Planning a Wedding trip to India? This has become a most common practice for the NRI s and even for the non native ones from abroad who are in love with Indian culture or inquisitively want to touch up their special day with some unique features.
The wedding ceremony in India can be a very expensive affair but will surely be the most rocking event in your life as it has much to unfold. So, are you ready to pay and get the best? The wedding in India is getting very popular all over the world and many Foreign Nationals presently prefer to visit India and get married in the Indian style.
North Indian Wedding
Presently Hindu Wedding is in vogue. Hindu weddings are celebrated on a large scale all over the world. The marriage ceremony includes various pre wedding and wedding functions. The main function of the wedding takes place at the bride’s place and a mandap is erected and the interior is beautifully decorated with flowers, colorful personal adornment and decorative items. Indian wedding is all about fun and feast. According to Indian custom the bride and groom are showered with gifts and attention. Hindu wedding (Shaadi or Vivah in Hindi) ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted.
Modern Hindu weddings are often much shorter and do not involve all of the rituals of the traditional ceremony which sometimes were for 5 days. Instead certain ceremonies are picked by the families of the bride and the groom, depending on their family tradition, caste etc. The ceremony is held with the sacred fire (Agni) as the witness.
Different features include
Jaimala (Exchange of Garlands)
Madhupak (Offering of Yogurt and Honey)
Kanyadaan (Giving Away of the Bride)
Havan (Lighting of the Sacred Fire)
Rajaham (Sacrifice to the Sacred Fire)
Gath Bandhan (Tying of the Nuptial Knot)
Mangalphera (Walk Around the Fire)
Saptapardi (Seven Steps Together: Each step represents a marital vow)
First step: To respect and honor each other
Second step: To share each other’s joy and sorrow
Third step: To trust and be loyal to each other
Fourth step: To cultivate appreciation for knowledge, values, sacrifice and service
Fifth step: To reconfirm their vow of purity, love family duties and spiritual growth
Sixth step: To follow principles of Dharma (righteousness)
Seventh step: To nurture an eternal bond of friendship and love
Jalastnchana (Blessing of the Couple)
Sindhoor (Red Powder)
The groom applies a small dot of vermilion,
Aashirvad (Parental Blessing)
Menhdi (Henna Ceremony)
Mangalasutra (Thread of Goodwill)
South India Wedding
Marriages in South Indian Brahmin families are performed according to Vedic rites. In the olden days marriages used to be performed on four days. Normally marriages used to be conducted at the residence of the bride. Big pandal is erected in front of the house. It may cover neighbors house fronts and major portion of the street. The whole village used to be involved in the arrangements. Personal assistance for the bride’s family used to be just for the asking. This is another social aspect. With the disposal of the family members in various parts of the world and also due to lack of space in the cities and towns marriages are conducted in Kalyana Mandapams now-a-days.
Social aspects of marriages are (a) Reception by procession of the groom (Janavasam or Mappilai ashaippu) (b) Exchange of garlands (Maalai matruthal) (c) Oonjal (Swing on which the young to be married are made to sit and rocked gently.) (d) Nalangu (Passing coconut shape brass ball between the couple).
Different Steps
Janavasam: groom is offered new dress befitting the occasion and then he is taken in a procession in an open car to the mandapa
Vritham- groom performs religious rites for entering grahastha asramam.
Kasi Yatra
Exchange of garlands ( Malaai matruthal)
Oonjal
Kannika Dhanam
Mangalya Dharanam
Saptha sathu
Arundhadhi darsanam
In order to plan you wedidng in India you can get these help from different agencies
Wedding Planning and Co-ordination Service includes
Detailed planning meetings or initial email assistance
Planning software to chose venues and getting an idea of standard costing
Supplier sourcing and venue sourcing
Co-ordination with venue and suppliers
Maintenance of budget including control of supplier payments
Regular progress updates
Unlimited telephone and email assistance
Event management on the day
Other services include
Hotel bookings & transport
Air ticketing
Arrival – departures assistance
Mandap and Stage
Photography and Video
Beauticians & henna experts
Live music & DJs
Cultural performers
Firework, puppet show etc.
These agencies will work in phases to make your Dream Wedding come true with some initial consultation with you. They will do the Budget Setting, designing Wedding package and itinerary, organizing the Vendors chalking out the finer details on every important issue and on the day coordination.
According to their advices you can ask them to seek out and set up all your supplier meetings and manage your wedding on your behalf. This will also include the wedding day itself, where Weddings will be on hand to ensure that everything is running to plan on your big day.
