Our Wedding Rituals
Dear Respected Guest,
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The Gupta and Selvakumar Families warmly welcome their cherished friends and loved ones to the wedding ceremony of Shruti and Raja. A Hindu wedding ceremony is a sacred union of two souls, steeped in timeless traditions. Each ritual is inspired by Vedic hymns, with every step symbolizing the profound journey of life that follows marriage. The ceremony is deeply intertwined with the five elements—Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Space—each playing an essential role in this sacred celebration. We invite you to enjoy the celebration and bestow your blessings upon the newlyweds while following along below.
1. Baraat
The groom, accompanied by his family and friends, dances his way to the wedding mandap. The air is filled with music, laughter, and boundless joy to celebrate this joyous occasion!
2. Varaagman
The bride's family welcomes the groom's entourage with warmth and joy. The bride's mother bestows blessings upon the groom with aarti and tilak, marking the beginning of the sacred rituals. The groom is then escorted to the mandap by his proud parents.
3. Ganesh Puja
The priest commences the ceremony with a sacred prayer to Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. His divine blessings are invoked for a harmonious and auspicious beginning to the couple’s new journey.
4.Var Puja
The bride’s parents honor the groom as an embodiment of Lord Vishnu, who will be united with the bride, a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing prosperity, harmony, and divine love.
5. Kanya Aagaman
The flower girls gracefully scatter petals along the walkway, setting the path for the bride’s grand entrance. The bride is led to the mandap beneath a Phoolon ki Chaadar, carried by her loving family, enveloped in warmth, blessings, and joyous celebration.
6. Jai Maala
The groom and the bride exchange flower garlands, a sacred symbol of mutual acceptance, respect, and devotion, marking the beginning of their lifelong journey together.
7. Hath Peela
The bride's father gently applies a touch of henna to her hands, symbolizing her transition into married life and blessing her with love and prosperity.
8. Kanyadaan
The bride's father places her right hand into the groom's, symbolically offering her as Goddess Lakshmi to her divine counterpart in marriage, witnessed by God, family, and friends. As a sacred blessing, holy water flows from her parents’ hands to hers and finally into the groom's, signifying purity, continuity, and the sanctity of their union.
9. Ghat Bandhan
The bride and groom hold each other’s hands, embracing their union with love and devotion. They pledge to walk hand in hand through life’s journey, supporting and cherishing one another. As a symbol of their sacred bond, the bride's father ties their chunnis together, signifying the eternal union of their hearts and souls—the moment when two become one.
10. Agni Sthapan and Vivaah Havan
A sacred fire, Agni, is kindled to invoke Lord Agni and seek His divine blessings. As an offering of devotion and purity, the bride and groom reverently present ghee, rice, and other sacred items into the flames, symbolizing prosperity, commitment, and the sanctity of their union.
11. Shilaropan & Laza Havan
A sacred stone is placed near the fire, and the bride gently touches it with her foot, symbolizing her strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment as she steps into this new phase of life. This ritual signifies her ability to face challenges with courage and stability.
12. Mangal Pheras
The bride and groom circle the sacred fire together seven times, accompanied by the chanting of mantras. The bride's brothers offer a fistful of puffed rice for them to put in the Havan as a sign of their blessings for a happy married life.
13. Saptapadi
The bride and groom take seven steps over seven piles of rice, signifying the seven vows they are making to one another. In the first three rounds the bride leads the Groom as they circle together around the sacred fire. From the fourth round, the Groom leads the bride around the sacred fire. The vows are as follows:
1. Commit to share basic needs, such as food and shelter.
2. Promise to protect and support each other and ensure the well-being of their new family.
3. Vow to strive for prosperity and wealth together.
4. Commit to raise their children with love and care.
5. Promise to cherish and honor each other by fostering love and affection.
6. Vow to maintain health and peace within the family.
7. Pledge to be lifelong companions, united in spirit and purpose.
14. Mangalsutra & Sindhoor
The groom ties the sacred Mangalsutra around the bride's neck and applies Sindhoor to her forehead, symbolizing his love, respect, and commitment to her.
15. Metti
The groom places the Metti (toe ring) on the bride's second toe, signifying her new role as a married woman. Metti is traditionally worn by married women in South India as a symbol of their marital status.
16. Ring Exchange
The bride and groom will exchange rings as symbols of their eternal love and commitment. Each ring, in its unbroken circle, represents the infinite nature of their bond. As they place these rings on each other's fingers, they make a visible pledge of their devotion, fidelity, and vows made on this sacred day.
17. Dhurva Darshan
The priest asks the bride and groom to look at the Arundhati star (part of the Mizar-Alcor binary system), symbolizing harmony and mutual respect in marriage. They also observe the Dhruva star, which symbolizes steadfastness, commitment, and unwavering devotion, much like the celestial Dhruva, who remains fixed in the sky.
18. Aashirwad
Five married women anoint the newlywed couple with a sacred mixture of rice, grass, flowers, and turmeric, bestowing blessings for a long, healthy, and joyful life together as husband and wife. With love and reverence, the bride and groom touch the feet of their parents, seeking their heartfelt blessings. As a final gesture of goodwill and joy, assembled relatives and guests shower the newlyweds with flowers, blessing them with prosperity, harmony, and an auspicious married life.
