Indian Weddings: More Than Just Colour, Grandeur, Food And Fun

Most foreigners (or non-Indians in this case) are enthralled by Indian weddings. Ask them why, and they won’t stop gushing about the clothes, the colours, the excitement of picking the top wedding halls, the grandeur of the decor, the fun of the Sangeet and Mehendi ceremonies, the music, the food, etc. Extravaganza is synonymous with Indian weddings, and that is what really hogs the limelight.

But in all its true essence, an Indian wedding is so much more than material extravaganza. The vast rites of passage followed in Indian weddings are so diverse, interesting, intricate and momentous. Some wedding customs are astonishingly weird, adorable or just plain quirky! Dating back to hundreds of years, Indian wedding customs are a blend of superstition, science and religious sentiment.

Whether you are familiar with them or not, read this interesting compilation of the 10 most interesting aspects of our Indian wedding!

• Choosing the auspicious wedding date

  It all starts with picking the wedding date. For Hindu weddings, any date won’t do. The Vivah Muhurat or the “auspicious wedding date” is a duty that’s best left to the temple priests or pundits. They consult the couple’s horoscopes and the lunar calendar to zero in on a date that will work in favour of the engaged couple. The time of the wedding is also chosen after consulting the charts. This phase of the wedding is a complex one and it requires the involvement and expert guidance of the priests.

• Inviting the Gods

  All Indians believe that their respective Gods are the first wedding guest. Distribution of the wedding card commences with offering an invitation to the Gods, asking him to bestow his blessings on the beautiful couple. Indian wedding cards stand a class apart in terms of innovation, design, colours, shapes, textures and ideas. Black is carefully avoided and top priority is given to yellow, green, gold, red, maroon, and saffron. Pastel shades are the latest trend that’s mostly preferred by the younger generation.

• Multiple days of celebration

  Unlike western wedding celebrations that last for only one day, Indian weddings are lavish affairs that stretch for a good three or four days. Categorized into three phases, there are pre-wedding traditions, wedding rituals and post-wedding celebrations. The pre-wedding rituals are different for every community but the most common ones are the Haldi ceremony, the Mehendi ceremony and the Sangeet. On the actual wedding day, the wedding rituals themselves can go on for at least an hour.

• Significance of the mehandi

  Bridal mehendi is a huge deal in every Indian wedding. It is mostly a “ladies thing”. But there are communities where even the groom’s hands are adorned with mehandi. The mehandi or henna patterns are a major adornment for not only the bride but for every other female member of the family. But the bride’s henna patterns hold more significance. The intensity of the henna is said to indicate the strength of her marriage and the amount of love she will receive from her new family.
  However quirky that sounds, there is a scientific reason behind the application of henna. The ingredient is extremely cool, and is believed to calm the pre-wedding jitters. It is also an antiseptic agent with antiviral properties. So, that explains why the groom’s hands are also adorned with henna!

• The ascetic groom

  Exclusive to the Tamil Brahmin community, the enactment of asceticism is a ritual where the groom “pretends” to suddenly become gloomy and decides to renounce his worldly pleasures. That includes the wedding too! The groom is supposed to leave the wedding venue dressed in a simple dhoti. The ritual ends when the bride’s father and relatives persuade him to come back and tie the knot. Known as Kaasi Yathirai, this ritual is fun to behold, especially for those who are not aware of it.

• Blessing the couple with rice

  When the groom ties the knot of the mangalsutra, it signifies that the couple is bonded forever in marriage. It is at that moment the guests will shower the couple with rice mixed with turmeric. Rice has a great significance in every Indian wedding ritual. Being the staple food of the nation, it symbolizes abundance and fertility.

• The toe rings
  The toe ring is the mark of a married Indian woman. Normally worn in silver, the toe ring is worn on the second toe, which is said to have a connecting nerve to the uterus and the heart. The presence and the pressure of the toe ring is said to strengthen the uterus, regulate the blood flow and regularize the menstrual flow. The current trend is to adorn all the toes with rings. Customized gold toes rings are a craze.
• Hiding the grooms shoes

  A popular North Indian ritual, it is one of the most awaited pre-wedding rituals that is absolutely fun to witness. The bride’s sister hides the groom’s shoes and demands a hefty price to return it to him. The groom’s party tries to look for the pair, but in this cleverly orchestrated drama, the shoes are almost impossible to locate! Most of the time, the grooms end up paying the ransom and entering the venue to marry the bride.

• The KanyadaanAs one of the most auspicious Hindu rituals, the Kanyadaan is the “giving away” or donation of the bride to the groom by her parents. It is a very emotional moment for the bride and her parents as they hand over their precious daughter to the groom and his family with the hope that they will perceive her as their own daughter. As per the Hindu tradition, no man can claim a woman until her father has done the Kanyadaan.
• Circling the fire

  Fire symbolizes Agni, the God of Fire. Once the couple is married, their garments are knotted together and circle the fire, holding hands. The ritual is also known as Saptapadi. North Indian weddings call for seven circles around the ceremonial fire. In South India, the couple is accompanied by their siblings, symbolizing an eternal bond of friendship.

Chennai Convention Centre or CCC is one of the finest wedding venues in Chennai. Our palatial halls and our sprawling lawn is apt for any kind of wedding ritual. Equipped with the latest amenities and a team of diligent management staff, CCC offers extravaganza at an affordable price. Call our team @ 91-9884755582 to know more details.