Wednesday 29 May 2013

Common games played in Indian weddings

Games in Indian Wedding have a special purpose. They create a joyful atmosphere and bring about the feeling of unity between the families of the bride and groom.


  Games in Indian wedding are performed by the bride and groom and their relatives. The funny and light-hearted games help to unite the two families. In Indian wedding there are several games. Some of them are as follows.

Fish the Ring
This game determines who will rule the roost in the home front. The bride and groom are asked to take off their rings and put them in a pot of clear water. As the rings settle to the bottom, they are asked to churn the water as vigorously as possible. Once their hands come out, everyone looks at the water. If the bride`s ring lags behind in the swirling water she will be an obedient wife. If it is the opposite, the groom will be wrapped around her finger.

Sometimes, the rings are placed in a pot of milk and the couple are asked to `fish`. Whoever finds the ring first will always have the upper hand.

Jutti Chupai (Hiding the Shoes)
When the couple reaches the mandap for the `pheras`, the groom removes his shoes. The bridesmaid hides his shoes. After the ceremony is complete and the groom gets up to leave the mandap, the bridesmaids surround him and demand a preposterous sum of money in exchange for his shoes

Going Home
This is a game played at the groom`s house. The sisters of the groom block the entrance door as the new bride arrives in her husband`s home. Pretending to be helpful they point to a covered heap. With a gilded cover placed over a mound supposedly to uncover the family deity - and they ask the bride to bow her head to it before entering. The bride, ever anxious to oblige, dutifully bows her head. However, the cover is pulled off to reveal a pile of old footwear cleverly arranged in a mound. The tradition of worshiping the shoes brings about a situation of laughter and the bride gets a number of friends in the process.

Knotted Strings
In another attempt to predict the future of the couple`s married life, the bride is given a knotted string to unwind. She and her husband use one hand each to unravel the knots. The sooner they unravel them, the greater the ease with which they will face life`s struggles.

Pillow Talk
A pillow is held between the shoulders of the bride and groom who sit with their backs to each other. They are asked questions to which they have to reply in "Yes` or "No" by nodding their heads. Since they cannot see each other they do not know how the other is responding. For the gathering it is great fun to watch the newly-weds reply similarly or differently to each query.

You Touch My Heart
This game is particularly enjoyable for the women from the bride`s side. Several round slots are made with a saree, wide enough for a hand to pass through. The saree is held lengthwise and behind it stand women from the bride`s side, including the bride. All the women thrust their hand up to the wrist out of the holes. The groom stands on the other side from where he can only see an array of hands. The challenge for him is to search correctly for his bride`s hands for which he is given three chances. Failing this, he has to pay a `fine` before his bride is reunited with him.

Where is My Heart
In this the married couples present stand back-to-back in random order, such that they cannot see each other. Each woman has to find her spouse by calling out to him with an endearment such as "Where is my heart?" without addressing him by name. The husband has to respond accordingly. There is a lot of laughter involved if the wrong man answers to the call.

Henna name search
Usually the bride gets mehendi on her palm before the wedding ceremony in which the initial of groom`s name is written in intricate pattern. The groom has to find out that letter from his wife`s hand before the starting of conjugal life.

While, the presentation and celebrations kept changing constantly through out the institution of marriage and society, certain ceremonies and rituals had been constant in marriage mantras. From the ancient era through these holy chants while performing marriage ceremony a husband welcomes the bride affectionately in his family hoping for a happy future, promising her a status of `ardhangini` which literally means - equal part of her man and vice versa .

www.ultramatrimony.com

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