The Secret Behind Beautiful Hindu Wedding

 

Have you ever had a chance to attend a Hindu wedding? If not, then you are yet to experience the most exhilarating moments in life. Just having watched it in movies, TV drama, and You Tube, given a chance, I would certainly pay a fortune to attend. Every tick of a clock at a Hindu wedding is not only beautiful but also significant. My quest for it makes me delve deeper into how they make it so beautiful and attractive even to the non-Hindus. As a matter of fact, in my motherland, some people borrow the Hindu culture by wearing their beautiful wedding attire that graces their occasion with more beauty. The secret behind Hindu beautiful wedding finally gets revealed.

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HINDU WEDDING

Preparation of the Bride and Groom

Similar to every other wedding in the world, ample time is allocated in preparation to make the couple look more beautiful for the day, not to forget the camera. They are prepared separately as per the tradition of many. The bride preparation kicks off a couple of days before the wedding in a ceremony known as Mehndi. The ceremony takes place in her home, where her female friends and family members attend. Henna is applied to the bride with beautiful intricate designs to her hands and feet. There are several Hindu beliefs behind the henna that the darker it is, the more loving mother-in-law will be and also the husband. Others make this to be more exciting by hiding the groom's name in the intricate design and make him search for it on the big day.

On the big day, the bride wears a red or pink attire known as lehenga with a beautiful matching headpiece as per the tradition. The outfit has beautiful patterns embroidered with gold that signifies fertility and commitment. Makeup is also applied to her paying attention to details, not leaving even the slightest thing to chance. The groom is neither left behind, though no much preparation compared to the bride. He wears a long shirt that goes beyond the knees known as kafni and pijamo leggings. He compliments the attire with a beautiful matching turban.

Wedding Venue decoration

Hindu weddings are no exception to making the wedding venue beautiful. It gets decorated with ornate furniture, candles, floral designs, chandeliers, and bright fabrics. The altar is given much attention being the place where the couple exchange vows. Also knowns as Mandip, it is elevated to enhance a better view of the couple as they exchange their vows. It also has four pillars symbolizing the couple's parents' commendable effort in raising them. The beautiful moment cannot go uncaptured, regarding that most couples prefer two photographers for the day, to avoid missing a single detail of the day.

Bridegroom Arrival

The groom rides on a white horse known as ghodi to the wedding venue. He is with family, friends, and the groom's men who are all welcomed by her family. The groom is received with greetings from the bride's family and friends. The mother in law offers him sweets and also applies a mark on his forehead known as tilaka. Afterward, he is escorted to the mandap where he anxiously awaits the bride.

The arrival of the Bride

Before she arrives, the priest calls forth blessings from Lord Ganesh with the groom's presence in the Mandap. It signifies the value of including their god in such life events. The big moment of the day arrives when she is walked to the mandap by maternal uncle and aunt. They can also be her sisters, cousins, and friends. Which is dependent on the family she originates. It signifies the entire family love and support to her as she opens a new chapter in her life. The couple is separated by a bright cloth known as antarpat which signifies their individual prior lives. They look at each other when the ceremony ends, where it is lowered.

Exchange of vows and parent's blessings

The couple receives a blessing from the bride's father when he holds her hand and places it into the groom's to signify care and acceptance of giving her away. The bride's mother pours water that is sacred into their joined hands through the fingers of her father. A knot is tied when their scarfs are conjoined which are known as dupatta. The groom gifts the bride with a necklace to signify that she is a married woman. They also exchange rings alongside with their vows to symbolize their commitment to each other.

Contrary to American weddings, the couple exchange sweets instead of cakes. It is a joyous moment of sharing a meal for the first time as husband and wife. Finally, the priest declares the newlywed husband and wife. In conclusion, every moment in  Hindu wedding is spectacular and just make the day more beautiful.