Although marriage is a legal right in almost all the states of India, the definition and function of marriage vary across the states. This is one of the reasons why Manu Smriti is considered as a legal and sacred document across all the states in India.
There are different types of marriages. Hindu weddings are arranged marriages, Muslim weddings are arranged marriages, Christian weddings are civil weddings, Buddhist weddings are arranged marriages and Buddhist wedding ceremonies are performed by monks. Each type of marriage has different pros and cons, and there are different rituals that are involved. A wedding is essentially the union of two individuals who are legally and religiously bound to live together. All the rituals and ceremonies associated with a wedding is considered sacrosanct and is held to be sacred.
The significance of a wedding ceremony can’t be underestimated. In today’s fast-paced and automated world, there is a great importance on personal interactions, on being together, even during a busy and stressful time. A wedding ceremony, especially if it is a traditional, ordered marriage, symbolizes the union of two souls who have decided to commit their lives together and create a family for themselves. The marriage day is a happy day for the bride and the groom, and they spend a lot of time planning a perfect day for their wedding.
Wedding ceremonies are mostly conducted in the morning, after the morning puja has been performed. In the eastern part of India, the marriage ceremonies are usually done in the evening. In the west, where the sun is rising, the marriages are arranged for the auspicious alignment of the sun with the moon. Both the bride and the groom have ceremonial slippers which are exchanged on the marriage day. Also exchanged on this day are garlands made of flowers and cloth or the garlands made of rice leaves.
The wedding reception follows a particular order. The first wedding feast is offered to the parents of both the bride and the groom. After this, the family of the groom breaks its fast, and offers prayers to Ganapati to grant their wishes for the newly wed. The wedding feast is then served to everyone, both the guests of the wedding and the guests of the reception. It is customary to have sweets in abundance and to consume them as the wedding cake.
After the banquet, the couple is taken to the newly arranged room where the ceremony is to be conducted. This room is called a kutta natyam in Hindi. This kutta natyam has flowers and candles burning. This is followed by the marriage ceremony under the chuppa or the sacred fire. The bridegroom is adorned with the garlands and the family of the groom carries him to his new home.
Other than this, there are a few other ritualistic rituals performed in Indian marriages that depend on the religion of the people. For instance, in some Hindu marriages, it is believed that the groom’s foot should touch the ground before the bride is married. Similarly, in Muslim weddings, the ceremony involves the lighting of tapers and the reading of poetry dedicated to Ganapati. Sikh marriages involve the burning of kittens or the holy book and the solemn pledge made by both the families.
There are many myths and stories associated with marriage and marriages in Indian culture and society. There are stories about love, loss and honor. The marriage ceremony is a ceremony which brings families closer, strengthens ties and unites the society.