Buddhist Pre- Wedding Rituals

Buddhist Religion is known for its simplicity and the same is reflected in its wedding ceremony also. The Buddhist wedding does not even include any complex rituals. Buddhism does not compel a person to be married. Buddhism allows each individual the freedom to decide for himself all the issues pertaining to marriage. Buddhist marriage is very simple. It is based on faith and less on religion. It is a social affair. One more striking aspect of Buddhist wedding is that you won’t get any mandatory ritual. It is entirely up to the bride and the groom and their families to plan their wedding events in whatever way they want. Buddhists can marry anyone from any religion. They can even get married in courts or at Buddhist temples if they like.

Khachang

The parents or the boy choose his prospective bride. Once it is decided that the you want to marry this particular girl, a family friend would usually go to the girl's house. He would carry a bottle of whisky and a white silk scarf called khada to offer. It is meant to see whether they give a nod to the proposal. This type of visit is usually known as Khachang. When the bride's family show interest in this alliance both the families meet for horoscope matching.

Horoscope Matching

The first practice amongst Buddhists is horoscope matching. This custom has a lot of significance and is performed with great reverence. The matchmaking is usually done by taking the boy and the girl in confidence. After having matched the horoscopes of the prospective bride and groom, the boy's family, in consultation with the lama (priest), selects an auspicious day for putting forward the proposal for marriage.

Chessian Betrothal Ceremony

The family members of the bride and the groom come together for the execution of this ritual. At the time of this ceremony, the bride’s maternal uncle seats on an elevate platform while the priests carry out prayers and presents ‘madyan’ or a kind of holy drink to all. After that, the bride and the groom’s families fix on the date of wedding with the approval of an astrologer.

Nangchang or engagement Ceremony

In this ritual formal engagement takes place. The maternal uncles of both the sides play an important role in the ongoing marriage negotiations. On the boy's side, the mama and the siblings play important role. Whereas, the girl's side has the entire family, friends and the mama joining the occasion. The guests would bring Tsang and many kinds of meat to the girl's house. They gift rice and chicken especially to the girl's mother.  A propitious day is also decide for the girl's departure from her maiden house. The young couple mostly live together either in the girl's or the boy's house after the engagement.

Jain Pre-wedding Rituals

Jains celebrate their marriages with great enthusiasm.Jain weddings are simple and very traditional with a lot of rituals but They are not elaborate.The Jain people generally marry in their own communities so that children born out of this marriage are also Jain.A Jain marriage should be conducted by a Jain 'Pundit'.They think that marriage should be grand but there shouldn't be any wastage of time or money.

Marriage to the Jains is a declaration by the couple that they desire to be together for a lifetime. The speciality of a Jain wedding is, it considered to be incomplete without a grand proclamation

Though simple yet a Jain wedding has a number of pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. Let's get familiar with some of the Jain pre-wedding rituals.

Vagdana

In this ritual the parents show their intent to marry their son and daughter so they declare their wish publickly in the society.

Laghana Lekhan

It is the very first ritual of any Jain wedding and is held at the bride's house. A small puja is conducted at the bride’s home.An auspicious date and time for the wedding is decided by the priest. It is then sent to the groom's house.This function is usually attended by close relatives and friends.

Lagna Patrika Vachan

It is held at the groom's house. The lagan patrika vachan, sent from the bride’s home along with the time of the wedding is read out at the boy's house at some auspicious time. The groom then performs a Vinayakyatra puja.

Sagai or Engagement ceremony

It is held at the groom's house.The bride’s brother puts tikka on his forehead. He also gifts him a gold chain, a ring, clothes, coconut, sweets and money. There after, the groom seeks blessings from all the elders present.

Maha Mandap

This ritual takes place at both the bride's and the groom's place a day or two before marriage. Here, the priest performs all the religious rituals.

Barati

This ritual takes place on the arrival of the groom's procession at the girl's place on the day of the wedding.The bride’s brother and the groom apply tikka to each other and exchange coconuts, money, sweet and clothes.

Aarti

Married women welcome the groom from the bride's side and perform traditional aarti and sing mangal geet.

Gujarati Pre-Wedding Rituals

The Gujarati weddings are organised on a grand scale and their rituals are very colourful.It is full of various poojas and interesting traditional customs.The entire atmosphere is full of enthusiasm.

Sagai (engagement ceremony)

A typical Gujarati Wedding begins with Sagaii or engagement. It is actually the first formal approval of marriage in the Gujarati community. It is a traditional ceremony when would be bride arrives at would be groom’s place. The bride's father and four other male members applyes the vermilion mark on the forehead of the groom. This announces the acceptance of the alliance between the two families. The couple is blessed at this ceremony by both the families.

Mandap Muhurat

This ritual has a great significance. The parents of the couple seek the blessings of Mother Earth and ask permission to commence with the digging of the soil to erect the mandva or mandap. The families pray to Lord Ganesh the Hindu God who is believed to remove all obstacles and seek his divine blessing. The puja is performed by a priest in front of a sacred fire.

Griha Shanti

Any disturbance in the stars can cause harm or clashes in the marital relationship and the lives of the couple. The purpose of the puja is to bring peace among the stars.This is carried out in the respective home of the bride and the groom. In this ceremony both the families seek the blessings of all the nine planets and pray to remove all possible obstacles before the wedding.

Garba

Garba is the specialty of any Gujarati marriage ceremony. A marriage ceremony is incomplete without the Garba. This ceremony gives chance for both families to meet, greet and know each other well. Normally it is held a night before the wedding, it involves lots of dancing and bright colourful clothes. Dandiyas or special sticks are used for the dance and music is also played.

Pithi

It is performed individually at both the bride and groom houses. In this ritual turmeric paste which is considered auspicious and beautifying is applied on the bodies of the bride and groom houses. Close relatives and friends at their respective places are invited in this ceremony.

Mehndi

The bride normally celebrates the mehendi function with her female family members and friends. In this ritual henna is applied on the bride’s hands and feet.

Muslim wedding or Nikaah

Muslim wedding is an elaborated affair and it extends to a period of five days. The traditions and practices followed in the wedding ceremonies relate to the Muslim world. The people who get involved in these ceremonies have Islam as their faith. Muslim wedding is also known as Nikaah. The wedding can take place at any convenient time. The wedding venue can be the bride or groom`s house. The wedding venue can be a place that is convenient for both parties. Muslim culture all over the world is famous for inviting and welcoming guests. This gives them a chance to entertain them. Just as in any other Indian wedding, here too marriage ceremonies can be divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding celebrations. Here are some of the famous pre-wedding rituals followed in a Muslim wedding.

Mehndi Ceremony

The Mehndi ceremony is the most important ritual of Muslim wedding. It is held at the home of the bride. It can be held on the eve of marriage or a couple of days before marriage. The female relatives of the bride apply mehndi on her hands and feet. The bride wears simple clothes on the day. When this process is in progress the women gathered there sing traditional songs. According to custom the bride must not step out of the house for the next few days until her marriage.

Manjha Ceremony

In this ritual the bride wears yellow clothes and turmeric paste is applied all over her body. It is called Mayoon or Mayun or Ubtan or Manja. She is seated on a small square table. It is mandatory that a married friend will accompany the bride everywhere and at all times. After all the ritual associated with Manjha finishes the bride has to take a bath. This is a very lively process and includes a lot of singing.

Engagement or Mangni

As in every Indian marriage wedding rings are exchanged. After the exchange is done the bride and the groom commit to be life partner. After Mangni Islamic laws does not allow the marrying parties to have any kind of relationship. It is only after valid Nikah that they become legally husband and wife. If engagement is broken by any of the party, it does not affect the parties anyway. However, the parties prefer to return whatever they have got as gifts. The bride and the groom can't see each other before Nikah.

Mahr

This is a pre-marital custom in which the bride’s family welcomes the groom party. The bride’s sisters play pranks and slap the guests with flowers. 

January 14: One Day with three festivals associated with Sun

Makar Sankranti

The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year. It is regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the holy phase of transition. This day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season. This day also holds a historical and religious significance. As it is the festival of Sun God the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it. This day thus symbolizes the importance of the special relationship between father and son. This occasion also represents the end of 'negativities' Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare in different parts of India.

Lohri

Lohri is an extremely popular festival celebrated by the Punjabis and Haryanvis. Kids bring wood sticks from their grand parents and aunties and like a fire camp burnt these sticks in the night with people enjoying, dancing and playing around fire. Lohri is a festival dedicated to the end of the Winter season. Lohri is traditionally associated with the harvest of the rabi crops. Lohri is also seen as the beginning of a financial new year. Eating of til (sesame seeds) and rorhi is considered to be essential on Lohri day.

Pongal

It is one of the most popular festivals of South India. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God. It coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India as the winter harvest. Pongal in Tamil generally refers to festivity. Pongal means the "boiling over" of milk and rice. Tamils thank the Sun god for the good harvest and consecrate the first grain to him. Tamilians decorate their homes with banana and mango leaves and decorate floor with different patterns drawn using rice flour.

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Rajasthani Pre wedding rituals

Rajasthan is famous not only in India but all over the world for its magnificent weddings in luxurious palaces. The Rajasthani wedding happens to be the most lavish wedding in India. The Rajasthani marriage is celebrated in a royal style. The most auspicious time for a Rajasthani wedding is from May-July or November-February. The rituals and customs in such wedding can be categorized into the pre-wedding, wedding days and post-wedding customs. This article will provide you the features of pre wedding-day customs in Rajasthani wedding.

Tilak

This is the very first pre-wedding ritual conducted in a Rajasthani wedding. It is a male affair. Females are not allowed to attend this ritual. Only the father, brother and other male relatives of the bride's family attend this ceremony. The brother of the bride applies tilak on to the forehead of the groom. A sword, clothes, sweets etc. are given to the groom.

Sagai

In this Ceremony the Bride to be and the Groom to be exchange rings as part of the acceptance of each other. Both the families bless the couple. After sagai a feast is given to all the guests.

Ganapati Sthapana and Griha Shanti

It is one of the most important pre-wedding ritual. It is performed a few days prior to the wedding.An idol of the Lord Ganesha is brought home and installed. It is worshiped. All the wedding rituals would be performed only after the sthapana or installation.A havan is also conducted by either the groom or the bride's family. 

Pithi Dastoor

This is one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies. It involves both the bride and the groom. This Custom involves the application of Turmeric/ Haldi paste on the hands and feet of the Bride/ Groom in their respective homes. The bride and the groom who cannot leave the house once the pithi starts.

Mahira Dastoor

In this ritual maternal uncles of both sides arrive at the homes of the bride and the groom, respectively. On their arrival, they are given attractive presents by the family members.

Janev

In this Ceremony, the Groom performs a Havan under the guidance of a priest. After that he wears a pious thread given by the priest.After wearing the scared thread the groom has to decide whether he will become an ascetic or getting married.The groom acts as to become ascetic but his maternal uncle stops him and convinces him to accept responsibilities of married life.

Palla Dastoor

In this ritual clothes, jewellery and gifts are send by the groom’s family for dressing the bride on the wedding day or prior to the wedding day. She has to wear the belongings on the wedding day.

Baraat

Only males members are allowed to take part in the Baraat. The groom has to ride an elephant or a horse and go to the bride's house. He has to carry a sword with him. He is accompanied by his male family members, relatives and friends.

Christian pre-wedding rituals

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in an institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures and religions. A Christian marriage can take place anywhere. Christian weddings are usually conducted in a Church with much joy and celebrations. Christian Wedding is also an elaboration affair. In Christianity, marriages are considered the union between man and woman predestined by God. Christian Rituals are basically designed for a simple and social marriage. Participation of friends and family members of the bride and the bridegroom helps to add joy to the wedding celebrations. Christian wedding can be divided in terms of pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Pre-wedding rituals would be covered in this blog.

The Announcement or Engagement party

The first formal Christian Rituals is the engagement party. It is hosted by the bride’s parents. It is conducted in the presence of a priest. The couple exchanges engagement rings that have been blessed by the priest. The couple exchanges their thoughts and also shares their feeling with everyone. In the end there is a formal dinner or buffet lunch. A cocktail party can also be organised on this event.

Bridal shower

Bridal Shower is one of the major pre-wedding customs of a Christian Wedding. It is mainly a female get-together that is made lively by songs, dance and joyful game sessions. It is hosted by the bride's female friends. It is a fun-filled and entertaining informal hen party. There is an old tradition followed in this event. The bride serves a pink cake to all present. Uniqueness of the cake is that there is a thimble hidden inside this cake. It is believed that a girl who receives the piece of cake with a thimble will be the next to get married.

Bachelor's party or Stag Party

When the bridal shower is arranged at the bride's place bachelor party is arranged at the groom's place. It is hosted by the groom for his friends. It is organized a couple of days before the wedding where a groom is expected to enjoy his last evening as a bachelor. The close friends of the groom are invited. The purpose is to have fun and enjoyment.

Preparatory course

It is mandatory for the prospective bride and groom to attend a Marriage Preparatory Course. It could be a one day affair or it can extend to three days. The couple must fill a form declaring details of their lives and take an oath on the Holy Bible that they have not withheld any information and that they are aware of the duties. They must produce their baptism certificates.