In traditional Indian wedding there are several rituals. Each has its own significance. Wedding is treated as the union of spirit and soul (male and female). So it is treated as holy as fire and is done before fire. This is called the witness of fire. Even though there are some differences in region to region, some of them are common. They are kanyadan, mangalasutra, Kongumudi, exchange of garlands, saptapadi, naticharami, panigrahanaetc
There are some pre-wedding ceremonies and some post wedding ceremonies in a Hindu wedding.
Engagement ceremony is one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies. Groom puts ring on to bride's hand. Exchange of new clothes between each other happens, after which a feast will be there. Since then both can be treated as wife and husband.
Mangalasnana (holy bath) is a famous wedding ritual which is done before wedding. Both the bride and bridegroom take the holy bath. An elderly female, mother and sisters of the bride or groom can perform it. First they massage the whole body with sesame oil and apply turmeric. A head bath with reetha or shikakai completes the ritual.
The following seven are the most important wedding rituals in a traditional Indian marriage.
- Kanyadan is an important ritual in traditional Indian wedding. The parents of the bride wash the feet of the groom treating him as Lord Vishnu and offer their daughter who is treated as Goddess Lakshmi as a gift.
- Mangalasutra (tying the knot) is another important one in Indian wedding. The groom ties the thread mixed with turmeric (mangalasutra) to the neck of the bride with three knots. These are significant to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva who are said to be (trimurthy) the three Gods who are creator, continuer and destructor.
- Saptapadi is another important ritual in traditional Indian wedding. Both the bride and groom take seven steps around fire together while reciting some mantras. These are seven important vows which a newly couple enters into. All this is done in the presence of a priest (pujari) who keeps reciting some holy mantras and also makes the couple to recite the mantras.
The following seven vows are taken by bride and bridegroom before fire.
- First vow - Noble and respectful to one another
- Second vow - Mutual love and trust
- Third vow - Sharing sorrows and joys
- Fourth vow - Fulfillment of spiritual obligations
- Fifth vow - Begetting noble children
- Sixth vow - Healthy and peaceful life
- Seventh vow - True companionship for being life-long friends
- Panigrahana (keeping bride's hand into groom's hand) is the vow taken by the bride and groom that they will stay together no matter what happens, good or bad.
- Kongumudi (tying the end of the bride's sari with the upper garment of groom) is the significance of the newly wedded couple to enter into a strong bond that cannot be detachable.
- Naticharami means the father of bride asks groom to be with her always in Dharma (the religious and moral matters), Artha (the wealth and financial matters), Kama (the earthly pleasures) and Moksha (the eternal life) by reciting some mantras. And groom also take a vow that he cannot abide her in the above four reciting some mantras.
- Talambralu, the unbroken rice which is mixed with turmeric, is sprinkled on each other's heads by both bride and groom. The unbroken rice has its significance that it can flourish multifold. Because broken rice cannot grow in the soil. Turmeric is symbolic to good.
Exchange of garlands is symbolic that they can exchange any good or bad from that day.
Vidai is post wedding ceremony. The parents of the bride give sendoff to their daughter by blessing her with tears.
