After Gath Bandhan and Mangal Pheras

o    The wedding ceremony is performed in presence of the sacred fire or Agni. Offerings are made into the sacred fire as a form of thanksgiving and purification. The fire also represents the God and a witness or sakshi to the couple’s marriage. The bride’s veil is tied to the grooms waist band, also known as Gath Bandhan. The couple goes around the fire seven times, repeating their wedding vows amidst the chanting of mantras. Following the pheras, vermilion powder or Sindoor is applied on bride’s forehead and Mangalsutra is put around her neck by the groom. This concludes the wedding rituals.

o    Aashirwaad

o    Once the wedding rituals are completed, the couple touches the feet of their parents, elders and ask them for their blessings or Aashirwaad. The parents of the bride and groom give their blessings to the couple. The couple touches the feet of their parents as a sign of respect.

o    Seer Guthi (Sindhoor) and Ashwahrohan Customs: After the “Pheras” are complete, the bride sits on the right of her husband. This is called “Vamang Sthapna”. In the “Seer Guthi” ritual, the husband puts red “Sindhoor” in his wife’s center hair parting (“Maang”).

o    Kangana :  These are fun games that the couples play right after their ceremony. Kangana, involves untying the sacred red thread, which was tied during Tel Baan on the bride and groom’s wrists. In Jua, the bride’s wedding band is put into a dish filled with milk, untied Kanganas and some grass. The bride and groom dip their hands in the dish to fish for the ring. 

o    JUA   : Light hearted traditional ceremonies

o    These is two of a number of 'fun' ceremonies which follow the solemnizing of the wedding. Here, a ring is put into a silver dish full of milk. The bride and groom look for the ring by dipping their hands into the milk. Whoever finds the ring will be the 'dominant' partner!!!!

o    MUTI-BAND: The groom hold his hand in a tight fist. The bride tries to pry open his fist…… the same is repeated with the bride holding her hand in a tight fist.

o    These small ceremonies were important in days when the groom and bride did not know each other at all and in fact met for the first time at their own wedding. This sort of helped to 'break the ice'. Naturally the rest of the family members watch gleefully teasing all the while.

o    Chhand, The groom is asked to recite some verses of poetry in this last game. This is his chance to be creative.

o    Kanyadaan:  is performed by the father of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding. In this ceremony, the father gives away his daughter to the groom. A silver or gold coin is placed in the bride’s palms, which are held together by her father, who then places them in the hands of the groom. Amidst prayers, the pujari pours water over their joined hands and blesses them. The tradition of the groom taking the hand of the bride is also known as Pani Grahan or Hast Milap.

o    As a condition for giving away his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends : dharma or living life righteously to attain moksha or salvation, artha or money to live life comfortably, and kama or never-ending love and loyalty. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in his commitment to her and her family.

o    The concept behind Kanyadan is that the bride is a form of the goddess Lamxi and the groom is Lord Narayana. The parents are facilitating their union.

o    Accompanied by appropriate prayers by the pujari water is poured over their joined hands as they promise to live always in love. The bride then moves to the left of the groom and he puts sindoor on her head in the parting of her hair.  . Invariably tears are shed by all.

o    Anjalay Bharai:  Just before the newly married couple leave the wedding “Mandap”, the bride’s father-in-law gives her a bag if money. This is the “Aanjhala Bharaai” custom. “Paharavani” is a custom where the groom is teased and made to recite songs by ladies in the bride’s family. This is followed by the bride breaking an earthen pot which symbolizes a break from her parent’s family and her new start in her husband’s home.

o    Vidai

o    This is a very emotional custom, where the bride bids a tearful farewell to her family to make her way to the husband’s home.

o    The bride prepares to leave her parental home and go with her husband to his home. Invariably tears are shed by all. The bride gets envelopes of cash from all the elder member of her family. All the men of the brides family apply tilak to the groom and give him envelopes of cash. The bride gets envelopes cash from all the elder member of her family.. All the men of the bride’s family apply tilak to  the groom and give him envelopes of cash.  The couple leave in a car decorated with flowers.

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