Wedding Rituals

India is a land rich in cultural diversity. It is a colorful rainbow blend with different customs, cultures, traditions and rituals. When it comes to weddings, Indians are strong believers in traditional values and customs. These rituals play a very significant role in the weddings. These rituals have been passed from one generation to other. They make the wedding ceremony complete and adds a color of fun and excitement to it.

Wedding rituals differ from religion to religion. Indian weddings call for a festive celebration. The rituals associated with it are almost endless. This celebrations latest for about a week and is a treat for those attending it. The ritual consists of the pre-wedding, the post-wedding and the main day ceremonies.

Wedding rituals depict the way wedding ceremonies need to be carried out. They hold great meaning and are not followed blindly. A wedding would be incomplete without it. Weddings are the most awaited event in the family. The wedding rituals add meaning to the wedding and also make it interesting. Although the ceremonies followed by different religions are different but the basic principal behind them remains the same.

Indian weddings start with the engagement ceremony. This triggers the beginning of the wedding celebration. There are many pre-wedding ceremonies like the Haldi, Mehendi, Sagan, Tilak and the Sangeet ceremony. All these ceremonies fill the environment with fun, joy and excitement. These rituals are a way of blessing the bride and the groom a happy wedded life. Most number of rituals are followed on the wedding day. Wedding rituals don’t last for long but are very fascinating to witness. Rituals like the Saat Pheres, Saptapadi, Kanyadaan, Vidaai and so on are carried out on the wedding day. This does not end here but there are some rituals that are carried out after the bride is welcomed in her new house. Rituals like the Grihapravash, Mooh Dikhai are a part of the post wedding rituals.

Wedding among the Punjabi’s and Sindhi’s is spread over a period of one week but in case of Christians it latest for few days. The way these weddings are performed is also different. An Indian wedding ritual is an integral part of the wedding ceremonies and makes the wedding a treasured memory.