Indian wedding ceremony
Marriage in Sanskrit language is called ‘vivaha’. The male is expected to be about twenty-five years of age and the female to have attained about sixteen years. Two individuals who have lived independently now form a life-long companionship. It becomes a life of unity based on perfect harmony. It is performed with faith and is very symbolic.
Types of Marriages:
1. Brahmya
2. Daiva (marriage to a priest)
3. Aarsha
4. Praajaapatya
5. Gaamdharva
6. Aasura
7. Raaxasa (uncivilised)
8. Paishaachya (Satanic)
The first four fall under what is known as “arranged marriage” and means the marriage that is “arranged” by father (or guardian) of a girl. The gaamdharva means love marriage which is decided by the girl and the boy seeking to become man and wife. Raaxasa is a forced marriage where a girl is abducted by defeating or killing her relatives and guardians and is forced to marry the abductor and in paishaachya (satanic) marriage the girl is raped and rapist offers (or forces her) to marry her.
There are a number of rituals and ceremonies performed before and during the wedding. The first being the ‘misri’ or ring engagement. This is a pre wedding ceremony and involves oral agreement and ‘lagna patra’ (written declaration).
It proceeds with the ‘mehendi’ ceremony where all the brides friends and relatives gather up to have henna drawn on their hands beautifully. After this, they have the ‘sangeet’ where the whole community and invited guests by the bride and groom’s family gather to play ‘ras-garba’ - is the traditional folk dance form of Vrindavan, India.
Marriage in Sanskrit language is called ‘vivaha’. The male is expected to be about twenty-five years of age and the female to have attained about sixteen years. Two individuals who have lived independently now form a life-long companionship. It becomes a life of unity based on perfect harmony. It is performed with faith and is very symbolic.
Types of Marriages:
1. Brahmya
2. Daiva (marriage to a priest)
3. Aarsha
4. Praajaapatya
5. Gaamdharva
6. Aasura
7. Raaxasa (uncivilised)
8. Paishaachya (Satanic)
The first four fall under what is known as “arranged marriage” and means the marriage that is “arranged” by father (or guardian) of a girl. The gaamdharva means love marriage which is decided by the girl and the boy seeking to become man and wife. Raaxasa is a forced marriage where a girl is abducted by defeating or killing her relatives and guardians and is forced to marry the abductor and in paishaachya (satanic) marriage the girl is raped and rapist offers (or forces her) to marry her.
There are a number of rituals and ceremonies performed before and during the wedding. The first being the ‘misri’ or ring engagement. This is a pre wedding ceremony and involves oral agreement and ‘lagna patra’ (written declaration).
It proceeds with the ‘mehendi’ ceremony where all the brides friends and relatives gather up to have henna drawn on their hands beautifully. After this, they have the ‘sangeet’ where the whole community and invited guests by the bride and groom’s family gather to play ‘ras-garba’ - is the traditional folk dance form of Vrindavan, India.
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