Indian Weddings

India is a land rich in culture and colourful variety. An Indian wedding is no less. Filled with colours, traditions, rites and rituals, Indian weddings are often very large, lavish affairs, with guests ranging from 300 to 1500 and ceremonies taking place often over the course of a whole week.

With the ever growing popularity of Bollywood and all things Indian; Yoga, Ayurveda, Bhangra, Khatak; the colours and themes of Indian or South Asian Weddings are transcending heritage and culture and seeping into many wedding reception themes...see Russel & Katy's Indian Wedding.  Similarly, typically western traditions are melding with a westernised South Asian youth, pervading many Asian wedding reception themes.

Traditionally, Asian Weddings are long, drawn out affairs, starting with the engagement of the couple or the Sagai. This is where the families of the bride and groom share their desire to merge as one family with the community and friends. This ceremony can occur anywhere between a few weeks and a few years before the actual marriage ceremony or Shaadi and is usually followed by a reception.

The period between the engagement and the wedding ceremony is often filled with Sangeets – musical evenings where friends and family gather with music, food and drink to celebrate the upcoming nuptials.

The Indian wedding ceremony is immediately preceded by a Mehndi or Henna evening, where the bride and the women of the family have their hands adorned with henna. Symbolising love from the groom and his family, it is widely believed that the darker the final colour of the henna on the bride’s hands, the more she will be loved by her new family (specifically the mother in law!!) These days, this ceremony or event is more of a cocktail party and probably the most looked forward to in any Asian wedding.

The Indian wedding ceremony, also known as Shaadi or Lagan, takes place at an auspicious date and time, known as muhurat, predetermined by the vedic calendar.  The marriage is ordained under a sacred altar or Mandap. The specific time, advised by a priest or maharaj, is the point at which the bride and groom exchange garlands as a symbol of accepting each other for marriage.  All other rituals are worked around this sacred ritual.

This is followed by the Kanyaa-daan, literally, giving of the virgin, which is a ritual performed by the father of the bride, giving his daughter in marriage.  

After some prayers and blessings the couple will perform Saptapadi or Seven Steps. Each circle around the sacred fire represents a promise or vow, not dissimilar to the traditional vows performed at an English wedding ceremony.

During the ceremony, young girls from the bride’s side play a prank by stealing the groom’s unattended shoes, and a heavy ransom is usually paid for their return, negotiated by the boys from the groom’s side.

The final ritual of the Indian wedding ceremony is the Vidai (also known as Rukhsati) – almost always a tear filled ceremony, the bride leaves her home, bound for her husband’s to start her new life.

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