What are the ceremonies and wedding going to look like?

Henna and Sangeet ceremony: Mehndi, otherwise known as henna, is a paste associated with positive spirits and good luck. Indian wedding tradition calls for a Mehndi ceremony to be held before the wedding as a way of wishing the bride good health and prosperity as she makes her journey on to marriage. The core significance of applying Mehndi is to utilize its natural medicinal herbal remedies, cooling the body and relieving the bride of any stress before her big day. Henna is applied to both the hands and the feet as a means of cooling the nerve-endings of the body, preventing the nerves from tensing up. In the intricate design of the bride's mehendi, the groom’s name or his initials are also hidden. All women from the groom's and bride's side are welcome to have henna applied on their hands. The word “Sangeet “ means music, but when it is used as a term to describe a celebratory event during an Indian wedding it translates to music night. This musical night is a celebration of the union of not only the couple but the bonding of both families. The major elements of sangeet include: choreographed dance performances, food, alcohol, henna, and open dance floor.

Haldi ceremony: Haldi holds a special place in Indian households and cuisine . It is known for its anti-inflammatory and other healing properties, because of which it has become popular as a medicine as well. A paste prepared with turmeric, curd, sandalwood, and gram flour is rubbed onto the bride’s and groom’s face, neck, hands and feet by family members. This ceremony signifies purity, fertility and good health, turmeric is extremely good for the skin - it gives the skin a healthy glow and ensures the bride and the groom look fresh during the most important occasion of their lives, the color yellow is associated with new beginnings, peace and happiness, and the ceremony ends with the elders blessing the bride and the groom as they prepare themselves for the new beginning.

The wedding and 7 vows walking around the holy fire:

Varmaala: This is a short and simple ceremony wherein the bride and groom exchange garlands and commence the wedding rituals.

Kanyadaan: The father of the bride gives his daughter’s hand (literally) in the hands of her groom and asks him to treat her with love, care, attention and respect.

Tying the knots: The groom ties the first knot using a sacred necklace called Mangalsutra, a black and gold necklace with a gold or diamond pendant that symbolizes good luck, love, and friendship. This commitment to each other is the first step in a Hindu marriage and emphasizes the devotion to base all future actions as a couple. The groom's scarf is tied to the bride's shawl. This second knot symbolizes the commitment between the two families. This knot deepens the bride’s and groom’s connection by binding the families together in solidarity. A member of the groom’s family, usually the sister, ties the third knot. The third knot symbolizes further commitment by the groom’s family to care for the bride’s well-being. This knot is an act of reaffirmation to the bride that the groom’s family will contribute to her happiness in a long life with the groom.

The 7 rounds and vows around the holy fire: The First Vow: The groom vows to bride that he will be responsible for providing the nourishment, welfare and happiness to the wife and the children. The Second Vow: The groom vows to bride that he will remain loyal and faithful to his wife and will stand by her throughout the thick and thins of life. The bride vows to the groom that she will willingly share the responsibility by helping him in every possible way and be ready to endure all with courage and strength. The Third Vow: The groom vows to bride that he will work hard putting all his efforts to bring wealth and prosperity in the house and giving education to their children. The bride vows to the groom that she will act responsibly in maintaining the resources and devote her love exceptionally to her husband. The Fourth Vow: The groom thanks to bride that through this sacred affair of marriage, she has made his life beautiful and complete and he vows to respect both set of families. The bride vows to groom that she will stand by his side in all rituals, family and religious commitments and will walk by his side giving her consent for his decisions. The Fifth Vow: The couple vows to be with each other sharing their happiness and sorrows with great understanding and care. The Sixth Vow: The couple vows to love and respect each other and stand together in times of joy and grief. The Seventh Vow: The couple vows together that through this ritual of Sacred Seven Vows, they have become husband and wife uniting their soul. They are united with a divine thread of togetherness and they will love each other and be there for each other till eternity. They as a couple will walk together as great companions, sharing each and everything of life, honoring and loving each other unconditionally. They promise to abide by all the holy seven vows with pure and honest intentions that they have promised during the ritual of marriage.

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