Indian Wedding Customs: Eastern and Western Indian Wedding Traditions
There is no such thing as a typical Indian wedding. Surprised? That’s because in this land of diverse languages and traditions, wedding customs are just as varied.
Here is a look at how people residing in the eastern and western regions of India celebrate their weddings.
oriental indian weddings
East Indian wedding ceremonies are not as opulent and extravagant as those in North India, but they are just as elaborate in their own way. There are dozens of simple but significant rituals, many of them very interesting and actually rooted in ancient logic and reasoning. Weddings in India are also an occasion where long lost close friends and family members come together and share memorable moments during this joyous occasion.
However, the most striking feature of a Bengali wedding is the fact that the groom’s mother does not attend the wedding. She awaits the happy couple at home, ready to perform all the welcoming rituals.
A typical East Indian groom traditionally dresses in a dhoti and kurta, carrying a mirror at all times until the wedding ceremony is over. The groom’s party receives a welcome with fresh flowers and a lot of conch shells from the women. Rose water is sprinkled over it and then both the bride and groom prepare for the royal nuptials. The bride is beautifully dressed in a heavy red Benarasi sari and wears some kind of crown like a princess. She has sandalwood paste decorations on her forehead and face.
As part of the wedding ritual, the bride has to sit on a low wooden stool called a pidi that is lifted by her brothers. Then her brothers lead the bride around the groom seven times in circles, signifying her eternal union. Interestingly, she shields her boyfriend’s eyes all the time with a betel leaf. The bride then proceeds to sit on a highly decorated pidi (low wooden stools), similar to the one the groom is sitting on, all while the priest sings. The women gathered conch shells to commemorate this auspicious moment.
This is followed by the exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom, accompanied by the chanting of frightened mantras (Sanskrit verses). The bride and groom take seven steps around the sacred fire again. The groom then applies vermilion to the head of his bride, the symbol of a married woman. After this, the bride is given to the groom by her maternal or paternal uncle.
The newlyweds arrive at the groom’s house where more rituals and ceremonies follow. Hiding the bride and groom’s rings, playing with a bowl full of rice are some of the wedding games to make the new bride feel at home.
Interestingly, the married couple has to stay apart that night and only the next night, after all the rituals are finally completed, can they enjoy wedded bliss!
Antillean weddings
Western Indian weddings, especially Maharashtrian weddings, usually take place in the morning. Prior to this, the betrothal ceremony, known as Sakhar Puda (exchange of a sugar packet) takes place to formally declare the betrothal.
In the morning, a puja is held to worship Lord Ganesh (the elephant-headed God of prosperity). The groom’s family arrives at the bride’s residence or mandap in the morning and is invited to enjoy a lavish breakfast.
After this, according to the auspicious time already established in consultation with various astrological almanacs, the girl’s maternal uncle accompanies her to the Mandap (marriage hall). Tradition dictates that the girl and boy do not see each other while the Antarpaat ceremony is taking place. In this a silk partition (Antarpaat) is placed between them. The priest then sings the shlokas, after which Antarpaat retires. Friends and family members gathered to throw whole rice on the couple as an auspicious sign. The bride and groom then exchange flower garlands and take the Seven Steps (Saat Pheras) around the ceremonial holy fire.
After the marriage ceremony, another puja is performed, known as Laxmi Narayan puja, in which the bride and groom are symbolically worshiped as Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) and Lord Narayan respectively. As in all Indian weddings, the girl is formally “delivered” to the groom by the father or maternal uncle. This ceremony is known as Kanya Daan throughout India.
Gujarati wedding ceremonies also start by offering prayers to Lord Ganesha and seeking his blessings. Traditionally, the bride and groom exchange jaimala or flower garlands twice. The first time, the groom is made to sit on a higher platform than the bride, symbolizing that the bride has not severed her ties with her friends and family. The second time, they are at the same level. In what is known as the Madhuparka ceremony, the groom’s feet are washed and he is wrapped in honey and milk. Even while this ceremony is in progress, the bride’s sisters and cousins try to steal the groom’s shoes, a tradition that is followed in almost all Indian marriages. There are lots of good-natured laughs and jokes. The boyfriend has to ‘bribe’ these girls with attractive financial benefits to get his shoes back!
Next comes the tying of the groom’s shawl to the bride’s sari, preparing them to take the customary Seven Steps around the sacred fire, the central part of all Indian weddings. The couple walks around the sacred fire seven times, taking their seven vows, to the accompaniment of mantras chanted by the presiding priest. Formally married, the couple seeks blessings from their parents and other elders. This concludes the wedding, followed by a large and lavish reception party.
Traditions and customs form the backbone of an Indian wedding. It is rich, colorful and vibrant, and hides a great deal of meaning in its many interesting and sometimes bewildering customs, which are rooted in its ancient heritage.
