Hindu marriage ceremonies and their cultural significance

Hindu Marriages

What does it mean to be married? Traditions around the globe

It is important to note, from the onset, that marriage remains one of the world's most practiced traditions. Despite its widespread practice, marriage is conducted differently across different cultures. This discussion concerns itself with Hindu wedding ceremonies. In the words of Prinja (2009), "the precise details and rituals performed in a wedding ceremony vary from region to region and often take several hours to complete." Some of the key phases of Hindu weddings, as highlighted by Prinja (2009), are: jayamaala, madhu-parka, gau daan and kanya pratigrahan, vivaha-homa, paanigrahan, shilarohan and laaja homa, sapta-padi, surya darshan and dhruva darshan, and ashirvada (blessings). Because of space constraints, I will address these in brief.

To mark the start of the wedding, the bridegroom and his family are welcomed by the bride's parents at the designated location of the wedding. After the prerequisite pleasantries, some kind of powder referred to as red kum-kum is put on their foreheads, just before the formal introductions. These introductions, as Prinja (2009) points out, mark "the start of a relationship between two families." Next, there is the exchange of gifts. Unlike was the case in the past, where cows were the main exchange item, the said exchange of gifts has lately become symbolical, with such items as ornaments and clothes now fitting in as gifts. At this point, the bride is given a necklace by the groom's mother -- a symbol of marital status. It is also at this point that the bride's father makes known of their daughter's willingness to accept the bridegroom.

Hindu weddings are also characterized by the climbing over a rock/stone by the bride -- this is an act that is meant to be an indication of the bride's readiness to face challenges in the course of marriage (Prinja, 2009). The pivotal and most critical part of the entire ceremony is referred to as sapta-padi. During this stage, the couple, as Prinja (2009) points out, walks seven steps that are representative of their vows to each other: "the first for food, the second for strength, the third for prosperity, the fourth for wisdom, the fifth for progeny, the sixth for health and the seventh for friendship." The last phase of a Hindu marriage ceremony, the ashirvada, involves the blessing of the couple by both the priest and elders present.

In my opinion, Hindu weddings are amongst the most elaborate and well-planned cultural events amongst the many cultures of the world. The tradition appeals to me because of not only its elaborate nature, but also because of its rich and well-intentioned symbols and activities. The climbing over a rock and the seven steps, as explained above, have deep meanings. This is unlike wedding traditions and practices from some other cultures that seem to have activities that are largely irrelevant. In Scotland, for instance, the "bride and groom are slathered from head to toe in every disgusting substance their friends can get their hands on" (Droesch, 2013).