Marriages are made in heaven and solemnized on earth. A marriage means the physical, mental and spiritual union of two souls who have pledged their lives together. In India, it is believed that once a couple is married, then they are bound together for seven births as man and wife. Indian marriages celebrate the union of two souls with great aplomb and show. Different states in India have different customs and traditions. However, there are some customs that are common for all Indian marriages.

Though many think that Indian wedding celebrations start with the wedding itself, the truth is that the wedding celebrations start from the time the wedding is solemnized. Here in a typical arranged marriage scenario, the decision to get married does not belong to the bride and the groom. It is a prerogative of the families. In the olden days, the bride and groom did not even see each other before the wedding. However, now once the marriage is decided, the groom and the bride are allowed to date each other (in the company of friends).

At this time, the dowry is also decided. Dowry is a custom where the bride’s family gives money, jewelry and other gifts at the time of the wedding. Normally the bride’s family spells out their commitment and tells the groom’s side what they can give to their daughter. If the parents of the groom agree, then the marriage takes place.

Once the technicalities of the marriage are decided then the next ceremony is called the roka. Roka is a ceremony where the groom is given money or gift’s by the bride’s family and vice versa. Roka basically marks the official announcement of the marriage by the families.

The next ceremony is the “tilak or sagaai”. This is the official engagement ceremony. In earlier times, all the male relatives from the girls side used to go to the groom’s house and offer him gifts. The groom was made to wear a ringsolemnizing the engagement. The groom’s family gifted the bride’s family withclothes and other ornaments, including the engagement ring for the girl. Now

days, it’s customary for the girl and the groom’s family to assemble at a

predecided venue. The rings are exchanged amidst a lot of fanfare and both girl and the groom are given gifts from the other side.

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Once these ceremonies are over, it is time for the pre-nuptial celebrations. The first of these is the “ban” ceremony. This ceremony is performed for both the bride and the groom at their respective homes. In this ceremony, the bride and the groom worship Lord Ganesha for their happy married lives. After this ceremony, the bride and the groom both cannot go out without friends or relatives, lest they attract the evil eye. The groom throws a stag party, while the bride has a Mehendi party or sangeet where ornate henna designs are made on the bride’s hands and feet.

After these ceremonies, dawns the actual wedding day. On this day, the groom sits astride a horse and goes to the bride’s house with a lot of fanfare and relatives and friends. The bride and the groom take seven rounds of a sacred fire called “saat phere” with each round symbolizing a promise. They exchange garlands depicting the exchange and union of two souls.

The last ceremony is the “bidaai”. This is a touching moment where the bride bids adieu to her family to make a new life with her husband. She is showered with wishes, flowers and rice to symbolize prosperity and fertility.
Indian wedding celebrations continue for a year with lots of ceremonies from either side. Truly, they symbolize a new beginning for the life ahead!!