Hindu Weddings
Hindu Weddings are very vibrant and exciting. There are many rituals and ceremonies that mark the traditional Hindu Wedding and pre-wedding celebrations and there are also post wedding celebrations too. Your dedicated Hindu Wedding Photographer and Hindu Wedding Videographer will be highly skilled and will have a great deal of knowledge and experience in Hindu Weddings, pre-wedding and post Hindu Wedding celebrations, rituals and ceremonies.
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Setting the Date – In the Hindu’s Astrological calendar, there are auspicious dates and times and therefore unlucky times. It is of utmost importance that the Hindu Calendar is consulted along with the Brahman to choose the desired auspicious date for the wedding. The Brahman will also answer the Bride and Groom’s questions.
The Hindu Wedding is a religious ceremony and is also one of the most important of the sixteen Hindu SANSKARS or sacraments. It is strongly viewed that it is not just the union and bond of two people but also the union and bond of two families.
MANDAP MAHURAT – This ceremony is the beginning of the events that are considered to be auspicious and it is performed to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the God who Removes all Obstacles. Both families perform this ceremony in their respective homes a few days prior to the Hindu Wedding.
GRAH SHANTI – This is an important Puja conducted for both the Bride and Groom in their respective homes. It is performed on an auspicious date after the Bride and Groom’s horoscopes have been matched. It is mainly the father’s family members and relatives that participate in the Puja.
JAAN – The groom must visit the Bride’s home to seek the blessings of his mother - in- law. It is customary for the Groom to bow his head and clutch his nose. This is symbolic of his humility and the knowledge of the sacrifice that the Bride will make as she has to leave her home and family. The Bride’s mother will perform a ritual to ward of the evil eye. She will also try to catch the Groom’s nose as a reminder that he takes away her daughter and she will be giving her daughter to him.
These are just a handful of ceremonies and rituals that mark the traditional essence of the events prior to the Hindu Wedding. These are all important and it is a must that your Hindu Wedding Photographer and Hindu Wedding Videographer knows of all these traditional rituals so that they can be fully captured for a lasting memory.
THE WEDDING
ANTARPAAT – is a Gujurati custom. A curtain known as Antaarpaat is used to hide the Bride and Groom from the other’s view. There is some playing and teasing and great anticipation before the Antaarpaat is lowered and the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time, they are now free to perform the JAIMALA – this is the ritual of garlanding each other.
MADHUPARKA – After the Jaimala ceremony, the groom’s feet are washed under the MANDAP – They treat him as Lord VISHNU and when they give their daughter, she is handed over as the Goddess LAXMI. He then drinks milk and honey. Whilst these ceremonies are being performed, the Bride’s sister’s steal the Groom’s shoes. Since he must pay for their return, the Groom’s family will play a trick and leave a substitute and hide the real shoes. In other words, they will conceal his Prada’s and replace them with a pair from the local asian market ! The Groom however ,still participates in the game and pays for whichever pair of shoes were successfully grabbed by the sisters.
KANYA DAAN – Hindu Wedding rituals are performed around a sacred fire. The Kanya Daan is the ritual of the Bride being given away by her parents. It is normal for the Bride’s parents to Fast – abstain from eating, to make themselves pure in both body and mind. The Bride’s parents fold their hands whilst the Kanya Daan ceremony is being performed, this is to reflect the hope that their daughter will be taken care of by her husband.
PHERAS & SAPTAPADI – The Phere is the ritual whereby the Bride and Groom circle the fire Seven times. As this is done, MANTRAS are recited. The SAPTAPADI or seven steps – The Bride and Groom take seven small steps forward. With each step a Mantra is recited. These mantras are requests for good family life, happiness and support etc. At the end of the ceremony the newlyweds are showered with rice and flower petals. After the wedding ceremony the newlyweds may go on to having a reception party where relatives and friends give their blessings, have a wonderful meal and give gifts.
BIDAI / VIDAI - This is the Bride’s official departure from their family home. Sometimes this is done from the reception venue. The close relatives of the Bride and Groom will go to her parent’s home where there are some traditional rituals, one of which is the Bride’s throwing of handfuls of rice to the left and right of her and behind her. This is symbolic of her wishes of prosperity for the family she leaves behind. Your Hindu Wedding Photographer and Hindu Wedding Videographer will capture this bitter sweet occasion fully. They know how important and significant this moment is since the Bride is now married and a new chapter in her life and her family’s life begins. She left in the morning as a single woman and leaves in the evening as a newlywed.
GHAR NU LAXMI – The Bride’s entering into her new home is an auspicious occasion also. She is ‘Ghar Nu Laxmi’ – The Goddess Laxmi who brings Wealth and Fortune to her new home. A vessel full of rice is placed at the entrance to the house by her mother-in-law. The Bride must knock this over with her right foot – right foot being lucky. Spilling over the rice- the rice symbolises wealth and by taking part in the ritual the Bride agrees to the understanding of her roles toward her new life and home. After entering the house the Bride and Groom will play a number of customary games, one of which is called AEKI – BEKI.
