A Short Description of Pre-Wedding Ceremonies in Gujarati Community

Like other Indian communities, the Gujarati community is also an ardent follower of its culture. The Gujarati people are very lively and enthusiastic who are known to celebrate their special occasions and festivities in their own style. Beginning with the engagement, marriage involves a number of events that include pre wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals.

The weddings in the Gujarati community commence with engagement, which is the official announcement of the wedding. The pre-wedding ceremonies start with the Ganesh Pooja, as it is believed that Lord Ganesha will remove all the obstacles, which may come across the wedding, and the wedding will be conducted in a peaceful manner.  

Some of the other important pre-wedding rituals in the Gujarati weddings are Pithi, Mehendi and Mandap Muharat. For the prosperity of the newly married and the peace of homes, a Grihashanti Pooja is performed before wedding. The ceremonies are performed at the respective homes of the bride and groom.

Pithi is another pre wedding ceremony that is performed by the family members of Gujarati brides and grooms, where a paste made up of turmeric, sandalwood and saffron is applied on the body of the bride and groom to be. This paste is also known as Pithi and is intended to clean the skin and make the skin glow for the occasion known as wedding.

Mehendi is an important occasion in the Gujarati community where the hands and feet of the bride and groom are applied with beautiful designs of henna. It is believed that darker the color, there will be more love between the couple.

The families then perform Garba on the tunes of traditional songs, and make the atmosphere vibrant and enthusiastic. However, with the changing times, youngsters now prefer calling a DJ for the celebrations and perform on the popular and peppy Bollywood numbers.

The wedding involves a number of rituals where the groom’s family visits the bride’s home and after the detailed wedding functions, the bride and groom are declared as partners for life.

Author:
Rashmi Karan

Importance of Mehndi in Indian Weddings

Mehndi has always played a crucial role in Indian weddings and occasions like Diwali and KarvaChauth. The following blog throws light on the importance of mehndi in Indian weddings.

Also known as Henna, mehndi in India is a form of temporary decoration on hands and feet. Applied in different patterns of traditional and modern designs, Mehndi holds a significant place in all Indian weddings, including Punjabi matrimony, Marathi matrimony, Gujarati matrimony or Rajput matrimony.

Significance of Mehndi

Mehndi in Indian wedding rituals is considered good or a ‘shagun’. The darker the color of mehndi on the bride’s hands, the more it signifies the love and affection between the couple. Hence, known as the significance of love and compatibility between the wedding couple, a special ritual is performed, known as ‘Mehndi Celebration’.

In Indian weddings, the color of mehndi also shows the understanding and love between the bride and mother-in-law. It is also known for its cooling effects that reduces headache and gives a soothing feeling. This is one of the old and scientific reasons for applying mehndi herb to bride and also groom.

Apart from the traditional and scientific reasons, another important factor that increases the significance of mehndi in Indian wedding rituals is that it enhances the beauty of the bride. Bridal makeup is not considered complete without decorating feet and hands of the bride with mehndi.

Popular Mehndi Patterns in India

There are different patterns of mehndi designs. Some of the popular ones include Floral Designs, Gujarati Mehndi designs, Peacock design, Round mehndi design, Pakistani mehndi design, Bangle design, Rajasthani mehndi design, and Arabic mehndi design.

Mehndi patterns inspired from Arabia are known as Arabic mehndi and are popular in Indian weddings due to its unique touch in tradition Indian design patterns. Similarly, Rajasthani designs have their own charm, which mainly represent the culture, dance and folk style of Rajasthan. Many brides prefer mehndi designs in which the groom’s name or initials are hidden. Such designs add to the fun rituals of Indian weddings where post marriage the groom is asked to find his name or initials written on the bride’s hands with mehndi.

So, mehndi not only holds significance, but also increases beauty and fun part in wedding rituals!

Author:

Swati Srivastava 

Choodha: The Traditional Wedding Ornament of a Punjabi Bride

Punjabi weddings are mostly grand and fun-filled. They are characterized by wedding ceremonies like the bride’s sisters stealing the groom’s footwear and pre-wedding ceremonies like the ghara gharoli ritual where bathing water for the bride is brought by the groom’s sister-in-law. But, there is one tradition that has been long going on since ages and yet not many people know of its connotation. This is the ceremony of Choodha chadhana.

The choodha ritual is one of the most crucial ceremonies in a Punjabi wedding. Simply put, it is the most significant wedding accessory for Punjabi bride. A set of red and ivory bangles, the choodha has a special meaning for a bride.

An evening before the wedding, relatives and friends flock the bride’s home for this ceremony. The bride’s maternal uncle and his wife play have to meaningful role as they gift the choodha to their beloved niece.

On the day of the ceremony, the bride’s family conducts a puja. The ritual starts with all the family members

Sisters and Cousins tie Kaliras on the Choodha

and friends touching the bangles and blessing them. They give their heartiest wishes to the bride for a happy married life. The bride is then called in and made to sit down. The oldest maternal uncle is invited first to put on the choodha in the petit hands of the young bride. Assisted by their wives, the uncles take one bangle at a time (usually spread out beautifully on a tray) and pass them to the aunts. The aunts dip the bangles in a bowl full of pure milk and hand it over to the uncles, who then put them on to the bride. The milk helps ease the process and allows the bride to comfortably wear the tight bangles without developing a rash or scratches.

After this, the bride is given something sweet to eat, mostly an Indian sweet, along with some cash. The people present sprinkle petals of flowers on the bride and then take turns to tie kaliras on to the front bangles. The bride is now ready for marriage.

Author:

Devika Arora

Groom yourself before you become a Groom

There are grooms who shy away like a bride and there are Haryanvi grooms who equally look forward to their marriage and perceive their marriage a lifetime commitment towards their life partner. The following content throws light on the behavior of Haryanvi grooms.

When it comes to wedding or matchmaking, the bride tend to take the entire spotlight from the groom as women seem to be more thrilled for their marriage as compared to men.  A wedding as we all know is a bonding between two people who are willing to share their entire life with each other through thick and thin.  However, in India a wedding means coming together of two families, a bonding of a culture and traditions and bragging how much money they have spent on wedding. If we are discussing about Indian weddings then undoubtedly north Indian weddings grabs the number one position as they are one of the most lavish weddings in the country.

Haryanvi Groom

Marriages in states like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi has elevated the level of marriages. . There are certain pre and post wedding rituals which makes the concept of marriage more interesting. Haryanvi wedding ceremony is no different. The list of rituals in a Hindu wedding is endless. Rituals from “Haldi” of groom and “Vaara Satkaarah” to the big day celebrations, Haryanvi grooms make sure they are dressed at their best. The wedding outfit is something which plays an integral part in a wedding. Haryanvi grooms opt for a traditional outfit such as “sherwani” which gives a royal look while some go for “achkan” or “kurta pyjama”.

Haryanvi grooms are believed to take key responsibilities for their big day. They eagerly participate and prepare themselves in the activities and formalities with an intention to shine at their marriage. Haryanvi grooms eagerly buy wedding outfit, wedding rings and gifts for the bride’s family and i.e. what every groom should do prior to tying the knot.

Author:

Ashish Kumar 

Cards – A Special Way of Conveying Love

The best part about wedding anniversaries is the romance and the presents. But how many of us know how to make a memorable day of the given occasion. There is no doubt that all couples wish to exchange loving words and gifts on this special day. However, not many people know how to make it unforgettable. Greeting cards are the best way to let your spouse know how you feel. Here are some innovative ideas that you can use on your anniversary without burning a hole in your pocket.

The Tradition of Giving Cards

Even in the age of the internet where you have e-cards and e-mail, the value of self-written words is the highest. A card that you have made all by yourself or maybe even one bought from the market but having your hand-written written words is priceless. Personalized gifts are always a beautiful way of saying that you care. A card is an economical yet interesting love declaration, whether you present it individually or add-on more gifts to complement it.

Picking the Right Card

Choosing the ideal card from the cards shop is not a herculean task as such outlets generally have them displayed methodically according to occasions. All you need to do is go to the anniversary section and pick the one that best suits your feelings and mood. You can select from a range of mushy, romantic, funny, naughty or even sentimental cards. There are options where the cards even give out music or different kind of sounds.

Personalizing the Card

There are always interesting things couples have to say to each other. It is easier to write things down, rather than saying them verbally. Cards are the best way to express yourself. You can pleasantly surprise your spouse by re-writing your wedding vows in the card. Or, you can pen down love poems that have a strikingly close resemblance to your love journey – the poems can be inspired, copied or self-composed. You may also tell your spouse their good qualities, memorable experiences and things that you adore about them, such as how they impressed you during your courtship period. Other than that, you can even leave some sweet notes in the card and wait to see their reaction.

Wedding and anniversary cards can always be supplemented by a bouquet of flowers for an added effect.

Bangles in Indian Culture

Indian weddings are incomplete without jewelry. The following blog post focuses on the importance of bangles in India culture. 

Jewelry forms an integral part of every Indian wedding. In a myriad country like India, the use of bangles can be found almost every community. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat, Bangles are used in every Indian wedding tradition. Till date Indian women can be seen wearing bangles. However, with modernization the style has undergone changes. These days’ bracelets have become among the urban Indian women. Let us take a quick look at the origin of this unique ornament. 

The custom of wearing bangles in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The first discovery of bangle was made in the ruins of Mohenjodaro dated around 2600 BC. One of the early examples of bangle occurs in the Mauryan Empire. Later gold bangles were known to have been excavated for the historical sites of Taxila. 

Bangles find their references in classical Indian literature. Works like Vyasa’s Mahabharata, Banbhatta’s Kadambari are seen depicting women wearing kangans.

According to ancient Indian treatise, bangles were made from stones, terracotta, gold, silver, glass and lac. From simple plain circlets of metal to the ones decorated with exquisite motifs – bangles are available in innumerable styles.

Bangles continue to bear a huge significance among Indian women till date. Married women are spotted wearing a bangle in their hands as a symbol of betrothal. Different communities have their own way accommodating the same. Glass bangles are more prevalent among north Indians especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana whereas in Bengal married women usually wear two types of bangles – a white one made of conch shell and a red one made of coral. 

Bangles are an inevitable aspect of Indian wedding traditions as well as daily life. Indian women take pride in flaunting bangles as bangles mean more than just enhancing her clothing ensemble. 

Author:

Sampurna Majumder

Arranged Marriages: The trend Continues!

Marriage is an important event in an individual’s life. It holds a great significant in the Indian context as it includes the union of two people, two souls and the two families. Let’s throw some light on the evergreen trend of arranged marriages in India.

Wedding in India holds great importance and finding a suitable partner is a blessed thing on the Earth. Have you ever thought that why does the constitution of arranged marriages continue in India? In a country like ours, getting married to a person chosen by the family is considered a legitimate way. About ten years ago, many people must have thought that the trend of arranged marriages would not exist. However, it is not the case so far.

The answer to this lies mainly to the traditional customs of India, where marrying at the contest of parents is considered respect for them.Moreover, even many young people in the country believe that marrying a person who is chosen or approved by the family is a better decision.The idea that love marriages are more suitable options for a long-lasting and happy relationship is not always right. A couple can share a happy relationship, irrespective of the fact that whether it is an arranged or love marriage.

Role of Matrimonial Sites

The rising trend of arranged marriages in India is witnessed by the success of several matrimony sites, which include thousands of registered members for marriage. These online marriage portals offer services to find suitable partner as per your liking for community, age, occupation, etc. These sites are trusted and have gained popularity among young professionals and families seeking a perfect match for their son or daughter.

Like we cannot choose our parents, sisters, or brothers, marriage is a relationship that cannot be always chosen by us.Similarly, the status of marriage cannot be predicted. Its success completely depends on the two people tying the nuptial knot. So, whether the couple falls for arrange or love marriage, the idea of arranged marriage still holds charm.

Author:

Swati Srivastava 

Arranged marriages in India!

An arranged marriage has been an essential ingredient of the Indian society since time immemorial. They are generally arranged by parents, relatives, and match makers or a third party that can be trusted. In fact the match making a lot of times is done by priests, family friends, etc as well.

In earlier times, boys and girls of marriageable age were never asked for their approvals neither were they told anything about their prospective partner. But, with changing times, the society has undergone major changes. These days even in an arranged marriage the consent of both the boy and girl is taken. The progression begins with things like matching horoscopes of the pair to check their compatibility levels, the backgrounds of the family and their religion and caste.

After everything is ensured, an appropriate date, mutually decided by both parties is fixed for the marriage. pre-wedding ceremonies like an engagement takes place where rings are exchanged between the boy and girl and gifts are given to both the families. With progressive thinking, the couple is allowed to interact with each other and meet before marriage even in an arranged set up. This gives them time to open up to each other and also helps them create a level of basic understanding between them.

The ceremony of marriage is extremely formal in cases of arranged marriages, with the family of the bride playing the perfect hosts. The wedding is carried out in strict agreement with the Vedic rituals. When the wedding gets over, the bride bids farewell to her family with blessings for her newly married life. But like most things, an arranged marriage also has its own share of pros and cons. They usually have a better rate of success with fewer expectations and issues like ego. But they also have serious issues that can lead to a lot of troubles. Even if one person in the marriage is not happy it can cause bitterness and can emotionally wreck the two people involved. Besides, such circumstances can make an individual turn away from the idea of marriage itself.  Parents are mainly responsible for such conditions as they put a lot of pressure on their kids. Little do they realize that in the pretext of being over imposing they can mess up the life of their children eternally.

Wavering Customs and Rituals in Bengali Wedding

A comparatively simple affair, young Bengalis are adopting customs of other Indian communities in their own way. The blog post takes a quick look at the same.

Wedding rituals among Bengalis are myriad that can span for a couple of days. Though Muslims and Hindus have their own distinct rituals, there are various rituals that can be found among both the religious communities that can be seen across borders as well.

A traditional Bengali wedding is usually arranged by matchmakers known as Ghotoks who happen to be friends, relatives or even acquaintances who help settling the agreement. Divide into three parts a Bengali wedding ritual usually comprise gaye holud,the wedding ceremony and the reception. It can be said that, Bengali Hindu Wedding is comparatively a simple affair.

However, with the passage of time and in the era of ‘globalization’, interchange of culture and customs are taking place in even in a societal institution like marriage. Bengalis have pretty well incorporated various changes in the customs. Let us take a quick look at the same.

Mehndihas been extensively used in North Indian weddings. However, this has now being incorporated among Bengalis as well. The present generation Bengali youth getting married have developed a strong fascination for Mehndi and young brides as well bridesmaid are often found adorning their hands with Mehndi in a homely function.

Gradually, even the custom of Sangeet is being adopted by young Bengalis who want to add some amount of fun quotient. In these customs, usually the younger generations are seen to be participating actively where they like to enjoy themselves.

The western concept of exchanging rings has long been adopted by Indians and Bengalis are no exception to the rule. These days during the ritual of Ashirvaad, the bride and the groom also exchange rings as a sign of vow which was earlier dominated by other forms of jewelry like a pair of Bangles that has been passed onto the family from earlier generations.

An elegant affair, the new adopted customs along with the existing ones makes a modern day Bengali wedding a gala affair.

Author:

Sampurna Majumder

Marathi Wedding at a Glance

Matrimonial sites have come a long way in the somewhat rigid Indian society since their inception. Every Indian community has their individual matrimonial portals. The following blog post takes a quick look at the same.

Indian weddings are famous for their grand rituals and opulence and not to mention the ornate jewelry. However, amidst such big fat Indian wedding, Maharashtrian Wedding is perhaps the simplest and the least opulent of the lot. Unlike other communities where the rituals are performed in the evening or sometimes run through the day, most of rituals and customs in a Marathi wedding begin at early in the morning and wind during the day itself.

A traditional Marathi wedding is performed under religious observance. Since the Marathis consider Lord Ganesha to be very important, a Ganesh Puja is essentially performed in the morning. Other basic rituals include kanyadaan, phera, an exchange of garlands. Among Marathi Brahmins, a customary ritual takes place where, the bride officially changes her surname and adopts her husband’s surname. This takes place at the groom’s place after the bride has moved in to her in-laws after all the rituals have been performed.

A reception is held in the evening where all the guests are welcomed with a grand feast, who not only enjoys the dinner but also bless the newly-married couple. One interesting point to be noted here is that, it is the groom’s family and the kin are the first guests to have lunch or dinner at the reception. The rituals practiced among the Marathis at their wedding, reflect the indigenous culture of the community.

Just like any other Indian communities, traditionally arranged marriages are predominated among Marathis. However, in the present times, the prospective bride and the groom end up choosing life partners on their own. Matrimonial sites are one way out. There are several Marathi matrimonial sites in India where millions of prospective Marathi brides and grooms register their profiles in search of their life partners. In today’s Internet driven world, matrimonial sites have a very important role to play while it comes to choosing life partners.

Author:

Sampurna Majumder

Plan Your Wedding Just Like the Royals

To-be brides and grooms, why not make your special day the best day of your lifetime. Add an element of romance and uniqueness by planning destination weddings.

Indian weddings are all about celebrating with your family and friends. It’s also providing the best hospitality to guests. Weddings in the present times are no longer just rituals. The newest trends are Destination weddings. Beach weddings or royal weddings -whatever you find attractive, just go for it.

The state of Rajasthan in India is particularly known for palace weddings. Cities like Udaipur and Jaipur provides the perfect ambience.  The palaces converted into hotels are ideal to host your dream wedding. These establishments have all the amenities that go into making of a heavenly wedding. From luxurious accommodation to premium facilities, and from grand spaces to palatial terrace domes, these establishments will spoil you with choices. Experienced chefs create an array of delectable menu and friendly staff guides you to a host of recreational facilities.

You can plan your wedding by taking the wedding planner services. Give our suggestions and likings and leave the rest to the wedding planner. Whether you want a traditional wedding or a modern theme wedding, the planner arranges and coordinates efficiently. Hindu matrimonial functions include a variety of rituals and all these rituals have their own significance. Just inform the planner about the rituals and every necessary thing will be arrange on the day.

The hotels or palaces hosting the wedding event can accommodate a large number of guests, about 1000 easily. These establishments with well-manicured lawns and spectacular view of surroundings will give surely create lifelong memories.

Author:
Shipra Sinha

Experience the Real Taste of India at the Weddings

The best thing about marriages in India is food. No matter you have landed into the wedding venue of which Indian community, the spicy flavors and aroma of the food will certainly be additive. The Indian cuisine is very much influenced by the civilizations, which were prevalent in the history of our country.

The importance of spices in the Indian context is unavoidable. The Indian marriage venues are the best places for those who love to taste the real Indian culinary. The characteristic cuisines reflect the culture of the community to which bride and groom belong! In fact, the foreigner guests who visit our country is very much interested to attend at least one India wedding so that they can have a delightful and colorful experience, tasting the truly Indian traditions.

The dishes prepared mostly include the ground spices, which are termed as Masale in Hindi. The most commonly used spices in the Indian curries are ginger, garlic, coriander, pomegranate seeds, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, jaggery, tamarind, black salt, cloves, to name a few. These ingredients top the list of a festive menu, which not only impart a unique taste and aroma to the food, but also have medicinal values. Tandoori dishes like paneer tikka, chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, malai tikka, soya tikka, Afghani chicken and different types of breads cooked in tandoor are really mouth watery and greatly savor the taste buds.

Among the beverages, the most popular ones at the time of weddings are different types of sherbets, which are made from the essence of fruits as well as flowers. In the Indian kitchens, desserts keep a very important place. Some typical Indian dishes like Kheer, sewai, sweets, lassi, kulfi and other desserts are very popular worldwide because of their awesome flavors. So if you have not tasted the real taste of India, attend a typical Indian wedding and get indulged in the scrumptious food!