Wedding Rituals

[minisoji]

Muslim Wedding Rituals

Welcoming the Baraat

To announce the arrival of groom’s baraat at the doorsteps of the bridal residence or wedding venue, the musicians play traditional songs. The groom and the bride’s brother share a drink of sherbet. The bride’s sisters come up with different ideas of playing pranks with the guests. They attempt to slap the guests playfully, using flower batons.

Nikaah Ceremony

Nikaah is the wedding ceremony that can take place at some convenient venue or else at the bride or groom’s residence. The ceremony is conducted by the Maulvi (priest). Close friends and relatives witness the happening of the event. The father of the bride and groom addressed as Walis, have an important role to play in the performance of nikaah. The priest reads certain verses from the Quran. Thereafter Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance) takes place.

The boy’s side sends the proposal and the girl’s side gives her consent. For the legality of marriage, mutual consent becomes of prime importance. On the wedding day, the elderly members of both the families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). Mehar is a mandatory price that the groom’s family must pay to the bride.

Nikaahnama

Nikaahnama is a legal document that must be duly signed by the bride, bridegroom, Maulvi and Walis for the marriage to be legal. It contains a set of terms and conditions that must be abided by both the parties.

Blessing the groom

The bridegroom seeks the blessings from the older women. As a mark of respect, the groom offers them ‘salaam’. People give their heartiest wishes to the newly weds.

Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf

The guests are served a lavish dinner. Men and women are usually seated separately for dining. After dinner, the newly weds get the chance to sit together for the first time. The heads of the bride and groom are covered using dupatta. Thereafter, the newly weds read prayers, as per the instructions of the Maulvi. The Quran is placed between the bride and groom and they are allowed to look at each other only through mirrors.

[minisoji]

Hindu Wdding Rituals

In a Hindu arranged marriage there are various rituals and customs. According to Hindu Sastra there are four stages of life and the second stage is Grahastha Ashram (the householder stage), which signifies married life and it begins when a man and a woman come together and marry. Marriage is treated as an institution, which teaches the actual values of life. Every stage in life has its own charm. A married life also has its own charm and importance. In our Indian society there are mostly arranged marriages and arranged marriages has various steps. The first step starts with the selection of the bride and the bridegroom. As in arranged marriages the parents selects the bride and groom. The marriage among Hindus is not only considered an union of two souls but of two families. A Hindu wedding not only involves the bride and groom but the entire community, friends, family and relatives as everybody participates in their coming together.

After the selection procedure is over the family members of both the girl and boy decides an auspicious date for their engagement also known as Misri or ring ceremony. The priest decides the date. Now the engagement ceremony rituals differ from region to region and community to community. But all these rituals are an indispensable part of Hindu wedding. In this ceremony the girl and boy exchange wedding rings among each other. Sweets and garlands are exchanged among the couple. On this day special arrangements for dinner is also done for the friends and relatives who gathers to wish the couple. After engagement the next important ritual is the mehndi party. The bride's family and friends mainly celebrate this ceremony. The female friends and family members of the bride celebrate this occasion by painting henna on bride's hand and feet and on each other while the rest of the family celebrates by singing and dancing. The color of mehndi signifies the essence of love in a marriage so it is put on bride's hand to strengthen that bond of love.

Among the other important rituals are Sangeet parties where all the family members and friends of the bride and groom celebrate by singing and dancing the night away. Along with song and dance there are arrangements for food and drink. It is mostly seen among the Punjabis and Gujaratis. It is a large affair in most of the families. Ghari puja is also another important religious ceremony, which is performed on the eve of the wedding day at the groom and bride's place separately. In many regions ghari puja is combined with Pithi the cleansing ceremony during which the bride and bridegroom are pasted with turmeric powder in a beautification process. These were some of the rituals and customs, which were generally followed in all the Hindu marriages. Only the celebration aspect may change due to different culture and traditions of different regions. On the day of the wedding ceremony the place of the wedding is beautifully decorated with flowers. It is called the mandapa where the marriage is performed. The main wedding ceremony is a long and elaborate affair, which lasts for several hours in that the couple takes the saptapadi or the seven steps together before god symbolized by fire and light. The seven vows speak of the real essence and significance of marriage. Each and every ritual and custom is based on Vedic traditions signifying different aspect of married life.

[minisoji]

Chrsitian Wedding Rituals

Rituals Before Wedding

Christian marriages can begin either with wedding directly or with the engagement or betrothal. The betrothal ordinances are brief. They comprise of making the sign of the cross three times on both the engaged couple and the marriage rings. The engagement ring is a promise for marriage. In the Roman period, a man had to barter for his future bride. The ring provided a kind of security for the betrothed. With time, men began presenting rings of diamond to their betrotheds as the precious ring would signify a stronger promise and more security in turn. In the engagement ceremony, after doing the triple cross, the priest prays to the One and Only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to bless the couple. The betrothal is based on the acceptance of both the fiancés that involves no legal compulsions and objections whatsoever. Then follows the prayer of thanksgiving by the priest in which the priest offers everybody's thanks to the Lord. There takes place a feast at the bride's place.

Christian Weddings are simple yet elegant. There is this picturesque bride embellished all in white flowing bridal gown entering the church. She is being greeted by the best man with a wedding bouquet and a kiss. The best man is usually someone close to the bridegroom. After this greeting, she walks towards the altar. She walks arm in arm with either her father. The tradition of the father walking his daughter down the aisle reflects the old belief that she was his property to "give away" to the groom. While the bridesmaid comes lifting her trail behind. The bridesmaids and ushers are the part of a Christian marriage since the period when marriage by kidnapping was the norm. It so happened that he usually took along some good men who could detract the girl's brothers and other suitors. And the girl would usually plan with her girlfriends so that she would be kidnapped by the right person. Since then , these bridesmaids and ushers have continued to be an uniform source of moral support.

Wedding Rituals

Actual marriage rituals commence with the groom and his bride coming to the altar. As they come forward the priest start talking about the 'blushing' couple ready to get united with each other for life. As this proceeding goes on, hymns are begun to be sung by the choir. Then there follows the readings from the Bible. There come forward two witnesses from each side, in whose presence the groom and the bride proclaim that they want to take each other as man and wife. They declare the wedding vows after this. The priest would then bless the rings and give them to the eager couple. The boy and the girl exchange the rings. Subsequently, the priest declare them to be man and wife. The holy process ends with the sealing of their vows as the priest asking the groom to kiss his bride.

Rituals After Wedding

The assembled guests, friends and relatives continue with prayers. A communion service takes place after this. It is time for the couple to sign the register and leave for a happy married life arm in arm.

Marriage is perhaps the most joyous occasion for celebration for the mankind. And every marriage all over the world is deemed to be incomplete without the wedding feast. Christian wedding is no exception where a small reception takes place where the couple cut the traditional wedding cake. The Christians' wedding cake is one big affair which originated primarily with lots of little wheat cakes. These little cakes were broken over the bride's head to bring good luck and fertility. The present guests then eat a crumb to make it ensure good luck. The vogue of three tier wedding cake started off after the bizarre shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London. The cutting of the cake together implies that the "just married couple" would share their life together. Tradition has it that the top layer represents them as a couple, while the bottom layer represents the couple as a family. The layer in betweens represent the number of children the couple would have.

[minisoji]

Bengali Wedding Rituals

Bengali wedding ceremony consists of simple but meaningful rituals. There are plenty of interesting Bengali wedding traditions and customs, which enable close friends and relatives to come together and share joyous moments.

Rituals Before Marriage

* Vridhi Puja
* Dodhi Mangal Ceremony
* Wedding Piris
* Gae Halud Tattva Ritual
* Snan
* Sankha Porana
* Dressing up the bride
* Mandap

Marriage Rituals

* Welcoming the groom
* Shubho Drishti Ritual
* Mala Badal Ceremony
* Saat Paak Ritual & Sampradhan

Rituals After Marriage

* Basar Ghar custom
* Bashi Biye ritual
* Bidaai ceremony
* Bou Baran & Bou Bhat ceremony

[minisoji]

Jewish Wedding Rituals

For the Jewish people, kiddushin (Jewish word for marriage) is a blessing. The word "kiddushin" has been derived from the word, "kadosh", meaning holiness. The favorite day for the conduct of Jewish wedding ceremony is Tuesday.

Marriage Rituals

* Yom Kippur Viddui confessional prayers
* Badeken tradition

Rituals Before Marriage

* Wedding ceremony
* Reading of Ketubah
* Sheva Berakhot ceremony

Rituals after marriage

* Seudat Mitzwah Jewish wedding feast

[minisoji]

Tamil Wedding Rituals

Tamil wedding ceremony doesn't involve much of extravagancy. Usually, a wedding hall is booked, which is beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. According to the Tamil calendar, the months of Aashad (July 15th to August 15th), Bhadrapad (September 15th to October 15th) and Shunya (December 15th to January 15th) are considered inauspicious for weddings.

Rituals Before Wedding

* Panda Kaal Muhurtham Custom
* Receiving the Groom
* Vratham
* Pallikai Thellichal Ceremony
* Naandi and Jaanavaasam tradition
* Nicchiyadharatham
* Reading of Lagna Pathirigai

Wedding Rituals

* Mangala Snaanam
* Kashi Yatra
* Exchange of garlands
* Oonjal
* Kanyadaanam
* Muhurtum
* Saptapadi

Rituals After Wedding

* Sammandhi Mariyathai Ceremony
* Laaja Homam
* Paaladaanam Custom
* Grihapravesham
* Reception

[minisoji]

Telugu Wedding Rituals

In Telugu wedding ceremony, special emphasis is laid on spirituality. Each ritual has a lot of significance. Wife is considered to be the ardhangini, as in better half of her husband.

Rituals Before Wedding

* Muhurtam
* Pendlikoothuru Ceremony
* Snathakam Ritual
* Kashi Yatra
* Mangala Snaanam Custom
* Aarti
* Ganesh and Gauri puja

Wedding Rituals

* Kanyadaan
* Jeelakarra Bellamu
* Madhuparkam
* Sumangli
* Tying of the Mangalsutra
* Kanya Daan Akshata Ceremony
* Saptapadi
* Sthaalipaakam Custom

Rituals After Marriage

* Grihapravesh Ceremony

[gallery]

Telugu Wedding Rituals

Gujarati culture is very rich and is deeply rooted in customs and traditions. Gujaratis are very lively people and celebrate their festivities and other special occasions with magnificent splendor and gaiety. It is reflected in their festival celebrations of Navaratri also that consists of holding of Dandiya Ras nights, in which people, dressed in vibrant color ethnic clothing, perform folk dances.

For match making, Gujratis usually look out for prospective alliances for their children within their own community. When it is the time for ringing of wedding bells, Gujaratis go in for all the customs and traditions that form an integral part of traditional Gujarati marriage rituals.

Gujarati wedding ceremony begins with offering prayers to Lord Ganesha and seeking his divine blessings. Like any other traditional Indian wedding, Mehndi and Sangeet Mehfil follow it. Below is given information about the marriage rituals:

Rituals Before Wedding

* Mandap Mahurat
* Griha Shanti
* Jaan

Wedding Rituals

* Kanya Daan
* Hasta Milap
* Pheras
* Saptapadi

Rituals After Wedding

* Reception
* Vidaai
* Ghar ni Laxmi