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Welcome to XXXX (Bride Name ) and XXXX
(Groom Name) wedding ceremony. The Hindu marriage
ceremony is over 5,000 years old. The ceremony is
performed in the presence of a sacred fire and an
assembly of family and friends. Each act of the
ceremony has a symbolic and spiritual meaning. Our
ceremony will be performed in English and Sanskrit,
the ancient, sacred language of India.
The priest chants Sanskrit mantras (hymns) from the
Vedas (the Hindu Scriptures).
The Ceremony will be
performed in the following sequence :
Baraat (Swagat)
The Arrival of the Groom XXXX arrives at the
hall accompanied by his family and friends who are
singing and dancing in celebration of his wedding.
Var Puja & Milni
Bride mom welcomes Groom with an auspicious red
turmeric mark on the forehead called 'Tilak' and
receives Groom with a welcoming ritual, Aarti. Groom
then steps forward onto an earthen pot crushing it
into many pieces. This demonstrates that Groom has
the power to overcome all obstacles the couple may
face in their married life. Groom is then escorted
to the Mandap by Bride's Family.
Jutta Churai
Taking of the shoes The priest requests that Groom
remove his shoes. Bride's family tries to steal
Groom's shoes while Groom's family tries to guard
his shoes. At the end of the day, if the bride's
family is successful in stealing the shoes, Groom
must offer his new family money or gifts to retrieve
his shoes.
Kanya Agamana and Manglaashtaka
Arrival of Bride and request for blessings Bride is
escorted to the mandap by her maternal uncles. The
priest recites eight sacred vedic hymns (Manglaashtaka)
to bestow upon the couple and to announce the
arrival to Bride. The cloth is removed and the
couple exchange flower garland to signify their
acceptance of each other in marriage.
Kanya Daan & Hasta Melap
Giving of the Bride & Joining of the Hands Bride's
father gives his daughter to Groom in marriage
witnessed by the fire God. The Kanya Daan (Giving of
the Bride) is the highest form of gift that parents
can offer.
The ends of Bride and Groom's garments are tied
together with betelnuts, copper coins and rice
symbolizing the unity and eternal bond of marriage.
The priest then kindles the fire, and the couple
makes nine offerings to the fire to ask for the
removal of darkness and ignorance.
Mangal Fera
Circling the Holy Fire Bride and Groom then circle
the fire four times. The four rounds represent the
four purposes of life: Dharma (spiritual way of
living), Artha (prosperity), Karma (energy &
passion) and Moksha (salvation). The bride,
representing spiritual energy, completes the first
three rounds. The groom completes the last round
signifying balance and completeness. Bride's brother
witnesses the rounds and places rice grains in her
hands to signify that they will provide support and
protection for their sister. At the end of the
fourth round, there is a rush by the bride and groom
to get to their seat. It is said that whomever sits
down first rules the house !
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