THE ANATOMY OF A TRADITIONAL NORTH INDIAN WEDDING (5) - Finally The Actual Wedding Ceremony - It’s a long, long sequence but I’ll make a short chronicle. (The photo album will fill in the blanks).The ceremony happens at the Bride’s home which is colourfully decorated. The groom gets decked up by his sisters/cousin sisters at the resort where they would be staying & he might travel in a vintage car about half a KM short of the Bride’s place. The rest of his family & friends called “BARAAT” (maybe a few hundred) reach the spot. Thereon the groom climbs on to a grey mare & if you are in the deserts then it would be a camel or an elephant. A typical brass band plays blaring, energetic tunes and slowly moves ahead of the Baraat- the dynamic ones dance along. The distance of 500m may take an hour.
At the Bride’s place the groom dismounts & is welcomed by her parents by applying the ‘tilak’ - vermilion paste on the forehead. ‘Milni’ ie introductions of the immediate family members of the two sides with exchange of a garland & a little souvenir.
The real moment comes then as the groom & the bride climb the stage - it’s the ‘VARMALA’ or ‘JAIMALA’ time. It’s an old tradition since Vedic times 5000 years ago - the girl garlands the boy accepting him as one worthy of her. The boy reciprocates. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN BOTH MAKE THE ACTUAL COMMITMENT. Big applause follows.
Dinner is served - a big feast. Most of the people in the Baraat leave for home & the immediate family members stay back for the marriage ceremony which often begins past midnight and the rituals last about 3-4 hours - you need grit & stamina to get wedded.
The ceremony is done around ‘AGNI’ - the sacred fire regarded as a purifier and sustainer of life. Pandit ji recites shlokas, mantras, prayers in Sanskrit. The couple do the SAAT PHERAS (seven slow laps around the fire) and Pandit ji administers the seven vows of love, fidelity, duty, loyalty.....The parents do their bidding as per rituals. The Bridegroom applies SINDOOR (vermilion - cosmetic red powder) on the parting of the hair of the Bride and that confirms the wedding.
And then there is VIDAI - ‘departure’ which is a mix of sadness and joy for the Bride’s parents as their daughter is going away from their home to another home.
It’s a shortcut description & you can apply your imagination as you view the photos.
WE ARE NOT DONE YET - you would like to know about the celebrations by the parents of the Bridegroom.
At the Bride’s place the groom dismounts & is welcomed by her parents by applying the ‘tilak’ - vermilion paste on the forehead. ‘Milni’ ie introductions of the immediate family members of the two sides with exchange of a garland & a little souvenir.
The real moment comes then as the groom & the bride climb the stage - it’s the ‘VARMALA’ or ‘JAIMALA’ time. It’s an old tradition since Vedic times 5000 years ago - the girl garlands the boy accepting him as one worthy of her. The boy reciprocates. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN BOTH MAKE THE ACTUAL COMMITMENT. Big applause follows.
Dinner is served - a big feast. Most of the people in the Baraat leave for home & the immediate family members stay back for the marriage ceremony which often begins past midnight and the rituals last about 3-4 hours - you need grit & stamina to get wedded.
The ceremony is done around ‘AGNI’ - the sacred fire regarded as a purifier and sustainer of life. Pandit ji recites shlokas, mantras, prayers in Sanskrit. The couple do the SAAT PHERAS (seven slow laps around the fire) and Pandit ji administers the seven vows of love, fidelity, duty, loyalty.....The parents do their bidding as per rituals. The Bridegroom applies SINDOOR (vermilion - cosmetic red powder) on the parting of the hair of the Bride and that confirms the wedding.
And then there is VIDAI - ‘departure’ which is a mix of sadness and joy for the Bride’s parents as their daughter is going away from their home to another home.
It’s a shortcut description & you can apply your imagination as you view the photos.
WE ARE NOT DONE YET - you would like to know about the celebrations by the parents of the Bridegroom.
Anatomy-5 Gallery Wedding: https://photos.app.
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