What Happens In An Indian Wedding Ceremony? Indian Wedding Traditions
“Traditionally, an Indian wedding lasts an average of three days…”
During the UK lockdown, in this time of uncertainty, we thought we’d use this time to look to more positive subjects, and bring them to you to brighten your day. Leave the virus at the door as we delve into more wedding traditions from around the world! We’re focusing on Indian and South Asian wedding traditions this week, and if anyone would like us to focus on a specific culture, or if anyone has any more information that we may have missed from these traditions, please let us know via the links below!
With Indian weddings, it’s traditional to wear loud, vibrant colours! The bride usually wears red instead of white, to symbolise the rising sun, prosperity and fertility. The attire she wears is known as a Solah Shringar (consisting of 16 pieces) which includes her make-up, jewellery, and of course, her clothes! Each item should bring out the natural beauty of the bride; her style, her grace, her elegance. A notable piece of jewellery from the Solah Shringar is the Magtikka, a large jewel that the bride wears on her forehead and through her hair. Her clothing is traditionally a saree which is brightly coloured with delicate gold embroidery. The bride may also apply a dash of red kumkuma powder (Powder made from tumeric, used for social and religious markings in India) on her forehead for good luck. If you’re heading to an Indian wedding, our advice would be to ask the bride and groom on what to wear; just make sure to avoid white (this is associated with funerals), black (which is considered unlucky), and red (so you don’t clash with the bride!).
Traditionally, an Indian wedding takes a lot longer than a western British style wedding and lasts an average of three days (though this can differ from each couple/family!). On the first night, a priest will perform a ceremony called the Ganesh Puja — something that usually happens at home with only the couple, bridal party, and their close relatives. The tradition of worshipping Ganesh (in Hindu beliefs) is intended to bless the wedding with good luck, as Lord Ganesh is believed to be the destroyer of evils. This ceremony will prepare the couple for a new beginning, and most Indian weddings are incomplete with it!
On the second day, the bride holds a mehndi ceremony, where she and her bridal party (and any other women invited to attend — this is a strict no men allowed ceremony!) decorate their hands and feet with intricate designs, painted with henna (also known as mehndi in the Indian language). Henna itself is a cosmetic paste consisting of dried henna leaf powder, water (or lemon juice), essential oils such as tea tree or lavender, and sugar. This paste has been used for five thousand years in Indian culture; the patterns can be floral in nature, but most of all they are intricate designs that signify a deep bond between the husband and wife. Mehndi can last for three to seven days, it’s a lot like a temporary tattoo, and it’s believed that the darker the henna appears on the bride, the stronger her marriage will be.
After the mehndi ceremony (either as a separate occasion or combined) there is a Sangeet party, which consists of the bride and groom’s families celebrating in unison with song and dance. The Sangeet ceremony is seen as the most enjoyable one, with outside guests being invited alongside the families. It is truly a magnificent event, allowing for families to mingle with one another in celebration of the couple’s joining, with a delicious meal and performances (dancing, etc).
On the morning of the wedding the next day, the bride and groom have haldi applied to them by family members (a paste made from tumeric, mixed with sandalwood, milk and rosewater) as it is believed to ward off evil spirits and ease nerves. It is a belief that haldi has medicinal properties that protect them from all kinds of ailments, and that the yellow colour of the turmeric brightens the skin colour of the couple.
The wedding ceremony itself is held under a temporary structure known as a mandap, and can appear on an elevated platform, and each pillar represents the couple’s parents. It is usually decorated with flowers, greenery, fabric, crystals — anything bright and vibrant! The bride is led to the ceremony by either her brothers or uncles, and the moment when she is given away by her father is known as the kanyadaan. The father of the bride will place his daughter’s hands into the groom’s hands as a gesture of giving her away, and the parents of the couple will then join them under the mandap.
The couple pledges their vows around what is known as the agni, a holy fire that witnesses their ceremony. The couple join hands and circle the fire, taking seven steps as they vow to support each other and live happily together. The groom then ties a necklace known as the mangalsutra (made with red, white and black beads and strung through black or yellow string) which signifies her as a married woman. She’ll continue wearing this even after her wedding day, as the mangalsutra acts as a wedding ring, an indicator of her joyous marriage. Finally, a South Indian custom called the talambralu occurs, which is where the couple showers each other with a mixture of rice, turmeric and saffron — this tradition symbolises fertility, happiness, and prosperity.
We love learning more about different cultures and their wedding traditions; what about you? What was something new you learned today about another culture and how they marry? What did you love most about it? Let us know in the comments or via our social media! It’ll be great to hear from you.
See you next week.
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