Hindu Marriage Ceremony is a set of complex customs and varies considerably from region to region. Each community has their own spin on the basic Hindu wedding ceremony based on geographical location and cultural influences. While in some communities, it is a simple but elegant affair, in others, weddings spell grandeur and pomp. In North India the wedding proceedings are generally termed as "Vivah Sanskar" whereas in most of South India it is referred to as "Kalyanam".
Hindu weddings rituals are carried out according to guidelines laid down thousands of years ago by sages who created the Vedas. There are certain common pre-wedding, wedding day and post-wedding customs that are generally observed by all Hindus.
Pre-Wedding Rituals
The primary mode of marriage among Hindu Pre-Wedding Ceremonies is directed towards finding the perfect match. A date is fixed when the formal announcement of the wedding will take place. This is generally known as the Engagement ceremony. The engagement ceremony is known by many names - "Sagai" in Haryana, "Roka" in Punjab, "Sakhar Puda" in Maharashtra, Kasamdry among Kashmiri Pandits, "Tilak" among Marwaris, "Nishchayam" or "Nishchaya Thamboolam" in South India and "Ghor Dana" among Gujaratis.
As the wedding day approaches, there are a few rituals that are observed like Ganesh Puja, Mehendi, Sangeet and Haldi. In most cultures, a Puja is held by both the families. The families pray to Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles from the couple"s life path. Mehendi is mostly a North Indian tradition where a paste of henna is applied on the bride"s and groom"s hands. The Sangeet is a fun-filled ceremony where both the families get together to perform song-dance routines and get to know each other better. This is a predominantly North Indian practice as well, especially among Punjabis and Gujaratis, but has been widely adopted by other cultures as well.
The Haldi ceremony is a very common ritual among almost all communities in India. Turmeric paste in applied to both the bride and groom by women before they are washed by sacred water. The Haldi Ceremony is known by many a name across the country, Gaye Holud among Bengalis, Pithi among Gujaratis and Mangala Snanam among Tamilians.
Wedding Rituals
The key steps of Hindu wedding ritual are Kanyadaan and Paanigrahan, Vivaah Homa, Laja Homa and Agni Pradakshina, and finally Saptapadi according to Grihya sutras. Other rituals vary according to regional cultures but these are the key steps of a Hindu Marriage without which the marriage would not be considered complete. On completion of these rituals, the marriage is concluded and the couple seeks blessings from elders of the families.
Post-Wedding Rituals
The post wedding rituals primarily comprises of Vidaai, welcoming of the bride at the groom"s house and reception.
Although, there are countless variations across the country when it comes to wedding rituals, but among most Hindu communities, weddings are elaborate events with multiple rituals being observed throughout many days. Involvement of the relatives and friends are must in Indian Hindu weddings.
