What are the marriage rituals in India? - Your wedding guide! South Indian & North Indian weddings. Subscribe
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India is magnificently beautiful and so is its culture & tradition. India is the abode of gods, where pure traditions are to date followed to keep the culture alive. Even though today's generations have become minions of the digital era, some practices must be followed to prevent misfortune. Marriage rituals are believed to be supreme in India.
Almost 90% of marriages are done traditionally by entailing all rituals. Moreover, India is the land of many mother tongues. Every state in India has its language. Even though everybody has their tradition and languages, we are all united by one name, India. Talking about languages from different states, in this article, we will be talking about marriage rituals from the two major parts of India.
People from South India and North India have always had a war of words about which state, tradition & culture is better. No matter what, both cultures are exquisite. There are a few rituals you must know before marriage; South Indian Hindu weddings are done in the dawn of the morning because the sunrise represents growth and positivity and North Indian weddings are done at night because the moon signifies cool and calm. To have a peaceful and serene relationship between the couple, North Indian Hindu marriages are conducted at night.
Marriages are considered a sacred unity of two individuals taking vows to be together forever with the blessings of Gods and elders. However, marriage is complete with rituals. And in India, weddings are considered and celebrated as a festival.
South Indian Hindu marriage rituals:
Like any other Indian wedding, south Indian Hindu weddings last for a week, including pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Specifically, in Kannada weddings, the wedding rituals commence with the Nischay Tamulam Ceremony, where the bride and Groom's families fix the marriage date—followed by the Haldi ceremony, where both bride and Groom are coated with Haldi (Turmeric) in their respective houses. After that comes one of the most unique and fun rituals called "Kashi Yatra." Kashi Yatra is one of the vital wedding rituals in south India. In this ritual, the Groom acts as if he is about to leave for Kashi Yatra and enjoy his eternal bachelorhood. Historically, Kashi was known as a place of enlightenment and wisdom. This continues with him packing his bags and carrying coconuts for snacks and an umbrella for challenging weather. While this jesty ritual takes place, everyone laughs at seeing how a groom is entangled in pre-wedding jitters and how he wants to escape the wedding. Then the father of the bride, backed by the Groom's uncle, comes into the scenario where they stop the Groom from taking a Kashi Yatra. And the bride's father makes a sweet offer and tells the boy that he is getting a sweet girl, so he shouldn't make another running attempt. The bride's father tells the Groom how marrying his daughter would bring him spiritual enlightenment as she would become his forever partner. This act is a cute banter between the Groom and his uncles and the bride's family. After these rituals, before leaving for the wedding, the Dev Karya ceremony is conducted to pay respect to Lord Ganesha. Then the marriage takes place.
North Indian Hindu Marriage rituals:
Like any Indian wedding, Hindu weddings in North India, specifically Uttar Pradesh, begin with horoscope matching. And two families unite together to finalize the marriage with the "Roka" ceremony. Then Magni takes place, where the couples officially get engaged, followed by Mehendi and Sangeet.
Before a wedding, a few zesty rituals take place, such as Sehrabandi and Ghodichana. In this ritual, Groom's relatives reach the venue in a parade where they dance to the rhythm of Dhols. And the Groom sits on a horse. Then the Milni ceremony takes place, where young ladies or sisters of the bride welcome the Groom and his family by showering petals on them and by sprinkling scents.
During the wedding, two significant rituals occur KanyaDaan and Varmala. In KanyaDaan, brides are doled out by their guardian to the Groom. And during Varmala, the couples exchange garlands made with fresh flowers.
A wedding is a symbol of the sacrament. And the big fat wedding is incomplete without giggles and fun.
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