Indian Ceremony

Baraat

Time to celebrate! Bijan arrives at the wedding venue with a bold entrance. His family and friends sing and dance as he walks towards the mandap (the wedding structure used for Indian weddings) with music blasting out!

 

Gauri Puja

Behind the scenes, Sreela does a prayer ceremony (puja) to seek blessings for a happy and prosperous married life. This is a much calmer affair!

 

Edurukolu

The groom is welcomed by Sreela’s family with an aarti, following which he enters the mandap. The aarti is a plate with oil wick lamps on it, which are used often in Indian prayer ceremonies. This is circled three times around the groom to ward off evil.

 

Ganesh Puja

This is a prayer done often in Hindu ceremonies. Ganesh is the elephant God, thought of as the remover of obstacles. Bijan and the priest do this ceremony to ask for a smooth wedding ceremony and to remove hurdles in married life.

 

Kanya Aagamanam

Sreela’s arrival at the wedding hall! Two of Sreela’s younger cousins will walk down first carrying lamps to ward off darkness and illuminate the day. After this, two of her bridesmaids will carry the flower garlands in front of her. The other four will hold the chaadar (canopy) under which Sreela will walk with her youngest cousin. Sreela carries a coconut, which symbolises the blessing of God coming with her to the mandap.

 

Varapuja

The bride’s father washes the feet of the groom with holy water, then wiping them with a cloth. This is because the groom is considered a personification of Lord Vishnu, who has come to marry their daughter, who is considered a personification of Goddess Lakshmi.

 

Kanyadanam

“Kanya” means bride and “danam” means to give away. The bride’s parents place their daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand to give away their daughter. This is seen as the most noble act that a parent can perform.

 

Panigrahanam

The groom is told to hold the bride’s hand and promises the bride’s parents that he will take care of her and be her companion in life’s highs and lows. This mantra is repeated three times.

 

Jeelakarra Bellam

This is the name of a paste made by combining cumin (jeera) and jaggery (bellam). The paste is placed on each other’s head by the couple to symbolise their willingness to face the challenges of married life together. They promise to embrace both the sweet and bitter moments that come their way, and entwine their lives together. This is the official moment the couple become husband and wife, and a curtain that was separating them both is removed.

 

Mangalasutra

This is a sacred thread, made yellow with the addition of turmeric. Attached are two gold pendants, called sutralu, are gifted by the bride’s family and the groom’s family. Bijan ties this around Sreela’s neck with three knots. This symbolises that Bijan accepts Sreela in thoughts, speech and action and shows unification of the couple mentally, physically and spiritually. Bijan ties a string of black beads (nalla pusulu) around Sreela’s neck to ward off the evil eye, and she is given silver toe rings (mettulu). These together signify a married woman.

 

Talambralu

The couple is blessed with flower petals and turmeric rice sprinkled on them. This denotes the couple’s desire for happiness and contentment. Sreela & Bijan exchange garlands (dandalu), accepting each other as life partners.

 

Bramhamudi

A set of betel nuts, dried dates, turmeric twig, betel leaves and coins are tied to each of the loose end of the bride’s sari and the groom’s shawl. These are then tied together, which symbolises that both of the couple will maintain good relationships with both sets of families.

 

Saptapadi

“Sapta” means seven and “padi” means steps. The couple take walk around the fire seven times as the priest chants different mantras. The bride and groom take seven vows of marriage as they do this to promise the following:

      1.    First step: To provide for and support each other.

      2.    Second step: To develop their physical, mental, and spiritual strength together.

      3.    Third step: To preserve and protect their wealth and prosperity.

      4.    Fourth step: To acquire knowledge and happiness through mutual respect and trust.

      5.    Fifth step: To raise strong and virtuous children.

      6.    Sixth step: To work together for the well-being of all living beings.

      7.    Seventh step: To remain lifelong friends and companions, always cherishing each other.

 

Pradhanam

A lighthearted game is played to give the families a chance to cheer and bond with each other. A golden ring is dropped into a pot of water and the bride and groom race to find the ring first. This is a best-of-three competition and the winner is declared as the person who wears the trousers in the relationship (though we all know who this is going to be even without the game…)

 

Arundhati Darshan

The priest leads the couple out of the mandap to point out the Arundhati and Vasistha Nakshatram (stars) in the sky. The groom then points these out to the bride. These two stars represent an ideal couple and are shown as an example for the newlyweds to strive towards.

 

Appagintalu

This is the final ceremony in a Telegu wedding. The bride’s family officially hand the bride over to the groom’s family with an emotional goodbye.