Indian Wedding

Indian weddings are in fact a very elaborate affair, very colorful and lavish. The festivities of the Indian wedding start at least two weeks in advance.

It is not just a silent affair but one of the most important events in the life of every Indian family.  It starts with a search for the perfect match followed by celebrations, beginning and lasting before and after marriage.

It’s like a festivity in the family creating a feeling of celebration.  In such an environment, of excitement and happiness one knows no bound in the family. The exchange of gifts and greetings is a common sight. The bride and bridegroom are adorned with valuable jewels and outfits. The expenditure, pomp, and show make it an extravagant affair.  Not only the pomp and show but the whole environment at an Indian wedding is bright, colourful and grand.  Elaborated preparations are done in terms of food, fun floral decoration, etc.


It is a common custom in Hindu family, the bridegroom's family, relatives, and friends reach the bride's  house in a procession, accompanied by a band, with the groom riding a ghodi dressed like a prince charming wearing a garland and safa on head and phatka on the waist. The friends and relatives dance in front of the Barat procession.  Along with this fire-crackers are also burst to add to the festivities and announce the arrival of the groom. When the procession arrives at the bride's home, the bride's family advances to greet the procession with a Tilak, a garland, and a sign of gift, known as milni and typically in the form of money.

It is also usual to toss money into the air, which is gathered by the underprivileged and the band members.

The bride is then bought forward surrounded by her brothers, friends, and relatives for exchanging garlands with the groom.  After this, the bride and the groom are seated on the stage.

All the guests then come and give their good wishes and wedding gifts.  The most important part of the wedding is the taking of promises by the bride and the groom, who go around the fire seven times in the mid of chanting mantras by the pandit in the presence of guests who witnesses this union. After the ceremony is over, dulha and dulhan are pronounced as husband and wife and bidai is performed.

The functions do not end here, it continues for another two to three days, like the entry of the bride into the new family, the reception, and all the rituals to celebrate.  In short, an Indian wedding is a rich celebration with old rituals and ceremonies.

These rituals and ceremonies are religious in nature but they bind not only two people but also two families together in a strong bond.

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