so they
can assume their Hindu life together. The groom vows to always include
his bride and to consult her. While the groom takes the bridešs hand and
leads her around the fire, mantras are said. These mantras include accepting
the responsibilities of fidelity, love, mutual respect, and procreation
for as long as they live. As the priest chants the seven steps, the bride
and groom step closer to each other. The couples start walking where the
rice is heaped on one side. Holding hands, they take the sapta-padi, seven
steps symbolic of their common journey through life. As they circle around
the sacred fire pot, they agree to do the following:
* Earn
a living for their family and respect their abundance.
* Live
a healthy lifestyle for each other.
* Be
concerned for the partneršs welfare, happiness and friendship throughout
their religious-centered lives.
* Eat and drink
together and be with each other on special occasions.
* Desire
children for whom they will be responsible and love.
* Adapt to
the other person at any given time and place.
Then, the bridegroom recites the traditional mantras to the bride, including:
I am the words
and you are the melody, I am the melody and you are the words.
Blessings: The
bridešs parents present gifts to the groom. Cotton is tied around the
bride and groom while blessings for a long and happy life are given. The
bride washes her hands, then bride and groom pray that their prosperity,
success, and Dharma will be fulfilled.
Placing of the floral love necklace: The bridegroom places a floral love necklace around
his bridešs neck while he asks her to accompany him in his Hindu activities.
Another wedding necklace, a gold or silver chain with gold semicircles
and black beads from both families, symbolic of the union of the two families,
is also worn.
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