Three days, sometimes five, and a different ceremony at every turn. The number of rituals is the intimidating part, but it is really one sequence: the families meet at the roka, turmeric at the haldi, henna at the mehndi, the groom arrives with the baraat, and the marriage completes after seven steps around a fire. Here they are, in order.
At the heart of it is the union of two people, but an Indian wedding is equally the joining of two families, religiously and through celebration.
If you are having a traditional Indian wedding, then you might want to tell the groom not to spend too much on his shoes.
On the day of his wedding, the customary Hindu Groom wears Joota, embroidered Indian footwear. These shoes are used in a lighthearted rite following the Baraat ceremony. The Joota Chupai, is a centuries-old Indian bridal rite that includes both the bride and groom’s families playing roles in hiding and seeking the shoes. Essentially, the Bride’s side takes the shoes whilst the groom’s side tries to find them.
Their goal is to make money after the wedding ceremony when the Groom wants to exit the venue and requires his shoes. When the Groom’s relatives and friends are unable to locate the joota, the Groom is obliged to negotiate. The females give the joota in exchange for a large sum of money, putting a stop to the rite.
The Joota Chupai game is supposed to demonstrate both sides of the family’s acceptance and open hearts, as well as their willingness and readiness to spend a lifetime of laughing and pleasure together.
Pithi is an Indian pre-wedding custom which involves the bride rubbing a paste made from turmeric, chickpea flour and rosewater all over her face and body. This is said to brighten up your skin, giving you the ultimate wedding day glow. This is known as the Haldi ritual in Hindu weddings, and is applied on the pair for beauty and good luck.
There are numerous parallels between the goal and the practise. It’s a pre-wedding custom in which a turmeric paste is applied on the couple. The wedding ceremony kicks off the festivities and represents wealth, peace, purity, good luck, and a pleasant start to wedded life.
Saptapadi is the most intimate part of an Indian ceremony. In many Indian wedding rituals, a ceremonial fire is used. Saptapadi involves the couple walking seven steps around the holy fire. As the couple takes each step, a sacred vow is made. The steps include values on respect, achieving mental, physical and spiritual balance, prosperity, happiness, fertility, faithfulness and achieving Moksha.
If you’ve ever dreamt of a knight in shining armour riding his gallant steed to sweep you off your feet, then this Indian custom is for you. Known as Baraat, this is when the groom arrives at his wedding on horseback accompanied by a huge party of family and friends dancing and chanting to traditional music. The meeting of the bride and groom’s families at the entrance of the ceremony represent acceptance.
Manual Phere is a Hindu custom that involves the happy couple circling a sacred fire seven times. As they circle the fire, the couple must think about the four objectives in life. These include; Dharma (duty to family and god); Karma (Sacred energy); Artha (Prosperity) and Moksha (Liberation). The bride symbolises divinity and leads the groom in the first three rounds, while the groom leads the last four (super romantic!). Here comes the fun bit … after the sacred rounds, there is a race to see who can sit first and the winner is said to rule the household!
Aeki Beki is a custom practiced by the Gujarati people. It’s a fun and joyous game for the couple who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty! In this tradition, a tray of water is mixed with milk and snider (vermillion) and then filled with coins and a ring. The aim is to find the ring four out of seven times to be the winner, and you guessed it! The winner will rule the household and receives token money and gifts from the family.
The roka is the point at which both families formally accept the match. It comes before the engagement, and in many families it matters more, because it is the moment the two households commit rather than the two individuals.
Henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet in designs that take hours, often with the groom's initials hidden somewhere in the pattern for him to find later. It is a party rather than a ceremony, and it is usually the loudest night of the week.
A night of choreographed performances, both families competing, rehearsed for weeks. Cousins take it more seriously than anyone expects.
The couple exchange flower garlands, usually while their cousins lift them out of reach. It is the first moment of the ceremony proper, and the one every guest photographs.
The bride's father formally gives her hand, and the couple makes their vows before agni, the fire, which stands as the witness. This is the religious core of a Hindu wedding, and it is why shoes come off near the mandap.
The groom ties the mangalsutra, a black and gold necklace, and applies sindoor to the parting of the bride's hair. Both mark her as married. The day closes with the vidaai, the farewell, when the bride leaves her family home. It is openly emotional, and guests are expected to stay for it.
Planning a multi-day celebration abroad? Speak with a Wonderland Luxury Advisor, browse destination weddings in Asia, or read more on the Hindu wedding ceremony.
Typically, an Indian wedding lasts about three days. The first day is an intimate ceremony between the couple and their close relatives. The second day is where the Sangeet takes place in the evening. This is generally open to all guests. The third day is the main ceremony. You could be invited to any or all three.
The ceremony that takes place on the third day usually is between one and a half and two hours! followed by a reception.
A wedding lehenga is a traditional Indian dress worn during weddings. Brides do not wear white in traditional Indian weddings because it is a colour of mourning (unlike westerners). Instead, they choose a vibrant sari that expresses their ethnicity.
A long jacket, known as a Sherwani, is worn by the groom over fitting pants, known as Churidas. They are usually worn in a hue that complements the bride. Gold or white are popular choices. His Mojari loafers, which are usually made of leather, and are removed before entering the mandap.
The saat phere, or saptapadi. The couple circles the sacred fire seven times, and each circuit carries a vow: nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, children, health and friendship. The marriage is complete at the seventh step, not at the signing.
Colour, and plenty of it. Avoid white and black, which are associated with mourning, and avoid red, which is the bride’s. Indian dress is welcomed rather than resented. Covered shoulders and knees are expected in a temple, and shoes come off near the mandap.
In order: roka, haldi, mehndi, sangeet, baraat, jaimala, kanyadaan, saat phere, sindoor and mangalsutra, then vidaai and griha pravesh. Most weddings run a version of all of them across three to five days.
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