A Hindu Wedding ‘the vivaha’ or ‘kanyadaanam’ In India, weddings have their religion-specific Rituals as well as religious beliefs. If we start talking about Hindu marriages, the grand, lavish and big fat marriages with a variety of rituals. Hindu weddings have a belief that God is the only planner of their marriages. It is not the bond between two people, even it is a bond between two families and their relatives. A hidden faith behind the Hindu wedding, the relationship of the couple lasts for the entire seven births.

Hindu marriages, pre-wedding, post-wedding rituals & celebrations vary by region. East or west and north or south families plan the rituals accordingly. The main rituals are Canadian process, Pani Grahan sanskaar, saptapadi (i.e. taking oaths sitting in front of agni kund during vedic yajna), and chanting mantras is the heart and soul of the Hindu marriages ceremony.

The wedding rituals of pre-wedding, wedding and post weddings are different, these are-

Pre Wedding Rituals

The pre-wedding rituals are engagement, sagai (exchange of ring ceremony), distributing wedding cards to invite guests, tilak, Haldi, Mehendi, sangeet a lot of rituals are associated with Hindu marriages to celebrate and rejoice. Even these rituals have their religious beliefs also. Turmeric and Mehandi are the symbols of love, piousness of relation.

Main rituals

Jaimala

The wedding rituals begin with Jai mala, in which couples exchange the garlands of flowers and vow the beginning of the wedding.

Kanyadaanam

Basically, it means the father of the bride decides to give away his daughter, to the groom. Father brings the daughter and takes her hand and gives it to the groom. Groom accepts the hand of the bride. This ceremony marks the beginning of, giving away her daughter.

Pani grahanam

Panigrahan means ‘holding the hand rituals’, comes after kanyadaanam, sometimes this ritual is preceded by vivaaha-homa. In this ritual after holding the bride’s hand, the groom accepts the responsibility of the bride in front of agni diety.

This ritual in Gujrat is known as hast milaap, whether in south India during this ritual fire is absent, they pour water and place turmeric in the hands of the couple with the presence of auspicious material like Betel leaves, coconut, nuts also.

Saptapadi,

The seven-step ritual. Saptapadi ritual is known as saat phere (seven rounds). The couple hold their right-hand takes seven circles of the Agni home, and the circle is firstly led by the bride and followed by groom. In the north region, the cotton cloth of the groom is tied with the bride’s dupatta. After tying the knot, they give certain lifelong promises to each other while moving around the Agni. This holy ritual is done by the priest with chanting of mantras.

Post Wedding Rituals

Vidaai, reception is post-wedding rituals. The bride’s family gives her a sobbing farewell. After it bride throws away three hands full of rice and coins over her shoulder, to ensure that the wealth and prosperity remain, after leaving her home.

Anna prasaadam is the ritual of having food with their family, friends, and guests, to enjoy the day. The graph Pravesh ritual also takes place, in which the bride enters into the groom’s home. This is the ritual to welcome the bride and introduce her to all family members.

These are some main rituals associated with Indian Hindu marriages, varies from one region to another. India is the country of diversity, so these wedding rituals are also diversified along with the changes of nature, place, tradition, and cultures.