Matrimony marks the union of two individuals and two families. It speaks about true and loyal relationships between men and women. Wedding ceremonies provide us a glimpse of Indian traditions and culture. Seven vows/saat pheres is one wedding ritual that is followed in all parts of India.

Saat pheres / seven vows is the core ingredient and is considered a significant ritual in Indian weddings. They are basically the values that need to be followed by a couple to lead a happy and peaceful married life. Any marriage is incomplete without these vows. These vows are exchanged when the couple takes pheres around the sacred havan kund. The sacred fire or Agni is considered the witness for the wedding. The priest recites the Vedic mantras and the bride and the groom pledge their commitments for each other.

Seven vows:

1. With the first phera, the groom guides the bride and they both pray to god to offer them good and nourishing food. They pray that they be blessed with a noble and respectful life.

2. With the second phera, the couple prays that God offers them physical, spiritual and mental strength so that they may lead a happy, peaceful and healthy life.

3. With the third phera, the bride and groom pray for their prosperity & wealth and the groom promises to love and respect his wife as the only woman. The bride promises single-minded devotion to her husband. They promise to be with each other in sufferings in pain.

4. With the fourth phera, they promise to share love and trust and to stay together in harmony and happiness.

5. With the fifth phera, they pray to extend their family by having children’s and being responsible to them.

6. With the sixth phera, they promise to stay together and to share all the joys and sorrows that will come their way.

7. With the seven and the last phera, they pledge to be the best companions for each other and promise to be truthful and trustworthy.

This binds them together in an unseen yet strong bond forever.