artbaari • June 27, 2024 • 3 min read

Classic Indian Wedding Traditions: A Journey of Love, Culture, and Celebration

Indian weddings are a vibrant and unforgettable experience, filled with colorful rituals, joyous ceremonies, and delicious food. Let’s take a look at 20 key traditions that make Indian weddings so special:

Pre-Wedding Ceremonies

1. Sagai (Engagement):  This intimate gathering at the bride’s home officially announces the upcoming wedding. Families exchange gifts, the couple exchanges rings and garlands, and everyone showers them with blessings.

2. Mehndi: The bride and her female friends and family get together to have their hands and feet adorned with intricate henna tattoos, symbolizing good luck and fertility.

3. Sangeet: A fun-filled celebration with singing, dancing, and performances from both families. It’s a chance to bond and get to know each other before the big day.

4. Haldi: A joyful ritual where turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom’s skin. Turmeric is believed to have healing properties and bring good fortune.

Wedding Day Ceremonies

1. Baraat: The groom’s lively procession to the wedding venue, filled with music, dancing, and celebration.

2. Mandap: A beautifully decorated canopy where the wedding ceremony takes place, symbolizing the new home the couple will create together.

3. Jai Mala: The exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom, signifying their acceptance of each other as husband and wife.

4. Kanyadaan: The bride’s father symbolically gives her away to the groom, signifying his trust and blessing.

5. Saat Phere: The bride and groom take seven steps around a sacred fire, making seven promises to each other for a strong and fulfilling marriage.

6. Sindoor: The groom applies vermilion powder to the bride’s hairline, signifying her new status as a married woman.

7. Mangalsutra: The groom ties a sacred necklace around the bride’s neck, symbolizing their lifelong bond and commitment.

8. Chooda: The bride wears red and white bangles, symbolizing her new marital status and good luck.

9. Kaleerein: Ornaments with dangling tassels are tied to the bride’s bangles, representing blessings and prosperity.

10. Doli: The bride is carried in a decorated palanquin to her new home, symbolizing her journey from her childhood to her new life.

Post-Wedding Ceremonies

1. Griha Pravesh: The bride’s grand entrance into her new home, where she is welcomed with rituals to bring prosperity and happiness.

2. Varmala: Similar to Jai Mala, the couple exchanges garlands again, marking the start of their new life together.

3. Vidaai: A bittersweet farewell ceremony where the bride leaves her family home to start a new life with her husband.

4. Saptapadi: This ceremony is a repetition of the seven steps taken during the wedding, reinforcing the vows and promises made earlier.

5. Ashirbad: The couple receives blessings from elders and loved ones for a happy and prosperous married life.

6. Annaprashan: The first time the couple’s child is given solid food, celebrated with prayers and blessings.

Indian weddings are a beautiful tapestry of traditions, each carrying deep meaning and symbolism. Witnessing these ceremonies is a privilege and a chance to celebrate love and culture in its most vibrant form.