RITUAL AND MARRIAGE

Hinduism

Marriage is a link between two families

Marriage in Hinduism is an arrangement between two families. In the past, marriages were arranged by the parents. Today, couples are ‘guided’ in their choice of partner rather than having a marriage arranged.

The marriage takes place in the Bride’s home

When a couple decide on marriage a priest checks the partners’ horoscopes to find a good time for the wedding, which normally takes place in the bride’s home.

Dress

Both the bride and groom are lavishly dressed and the bride’s hands and feet are decorated in elaborate mehendi (patterns) using henna.

Mehendi patterns

The tilak is applied to the forehead

The ceremony begins with prayers to Ganesha to remove obstacles and bring good fortune. The bride’s family welcomes the groom, applies the tilak to his forehead, showers him with flowers and sprinkles him with perfumed water.

The ceremony takes place at the mandap

During the ceremony, the groom is brought to a specially decorated altar (mandap) where he is offered a drink of mile, ghee, yogurt and honey. Songs of blessing follow, where a silk cloth is held between the bride and groom.

The groom promises to aspire to good life

The bride’s father give his daughter to the groom and the groom promises to aspire to good life in his observance of moral duty (dharma), the earning of money (artha) and the enjoyments of good things in life (kama).

Sacred fire and offerings

There is an exchange of gifts and the groom’s mother gives the bride a necklace. The priest lights the sacred fire and the couple make offerings as mantras in Sanskrit are chanted.

Stone symbolises strength

Following, the bride’s sari is tied to the groom’s scarf, the couple exchange vows and offer rice to the sacred fire. The bride steps on a stone, which symbolises her willingness and strength to overcome difficulties in the pursuit of her duties.

The climax of the ceremony

In the climax of the ritual, the couple take seven steps around the fire reciting prayers for food, power, prosperity, wisdom, children, health and friendship.

The bride’s brother pours barley into the couples’ hand as a symbol that they will work together and then the husband marks the parting of his wife’s hair with red kumkum powder as a sign that she is married.

Kum kum powder is used

A commitment to life and community

Hindu Wedding

View elements of a Hindu Wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f73d6B2H2ao

Sacred Blessings

If the wedding is during the day, the couple look to the sun for a blessing and if it is at night, to the Polar Star.