| The Hindu religion comes from across a number of | | | | - Holy mantras are chanted and the bride's parents |
| regions, each with cultural variations to wedding | | | | pledge their blessings. It symbolizes them givining their |
| ceremonies. There are, however, fundamental | | | | daughter away. |
| similarities in all Hindu weddings. | | | | Kanya-agaman |
| The purpose of the Hindu wedding is to perform the | | | | - the bride enterers, usually led by a maternal uncle |
| dharma, obligations to society and family, prajana, | | | | to the mandap. The groom is shielded and is unable |
| which is to bring children into the world and shradh | | | | to see his bride until he expresses his acceptance of |
| which refers to the rituals. | | | | her to the pundit. The couple then sit together with |
| Misri for Indian Wedding | | | | the groom on the left. |
| Also known as the sugar ceremony, this is an | | | | Pad-Pakshalan |
| engagement ceremony in which the blessings of Lord | | | | - The brides parents wash the feet of the couple |
| Ganesha are prayed for. Seven married women | | | | with milk and water and then connect the couple |
| represent the seven forms of God and make | | | | together with a length of raw cotton and threads. |
| Ganesha symbol on a pot of sugar. The Ganesha | | | | This is later tied together by the pundit to reinforce |
| symbol looks similar to a swastika, but in a clockwise | | | | their bond as husband and wife. |
| direction. | | | | Hasta-melap |
| Prayer known as a puja is carried out by the couple | | | | - the brides right hand is placed in the grooms right |
| and their parents to complete the request for | | | | hand as traditionally the brides parents are giving her |
| blessings. | | | | away to the groom. |
| The families of the bride and the groom exchange | | | | Agni Puja |
| garlands of flowers, rings, fruit and gifts. As the | | | | - a sacred fire is lit by the pundit in a copper bowl |
| fourth finger is considered to have a direct link to the | | | | Shilarohana |
| heart, the rings are placed on these fingers. These | | | | - the bride puts her foot on a stone to correspond |
| are placed on the right hand of the groom and the | | | | with the vows they take to be strong as a couple |
| left hand of the bride. | | | | throughout married life. |
| Indian Wedding Sangeet | | | | Laja homa |
| This is a pre wedding party with food and music for | | | | - rice is placed in the sacred fire while the bride prays |
| friends and family. The bride and groom may have | | | | for her husband to have a long life, prosper and to |
| individual sangeets or a combined large celebration. | | | | be happy. |
| Nav Graha Puja for Wedding | | | | Mangalfera |
| This is a puja which takes place days before the | | | | - the couple walk around the fire four times. The |
| wedding to ask for blessings from the Gods which | | | | groom will lead the bride three times to represent |
| govern the planets. This is considered important as | | | | duty, karma and wealth, and the bride will lead the |
| astrology has been an important influence throughout | | | | round representing salvation. |
| the history of the Hindu religion. | | | | Saptapadi |
| Wedding Sagri | | | | - these are the seven symbolic steps the couple will |
| This is a ceremony for the females from the grooms | | | | walk around the fire to remain life-long partners and |
| family to get to know the bride by visiting her with | | | | friends. Oaths are taken in the presence of the |
| gifts. | | | | guests to unite the couple as husband and wife. |
| Wedding Mehndi | | | | Pradakshina |
| This is the henna party where the bride and some of | | | | - the couple circle the fire three more times with a |
| the guests have their hands and feet painted with | | | | further prayer. |
| henna paste. The henna stains the hands with the | | | | Saubhagya Chinha |
| patterns which are painted on and is considered lucky | | | | - the bride is blessed by the groom by him placing |
| and an illustration of the strength of love in the | | | | vermilion powder on her forehead and giving her a |
| imminent marriage. | | | | wedding necklace known as a Mangal Sutra. |
| Ghari Puja for Wedding | | | | Haridaya-Sparsha |
| This is a religious ceremony which takes place the | | | | - the couple place their hands over each others |
| night before the wedding in the bride and groom's | | | | hearts while stating vows. They are then blessed by |
| home. The ceremony represents the couple leaving | | | | the pundit to complete the wedding ceremony. |
| their old life and embarking on their new life together. | | | | Chathurthi Karma |
| The Pithi is usually performed at this point, which is a | | | | The couple feed each other four times to represent |
| beautification ritual. The bride and groom are washed | | | | the development of their skin, muscle, bone and soul. |
| with a tumeric paste. | | | | Blessed flower petals and rice are thrown over the |
| Wedding Bharaat | | | | couple by guests at the end of the ceremony like |
| On the morning of the wedding, the groom leaves his | | | | confetti. As the couple leaves the farewell to the |
| home for the wedding traditionally mounted on a | | | | bride is a moving moment as she is leaving her family |
| white horse with his family and friends around him. | | | | to build a new life with her husband and his family. |
| When they arrive, they are greeted by the brides | | | | A coconut is positioned under a wheel of the |
| family who shower them with rose water and petals. | | | | wedding car, so it can be broken on its departure. |
| Wedding Swagatum | | | | This was done in the past to ensure the vehicle |
| To welcome the goom to the wedding, the mother | | | | which was transporting the newlyweds was |
| places a red dot, known as a tikka, on his forehead. | | | | roadworthy. |
| A pot filled with yogurt, honey, seeds and ghee is | | | | There are post wedding ceremonies which take place |
| placed on the ground for the groom to step on in | | | | to welcome the bride into the family. Salt is used in |
| order to close the ceremony. | | | | the ritual of Datar to symbolize her entering the |
| The actual wedding ceremony itself takes place in a | | | | family as it can blend well into any food. |
| mandap, a canopy, with a sacred fire burning inside it. | | | | Hindu brides customarily wear heavily embroidered |
| A series of rituals to signify the union of the couple, | | | | red and white saris. The red implies fertility and the |
| complete the wedding ceremony. | | | | white the innocence and purity of the bride. It is |
| Madhuparka | | | | common for the bride to change during the wedding |
| - the groom's right foot is washed by the father of | | | | from a modest sari from her family to a more heavy |
| the bride. | | | | sari from the groom's family. |
| Sankalp | | | | |