Wedding in India (A special event)
India is a ground of various culture and religion. Marriages means not only just coming together of two persons and replace of vows and rings, but it also adheres two souls, two families and their culture. Getting married in India is a very royal experience as there are different ceremonies and traditions held at the time of marriage. It can assign the touch of distinctiveness in your life. It is a thought that marriages are prepared in dreamland but celebrated in our country. The wedding celebration is divided into three parts pre wedding, main day and post wedding. The pre wedding rituals vary according to the region.

Engagement ceremony
This ceremony is held few months before the wedding also known as Mangni is held. The families of the bride and the groom exchange garlands of flowers, rings, fruit and gifts. As the fourth finger is considered to have a straight bond to the heart, so the rings are arranged on these fingers. These are placed on the right hand of the groom and the left hand of the bride.

Pre wedding ceremonies

Mehandi
A day before the wedding, the full hand and feet of the bride are decorated with "Mahendi". There are too many designs or styles of Mehandi and is considered lucky. It colour denotes of the potency of love in the forthcoming marriage.
Sangeet
This is a party with food, music and dance for friends, relatives and family. The bride and groom may have individual sangeets or now a day this is a combined party from both sides.
Nav Graha Puja
This is an event which takes place days before the wedding to ask for blessings from the Gods which administrate the earth.

Wedding Day

On the main day morning, various ceremonies are performed on both the bride and the groom in their own homes. They are festooned with turmeric, sandalwood paste and oils, which refines the body, relaxes the skin and make it fragrant. At the marriage place, stage is decorated with flowers. Fire is a witness of the Hindu marriage ceremony. It is a long and labored ceremony, in which every step embedded in tradition, suggesting various aspects of life that are to pursue after the marriage.
The various steps in the marriage ceremony include:
Baraat
On the morning of the wedding day, the groom leaves his home for the wedding customarily peaked on a white horse with his family and friends around him.
Swagat
When baraat arrive, the bride’s family who sprinkles them with rose water and petals greet them. To greet the groom to the wedding, the mother places a red dot, known as a tikka, on his forehead. A pot filled with yogurt, honey, seeds and ghee is placed on the ground for the groom to step on in order to close the ceremony.
The actual wedding ceremony itself takes place in a mandap, a canopy, with a sacred fire burning inside it.

Kanya-agaman
The bride enterers, usually with maternal uncle or friends to the mandap. The pair then sits simultaneously with the groom on the left.
Pad-Pakshalan
The bride’s parents rinse the feet of the couple with milk and water and then join the couple together with a piece of raw cotton and threads to strengthen their bond as husband and wife.
Kanya Dan
This is completed by giving gold jewellery or gift by all family members and relatives to the couple to wish them good luck and to say that they are giving their piece of heart to groom.
Sankalp
Sacred mantras are tuned and the bride’s parents pledge their blessings. It indicates them giving their daughter away.
Hasta-melap
The bride’s right hand is positioned in the groom’s right hand as customarily the brides parents are giving her away to the groom.
Agni Puja
A sacred fire is lit by the pundit in a copper bowl or in the set of brick. Rice is placed in the holy fire while the bride requests for her husband to have a long life, flourish and to be happy.
Mangalphera
The couple moves around the fire seven times. The groom will lead the bride three times to represent duty, karma and wealth and the bride will lead the four round representing Artha, prosperity; Kama, earthly pleasures; Moksha, spiritual salvation and liberation.
Seven Vows
Seven step represents a marital vow:
First: To respect and honour each other
Second: To share each other's joy and sorrow
Third: To faith and be devoted to each other
Fourth: To develop admiration for knowledge, values, sacrifice and service
Fifth: To reconfirm their vow of purity, love, family duties and spiritual growth
Sixth: To follow values of Dharma (morality) and
Seventh: To develop constant bond of friendship and love.

Sindoor
The groom spread over a powdered red lead to the bride's forehead and receives her as his life partner.
Mangal Sutra
A necklace put on especially by married women as a sign of their marriage.
Haridaya-Sparsha
The couple places their hands over each others hearts while stating vows.
Chathurthi Karma
The couple nourishes each other four times to symbolize the development of their skin, muscle, bone and soul.
Aashirvad
The parents of the bride and groom give their blessings to the couple. The couple touches the feet of their parents with respect. Blessed flower petals and rice are thrown over the couple by guests at the end of the ceremony.

Post wedding Ceremonies

These are the symbol of welcome of the bride into the family. The marriage is not over, just because the main ceremony is over. The bride and groom go to their new home and start their new lives with the following rituals:
Grahapravesha
Talambra
Arundhati Darshanam
Dhruva Darshan