XXX & YYY

April 22, 2006

Parents of the Bride:

Mr. XXX & Mrs. YYY

Parents of the Groom:

Mr. XXX & Mrs. YYY

Wedding ceremony conducted by:

Dr. XXX

Baraat

The groom arrives for the wedding, in a procession, along with his family and friends. 

Milni

A Hindu wedding not only commits the bride and groom to each other for the rest of their lives, it also binds the family and friends of both the bride and groom to share their joyful and difficult times together.  The bride’s family welcomes the groom’s family. 

Dwarpuja

The groom is ceremonially greeted at the entrance by the bride’s parents.  He is then escorted to the Mandap where the wedding ceremony will take place.

Kanya Agaman (Bridal Procession)

The bride arrives at the Mandap.  Traditionally, the bride is escorted to the Mandap by her female relatives.  A curtain is held in front of the groom signifying that the bride and groom are still separate individuals

Jayamala

The bride greets the groom and acknowledges the groom as her betrothed, in the presence of all assembled, by garlanding the groom.  The groom reciprocates. 

Swastivachan, Ganapatipujan, and Kalasthapan

The priest commences the marriage ceremony in the mandap by invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh.  Offerings are made to the forces of Auspiciousness and to the Nine Planets to remove obstacles, to accept the prayers and to bless this assembly and the couple to be married.  Offerings are also given to Varuna, the Lord of Seas.  A copper vessel containing holy water, flowers & coconuts is worshipped.  The holy water is used to sanctify the Mandap.

                      Madhuparka
The bride’s parents offer madhuparka (mixture of yogurt and honey) to the groom, who accepts it with a prayer that he may imbibe its purity and sweetness.

Shakochar

The priest invokes the memory and the blessings of the respective fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers of the bride and groom for this holy matrimony.

Pani Grahan and Kanyadaan

In the Hindu way of life, a married woman is given a special status from an unmarried girl to a wife.  The bride is given away by her parents who abstain from eating to make themselves pure in body and mind for the occasion.  They wash his feet as they believe that he is none other than the Hindu Lord, Vishnu, to whom they are handing over his rightful consort, the Goddess Laxmi in the form of their daughter.

Granthibandhan

The priest ties the groom’s clothing to the bride’s in a knot to bind them together for life.  Throughout the ceremony, oblations are made to God to invoke His blessings in the form of Havan: Samagree (crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, and rice), Ghee (butter), Camphor and samidha (twigs) are offered into the Agnikunda (the ceremonial fire).

               Shilarohan and Lajahuti
The brother of the bride (or the next closest relation to a brother) gives the bride ‘Kheel’ (parched rice), so that she may offer it to God, and assists her to step upon a rock, which symbolizes strength of purpose and firmness.  The groom asks the bride to be firm like a rock, and resist foes and help thwart undesirable forces.

Parikrama

The bride leads the groom three times around the Agnikunda, offering obligations to God each time.  The groom then leads the bride four times around the Agnikunda.  After this the groom sits on the bride’s left – the same side as his heart, demonstrating that she is always first in his heart.  

Saptapadi

The couple takes seven symbolic steps together representing the beginning of their journey through life together.  With each step, they seek the blessing of God to enable them to fulfill the seven vows:

~ Together we will nourish each other & remain healthy

~ Together we will fill our hearts with strength & courage to accomplish all the needs of our home

~ Together we will prosper and share our worldly goods
 

~ Together we will fill our hearts with great joy, peace, happiness and spiritual values

~ Together we will raise strong, virtuous children

~ Together we will remain life-long partners by this wedlock

~ Together we will cherish each other in sickness and health, in happiness and sorrow and we will work for the prosperity of our family

Suhag

After the couple exchange and accept each others vows, the groom ties a mangalsutra (a sacred necklace made of black beads) around the bride’s neck signifying the mark of a married woman, and as a symbol of his love, integrity and devotion towards her.  The groom places sindhoor (red powder), the traditional mark of a suhagwati stree (married woman) in the bride’s hair, signifying their roles as husband and wife.

Aashirvaad

The couple seeks blessing of their parents, the priest, and elders in the family.  They also receive the blessings of all assembled and are showered with rice and flowers.

                               Vidai

This is a touching and emotional farewell to the daughter.  The bride now begins an important role as a wife, and becomes a part of the bridegroom’s family.  She throws a fistful of rice, so the house of her childhood remains prosperous and happy.

Marriage poem

Esp if we need an 8^th page

Thank you for being part of one of the most important moments of our lives. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones. Your thoughts and best wishes are the greatest gift to us!

 
Many thanks to all our family members and friends who have helped make the day so wonderful and memorable!

 

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XXX and YYY