In the Indian culture, marriages are seen as a joint venture between families. The groom’s family is expected to financially support the bride’s family on their wedding day. The marriage of two individuals is celebrated by the families of both partners simultaneously in one event called a ‘jagran’ which means “a ceremony that welcomes the couple into their new home.” Indian weddings come in all shapes and sizes depending on your personal preferences and the number of guests you have invited. Customs differ from region to region but most often than not they revolve around an assortment of rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and feasts that mark the start of a new life for the couple. Read on to know more about what it takes to plan an elaborate Indian wedding!
The ceremony
When it comes to the marriage ceremony, Indians prefer to stick to the traditional, conservative rituals that are prevalent in their community. While most cultures prefer a Westernized ceremony, the Indians believe in the importance of tradition and want to hold on to their cultural values while also learning and incorporating new things into their traditions. Therefore, on the most important day of a person’s life, the groom and bride are dressed up in a traditional attire that depicts their status and the family they belong to. The garb for the bride usually consists of a heavy bridal sari, a blouse, a blazer and or a suit whereas the groom’s attire usually comprises of a suit, a sherwani or a pants and a formal shawl known as a kurta.
The reception
After the ceremony, the newlyweds celebrate their union with their friends and family at a reception. At the reception, the newlyweds and their guests have the option to have a sit-down dinner or to have a buffet. Traditionally, the food items for the reception are vegetarian and are not too elaborate. However, the reception food can vary according to the preferences of the guests and the couple.
Traditions observed at a Hindu wedding
Hindu weddings come with a plethora of rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and feasts that mark the start of a new life for the couple. Most of the rituals and ceremonies are common to all Hindu weddings but what differs from one couple to another is the style in which they are celebrated. The most important ritual that happens at the Hindu wedding is the ‘food offering’ where the groom’s family offers a delicacy like sweets, fruits and rich, tasty items to the bride’s family. After this, the bride’s family blesses the couple and blesses the newlyweds with longevity and prosperity.
Sikh Wedding Traditions
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that emerged in the 15th century in the Punjab region of North India. The Sikh faith is inspired by the teachings of the 10 Gurus who emphasized the need for equality and the dignity of all beings. For the Sikhs, the wedding is a significant ceremony that is attended by the bride’s family only. The Sikh wedding is different from the Hindu wedding as the Sikhs believe that the marriage should be a pure spiritual union between the bride and the groom and thus it is not customary for the families of the couple to attend the ceremony together.
Muslim Wedding Tradification
Like the other two religions, Islam too has many traditions associated with the wedding ceremony. It is important to note that the Muslim wedding does have a ceremony that is similar to the Hindu or the Sikh wedding but the backdrop for the celebration is a mosque. Since the sixteenth century, the Muslims have been observing their wedding ceremonies in the mosques where they have come together to celebrate the union between the bride and the groom.
Christian Wedding Traditions
The Christians too have a set of traditions that they follow while celebrating the wedding of their loved ones. Like the other religions, the Christians too believe that the marriage should be a joint venture between the two families of the couple. However, the celebrations differ depending on the religion followed by the couple. The Christian wedding is celebrated with a church wedding, an outdoor wedding or a civil wedding ceremony.
Conclusion
The weddings in the Indian culture come in all shapes and sizes depending on your personal preferences and the number of guests you have invited. Customs differ from region to region but most often than not they revolve around an assortment of rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and feasts that mark the start of a new life for the couple. The most important ceremony that happens at an Indian wedding is the ‘food offering’ where the groom’s family offers a delicacy like sweets, fruits and rich, tasty items to the bride’s family. After this, the bride’s family blesses the couple and blesses the newlyweds with longevity and prosperity.
