Ceremonies on Wedding Day
The big fat Indian weddings are extended affairs completed into the three stages namely pre-wedding ceremonies, main day wedding ceremonies and post wedding ceremonies. The main day wedding ceremonies are crux of the Indian weddings and thus grabbing maximum attention. The main day wedding ceremonies are observed in the presence of friends and family and mediated by the priests. These rituals play an instrumental role in a great bond between bride and the groom.
Ceremonies on Wedding Day
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Overview
Wedding ceremonies in India can be broadly divided into pre-wedding ceremonies, main day wedding ceremonies and post wedding ceremonies. The main day wedding ceremonies are often rigorous and are to be strictly followed so as to complete the wedding successfully. All of these rituals have their own symbolic significance and play a great role in the earthly bonding of the bride and the groom.
Rituals
The main day wedding ceremonies often take place at the bride's place or in an area that is big enough to accommodate all the family members, friends and relatives of the bride and the groom. A special canopy is decorated with flowers and other items. This canopy is known as the mandapa and it is here that the bride and the groom get married. One of the most important main day wedding ceremonies is the sapta-padi or seven steps together. In this practice, the bride and the groom encircle the holy fire - symbol of God, seven times and take vows of love, commitment, honesty and other such moral virtues.
Another important wedding practice accomplished by the groom is tying the 'mangalsutra' in the bride's neck. It is held in different ways in the communities in India. The sindoor ceremony is also a part of main day wedding ceremonies in which the husband applies the vermilion in the parting of his wife's hair just above the forehead Kanyadaan is considered as another important main day wedding ceremony. During the Kanyadaan the bride's father gives her hand to the groom in commitment. Special features
The communities in India have different ceremonies that are held in the morning of the wedding day or during the course of the wedding. All these ceremonies have their own significance with regards to cultural practices and rituals.
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