Hindu Wedding Ceremony Essay -- Descriptive Wedding Hindu Culture Essa

Hindu Wedding CeremonyIntroduction The tradition Vedic wedding ceremony is about four deoxyguanosine monophosphate years old. The ceremony is a religious occasion solemnized in accordance with the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of the Hindus. It is a collection of rituals performed by the brides parents. Each steps in the ceremony has symbolic philosophical and spiritual meaning. The Maharaj (priest) conducts the ceremony by chanting Mantras (bridal altar). The ceremony is performed in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language.Lagna, the marriage, is performed to unite two souls so firmly that after marriage although their bodied remain separate, their souls merge and become symphonic. They become spiritu altogethery one.Swagatam(Welcoming the Groom)Jay arrives amid much celebration with his family and friends at the doorsteps. Hirals mother welcomes Jay and asks him if is vigilant to make the life long commitment and is ready to deal with the bittersweet experience that marriag e will present in the future. He is and then asked to halt a clay pot filled with curd, honey, ghee (clarified butter) and cottonseeds. The clay pot represent the world and the materials symbolize the different experience he will encounter in the journey of life ahead. Hirals mother then leads him to the Mandap (bridal altar) where the wedding ceremony will take place.Ganesh Puja, Kalash and Navagraha(Invocation to Lord Ganesh)The wedding ceremony begins with the worship of lord ganesh, the remover of all obstacles. Hirals parents attend the ceremony with jay, and the Maharaj (Priest) guides the rituals. The kalash (pot) contains sacred waters with coconut and flowers symbolizing the universe. Prayers are rendered to the kalash. This portion of the ceremony represents the worship of five basic elements earth, air, fire, water and sky. The Navagraha (the golf club planets of the solar system) are involved for their blessing.Kanyagaman And ManglashtakHiral is brought to the Mandap by her maternal uncle(kanyagaman).A white curtain, antarpata ( a symbol of traditional barriers) is held between the couple. The brides relative (Mangalashtak) chant blessings. The curtain is then removed and Hiral and Jay exchange garlands.Madhuparka, Kanyadaan, and Hastamelap(Giving Away of the bride and joining of the Hands)Hirals father offers jay ghee and curd... ...a necklace made of sacred black beads (Mangal Sutra), signifying his abiding love, integrity and devotion. Then he places sindoor, a reddish powder in her hair. The priest then blesses the wedding ring and the couple exchanges them. These acts represent Hiral and Jays new status as a wed woman and man.Kansar Bhojan(Nourishing the relationship)Jay and Hiral feed each other four times with sweets, signifying their pledge to love and care for each other, and accept the blessing to have a harmonious marriage.Khand Saubhagyavati(Blessing from the married women)Hiral and Jay straightway seek the blessing of their paren ts and their elderly relatives by bowing to their feet (ashirvaad). Married women form the brides side bless the couple by susurrus saubhagyavati Bhav(blessing for abiding martial happiness)into the brides right ear. Then seek blessing from relatives and friends.Vidaai(Farewell)The last ritual of the ceremony is a touching and emotional farewell to the daughter. Hiral now begins her new role as a wife and as a member of the Warner family. She throws a fistful of rice, so that the house of her children remains prosperous and happy.