Indian wedding. Wedding traditions of India: ancient rituals, ceremonies and rituals

Good afternoon, my name is Masha, I'm 31, last November I got married in Bombay (Mumbai) in India. It's amazing that I didn't find a tag with this city in the community, I can't even believe it.

The wedding took place according to the Sikh rite, under the cut 50 photos: preparation, ceremony and post-wedding celebrations. November 7, 2015.

1. We live in the same hotel where the ceremony takes place. I wake up at 8 am from a call: good people from the reception they warn that the hairdresser has come. My head hurts, because yesterday my friends and I danced in the club until two in the morning. OK! I quickly order a double espresso and croissants, run to the shower and put on my lenga, my wedding attire. The groom sleeps next to him, he doesn’t need to prepare for several hours! Hi all!

2. On my arms and legs I have mehndi (mehendi)— henna drawing, which four (!) craftswomen applied to me for two hours. The name of the groom is woven into the drawing, which he will have to look for on their wedding night.

3. Photographing the view from the window: we are in South Bombay, Colaba area. The city can be represented as a triangle, one of the corners of which goes into the ocean— here he is.

4. I upset the hairdresser because I don’t want to add artificial hair: Indian brides often have a thick braid that goes down to the shoulders or waist, the braid is decorated with gold. They scare me with the fact that I will be "too modest bride") They just fix the tikka (decoration on the forehead) and flowers.

5. The hairdresser asked for white flowers, but then she painted them with varnish to match the color of my dress.

6. 10.30: A makeup artist comes to make me a Bollywood star.

7. We put on jewelry. My mother-in-law got married in them and then gave them to me. To do this, they, with their father-in-law and grandmother, who practically does not leave the house, specially arrived, bought flowers and prepared a speech. It was so touching that I burst into tears. Three necklaces and unusual earrings: a thin pearl thread is wound 3-4 times behind the ear, and the end hangs down.

8. I'm almost ready, the only thing left to do is to drape a dupat scarf. The master asks me: "In what style? Punjabi/Gujarati/Lenga Choli?" Separately, I know the meaning of all the words, in relation to drapery - no. I choose at random, but then I decide to call future mother-in-law and everything has to be redone. Twenty minutes there, twentyhere, the bride is late.

9. 11.15 My family calls me, they want to know if I have planned to run away))

10. Dad comes, he will lead me down to the hall where the ceremony is taking place. I'm happy to see him even though he steals my coffee! It is important for me to share this moment with him.

11. The ceremony was supposed to start at 11 am, at 11.40 we go downstairs. Everyone has to be barefoot during the ceremony, so dad helps me take off my shoes. At this time, four men from my side are preparinga special veil that will be carried over usbefore entering the gurdwara (gurdwara— temple or any place where the Holy Book of the Sikhs is located).

12. Ready and in!

13. The hall looks like this: in the middle is a reader and the Holy Book on a special pedestal, on the left are musicians, on different sides from the Book of Man and Woman. All guests in the gurdwara must have their heads covered, so we hired a turban-roller for the men. Turbanspink, the color of my dress.

14. Women's heads are covered with a sari or scarf.

15. Music and chants begin.My fiancé is not a Hindu, but a Sikh, and not too religious, so we did a short ceremony (45 minutes). In other circumstances, celebrations can go on for weeks. By the way, in Russia there is a tradition to call all Indians Hindus, but this is not entirely true: Hindu— this is a follower of Hinduism, and an Indian / Indian— These are the people of India.

16. One of the readers of the Holy Book. If you see this inairport, then do not be afraid, this is not a terrorist, but a Sikh, believing Sikhs are supposed to wear turbans and not remove their hair. If simplified about Sikhism: There are no castes, women and men are equal. No concept of aya and ada: it is believed that to force a person to be good because of a reward or punishment— This manipulation. No priests (Sikhs think thatclear like class provokes corruption and manipulation. C the ceremony is performed by anyrespected member of the community.

17. While we are listening, the groom leans down and says something affectionate to me, I can't contain my emotions.

18. We are waiting for the four hymns with instructions to begin (Laava). Then my dad will give us a scarf, and after each hymn we will go around the Holy Book.

19. We go around. Four guests stand in the corners, showering us with rose petals.

20. I hold on tightly to the scarf, I can’t let go. He is special, a few days ago, seven married women from the groom's side got together, and each made a few stitches on him, for good luck.

21. After each detour, we bow to the Book, as a sign of consent to marry.

22. The mother of the groom knows best what follows next, so we periodically consult with her))

23. After the rounds, the ladies give us lighted candles, and we say a puja (prayer), describing small circles with a tray.

24. Then we pass the tray to parents and close relatives.

25. Next step: covers for the Book: also first we...

26. ...and then the parents. My family— Well done, very skillfully and patiently maneuvered in unfamiliar traditions, a different culture and religion, I am incredibly grateful to them.

27. Just a little bit left! We sit down again, we are put on garlands of jasmine, roses and artificial pearls.

28. Everyone gets prasadam— sweet pudding made from flour, butter and sugar. We fold our hands in a cup one into the other to take it.

29. All! We accept congratulations!

30. At 13.30, the guests moved to the next room for lunch, and I went into a separate room: my cousin, who was waiting for me, with an assistant, helped to drape the dupata scarf. Because of the embroidery, it is very heavy, and I wanted to feel comfortable. Here is the result. Next is Maggie, my cousin.

31. I go to the hall in the hope of eating, but there it was! Guests eat lunch and come up to congratulate the newlyweds. We sit on a special stage, accept gifts and congratulations, take pictures.

32. Guests replace each other, so almost 2 hours pass ... 15.00 Finally, you can eat! It is forbidden to drink alcohol and meat near the Holy Book, so the lunch is vegetarian, and the cocktails— fruit. I thought that the guests would be upset (how is it without champagne after the ceremony), but everything was so tasty and great that it didn’t hurt at all!

33. Time for traditional wedding game: whoever finds the ring in the bowl of milk first is the boss in the house! A lot of fun, because it covers the excitement, and even the guests are rooting for their own!

34. Searched three times, found together, that is, a draw!

35. We are on the 35th floor, the restaurant offers a panoramic view, so you can see the famous "Queen's Necklace": when the lights come on in the evening, the semicircle of the coast looks like a jewel.

36. 16.00 Guests go to rest, and we go to do a photo session. I want to visit the guests in the pool, because the temperature in Bombay in November is about 30 degrees, and the lenga outfit is very heavy because of the embroidery, about 9-10 kg!

37. Moreover, the view from the pool is like this:

38. 18.00 We return to the hotel, I'm tired of impressions and after hours in the heat I take off my lenga and fly. Let's go to sleep for at least an hour, because there is still a long evening ahead.

39. 20.00 Of course, we overslept and are late! We dress quickly and arrive at the restaurant, fortunately, it’s only five minutes to go!

40. It was decided to make the evening Russian, so much here is unusual for Indians. For example, wedding guests sit at tables. Indian weddings have thousands of guests, so cocktail tables and a row of chairs for the elderly are usually set up. All other guests eat standing up, congratulate the young and go to dance.

41. Second, champagne and toast,they are not accepted in Indian weddings. We asked the groom's side to prepare several speeches, everyone was very embarrassed and warned that they were performing at the wedding for the first time.

42. Thirdly, all sorts of videos: my wonderful guests have prepared several, and even on different languages! However, when the groom was asked to ride an elephant, it was too late to be embarrassed.

43. And finally, the exchange of rings: this is not a custom in the Sikh ceremony, so we did it in the evening.

44. And everything is familiar: cake.

45. And then dancing - our prepared.

46. And uh ..... improvisation from the guests.

47. 00.30 Bridal bouquet at the end.

48. Satisfied guest.

49. Half past two at night, one of the guests went to have fun further, and we run away to the hotel: soon we have a plane!

50. 4 am, late again! Tired, we stuffed everything into a suitcase, I left the lenga and, it seems to me, half of the property in Bombay, and we quickly flew off on our honeymoon trip!The last frame before I fell asleep after long day: transfer at the airport of Kerala (if you look closely, you can see that the indication is in three languages).

A wedding in India is not just a celebration of the union of the bride and groom legal marriage. This is a whole series of traditions and rituals that were born many millennia ago and have remained unchanged even in our modern world. A real Indian wedding consists of several ceremonies, and the first of them is the engagement.

During the engagement, the groom puts on the bride's finger wedding ring. According to tradition, this jewelry should be given to him by his mother, who once received the ring of her mother-in-law, and she - from her own. An engagement ring, passed down from generation to generation, can be several hundred years old. To receive just such a traditional ring is a great honor for the bride.

After the engagement ceremony comes the time of preparation for the wedding, which lasts from one to two months. The bride's parents diligently collect a dowry for their daughter: different saris for all occasions, jewelry, dishes. Two last days before the wedding, the girl spends at home, not having the right to go anywhere. Then comes the time of mindi - a kind of bachelorette party. In a special salon, the bride, her friends and relatives are tattooed with henna - "mehendi". The hands of the future wife should be painted to the elbow. On the right palm, according to tradition, the groom is symbolically depicted, on the left - the bride. The names of the future spouses are hidden among the bizarre patterns: it is believed that if the groom can find his name on the bride's palm on the wedding day, their marriage will be happy. In addition to the hands of the bride, according to tradition, the feet are also painted.

Sanjit - dinner on the eve of the wedding day - is characterized not only by the abundance of traditional Indian cuisine, but also by dancing. In the bride's family, a blessing ceremony is performed: she is dressed in a special costume, which, after reading the prayers, is burned. After this ceremony, the girl remains in her room until the morning without the possibility of communicating with men. The only exceptions are members of her family.

And then comes the day of the wedding. Girl puts on traditional outfit brides - festive sari.

In India, the sari is national women's clothing, which is a strip of fabric 1 m wide and up to 9 m long. One end of it is wrapped in two layers around the hips, and the second, upper one, is fixed on the belt of the petticoat and thrown over the shoulder. When going out, women usually throw it over their heads like a shawl. A blouse with short sleeves is worn under the sari.

Usually the bride's wedding dress is made of chiffon, brocade or red silk, but in the south of the country green is preferred on this day. A real sari takes several meters of fabric and a lot of jewelry - gold threads, beads, rhinestones, pendants. The total weight of the wedding dress can reach 12 kilograms.

The bride's hands are decorated with bracelets and rings. The bright red color of the bracelets indicates that the girl is getting married.

On the day of the wedding, the groom festive clothes, decorated with gold embroidery, with a red belt and in a bright turban, arrives on horseback. The mother of the bride meets him at the door. She drives away evil spirits from the future son-in-law and blesses him. To perform the marriage ceremony, a small temple is built, covered with an awning and decorated in the corners with palm trees and flowers. Standing on a flat stone, the groom waits for the bride to be carried out in a wooden palanquin. According to tradition, the porters go around the groom seven times, and then ask the young people to look into each other's eyes. Then the priest says a prayer, and the newlyweds exchange garlands of flowers. The groom applies red paint to the forehead and parting of his future wife. One end of the bride's sari is tied to the groom's sash, which symbolizes their union and affection for each other. After that, the young people, holding hands, must go around the fire burning in the center of the temple four times. Each circle is a symbol of one of the four foundations of the life path. The first Dharma is religion and righteous conduct, the second Arta is wealth and prosperity. Karma is a symbol of love and fulfillment of desires, Moksha is a union with the highest reality. The first three circles the groom leads the bride, the last - the groom's bride. Then they take the ritual seven steps together. Like the circles around the fire, each step has its own meaning, is a kind of oath.

The first is a promise to take care of each other. The second is a vow to grow with physical, mental and spiritual strength. The third is a promise to maintain wealth and prosperity. The fourth is an oath to serve in happiness and harmony. The fifth is child care. The sixth is a promise to be together in all matters and duties, and the seventh is an oath in eternal friendship and trust.

The celebration of the marriage ceremony is accompanied by songs and dances and lasts all night, and then the guests accompany the newlyweds to their husband's house, where gifts and blessings await the newlyweds. The next day, they arrange a reception for the wife's relatives - they accept gifts from them, they sit at the table and the wedding celebration continues.

The most popular time for celebrating weddings is February. At this time, India is in the midst of spring, it is already warm and dry, but the time has not yet come for the sweltering heat. Many couples try to get married this month.

wedding travel will help make your wedding bright and memorable. Have a wedding ceremony in India - an amazing and mysterious land of love, full of beautiful rituals and ancient traditions! floral wreaths and luxurious outfits, aromas of spices and sophistication of dishes national cuisine, folk songs and dancing will become an unforgettable part of the most important and responsible event in the life of lovers.

An Indian wedding is not just a solemn formality, it is a tribute to traditions, a union of destinies and the beginning of a new life. Luxury and wealth are an integral feature of these weddings. In this post, you will learn about rituals, wedding customs in India, as well as see the beauty that hovers around the ceremony.
First of all, it is worth understanding that indian weddings carry deep meaning. Hindus are convinced that the wedding ritual binds the bride and groom for the next seven lives, so you should approach it with all responsibility and hold the celebration at the highest level.

An Indian wedding usually takes place in three stages: pre-wedding ceremonies, wedding ceremony and post-wedding ceremonies. The wedding usually lasts 4-5 days.

The engagement ceremony (Tilak) is one of the first important events. Traditionally, it is organized a month before the wedding. Only men participate in it, since the Hindu society is patriarchal and especially reveres masculinity. The bride's father goes to the groom's house and informs him that the bride will be happy to accept him as her husband. Then he puts a red dot (Tilak from kumkum - red turmeric powder or saffron) on the groom's forehead, as a symbol of accepting him as a future son-in-law. Gifts are also presented to the groom, and he, in turn, gives gifts to the bride.

The bride's family invites all relatives who gather and dance, sing folk songs on the wedding theme to the sounds of dholak (wooden drum).

Bindi is a red dot applied to the bride's forehead as a sign that she is a married woman.

Sukhagin is one of the ceremonies that takes place in the bride's house. During this ceremony, prayers are offered to women who died before their husbands. These women are called sukhagin.

When a girl marries her husband, everyone wants her to be a sukhagin. Indeed, in India, the entire welfare of the husband is in the hands of the wife. The fact that a man is always joyful, healthy, satisfied with life should be taken care of by his wife. She cannot show any negative emotions in front of her husband that could darken his mood.

If the husband dies before the wife (especially if from illness), then the wife must remove all jewelry from herself, break them, put on a white sari and mourn for the rest of her days. As a rule, widows are treated very coolly, they avoid inviting them into society, and they social status- the lowest.

The Mehndi ceremony is an integral part of the pre-wedding ceremonies taking place in the bride's house. This ceremony involves the application of henna drawings to the body. It is believed that, having come to the groom's house, the bride should not work until the mehndi drawings are washed off on her body.

After this ceremony, the girl must not leave the house until the day of the wedding.

On the day of the wedding or the day before it, the Khaldi ceremony is obligatory. According to it, a paste of turmeric is applied to the face, hands and feet of the bride and groom to give it a glow.

Bride and groom outfit

The bride should pay great attention to the hairstyle. According to tradition, the hair should be collected and braided, decorated with jewels, flowers, oiled with fragrant oils. It is forbidden to appear in a public place with loose hair. This is only allowed for underage girls.

An important attribute is also Nath - a ring worn on the left nostril. It, like the red dot, and the red-colored parting of the bride are symbols of marriage.

Bracelets, earrings, heavy necklaces - all this is a tribute to tradition.

The traditional wedding dress of the bride is red, although blue, purple and green are also found ... Black and white are prohibited. Black speaks of impurity, and white - the colors of mourning.

The groom's wedding attire is usually spectacular as well. A long frock coat embroidered with gold threads, tight trousers, turned-toe shoes and a turban. It is believed that the bride and groom should be dressed in such a way as to dazzle everyone with their beauty. And they seem to be succeeding.

wedding ceremony

On the day of the wedding, the groom goes to the bride's house along with his procession, which is called Barat Nikasi. Traditionally, he has to ride a horse or an elephant, but now many people just get by with cars.

At the house, he is met by the mother of the bride, and then he follows to the venue wedding ceremony, where he expects the appearance of his chosen one.

This moment is the key and each family tries to make it as effective as possible.

Of course, the bride looks amazing! Now you know how much preparation is needed for this.

Of course, traditions are traditions - but people are people :) Indian bride and groom get tired during all this mess no worse than our Russians)

When the bride appears, she carries a garland of flowers in her hands. Young people exchange garlands, which is the recognition of the husband's wife and vice versa.

Marriage is sacred and should not be dissolved, for which the ends of the bride's clothes are tied into knots, which she must not untie after the wedding.

Another traditional rite- This is Laja Khoma. The bride's brother pours rice grains into her palm. Half of them are poured into the palms of the groom. The bride pours grain into the fire, thus asking the god of death to grant her husband a long and happy life.

The culmination of the rite is the circumambulation of the sacred fire clockwise three times.

The final ritual of an Indian marriage is the application by the groom to the bride's parting of red cinnabar powder. So he accepts her as his wife.

And then the grand feast begins. Newlyweds feed each other sweets, which symbolizes their care for each other. By the way, dishes at Indian weddings look simply luxurious.

Then the bride says goodbye to her home and family and goes to her husband's house.

Arriving at her husband's house, the bride meets her mother-in-law. At the entrance, the bride should step into a tray with red paint and leave red marks on the white cloth - for good luck :)

These are the beautiful wedding traditions that exist in India.

India is one of the most ancient countries peace. It still respects the most ancient traditions. One of them is the wedding ceremony in India, famous for its splendor and beauty. Everything here is the same as it was many years ago. All the same marriages on the slander of parents. Nothing changed. Almost nothing depends on the desire of the young. This is especially true for girls, they can generally be ordered to marry a complete stranger, and they have no right to disobey. Therefore, an Indian wedding is called an "arranged marriage." We have seen a vivid manifestation of this many times in bright and colorful Indian films.

In India, this is a big religious process in which the gods are praised. This is a kind of sacrifice. And those who have not entered into the sacred bonds of marriage are called "without sacrifice." This is very contemptuous for any Indian.

The groom's parents, before deciding on the choice of a suitable bride for their son, compare their horoscopes, if the result is favorable, then an agreement takes place and both sides of the union exchange gifts. Usually, a few months before the wedding, the parents of the bride have difficult times. After all, they need to collect a dowry: saris for all occasions, kitchen utensils, etc. In general, many begin to collect dowry from the moment they find out that a girl was born in the family. A wedding in India is a very expensive event, to which 700-800 people are invited, and among them there are even strangers. It all depends on the financial capabilities of the bride's parents, because the cost of the wedding falls entirely on them.

The bride and groom cannot eat until the celebration itself. At the very gates of the house meets the groom younger brother bride, he kisses the future then, as a sign of peace between them, washes his feet. In the groom's house, his relatives organize dances and sing songs. After this, the obligatory ritual of praise is performed. yellow color. For Indians, it symbolizes loyalty and is associated with the color of the sun. Further, the groom's father lists the names of the deceased relatives, thus, he calls on them to be witnesses, saying that their descendant is united by marriage. After that, everyone goes to the bride's house, where this ceremony is repeated.

The marriage ceremony takes place in a specially built small temple and only in the bride's house. The groom stands on a flat stone, waiting for the bride to be carried out in a wooden palanquin - in a beautiful, rich, most often red sari. The bride is all in jewelry and gold. Especially popular with Indian girls are nose ornaments called Nat. traditions and a symbol of marriage among women. Another is seven circles of honor around the groom before the newlyweds look into each other's eyes. This rite is called "shubho drishti" - translated as the first sight. After that, one end of the bride's sari is tied to the groom's sash - this symbolizes their strong attachment to each other. The newlyweds sit down near the fire and, holding hands, they make seven circles around it. "Fire witness" - so say the Indians. The fire is their main holiness, and if the young have not passed seven circles around it, the marriage is not considered valid.

Then the wedding procession moves to the temple, where the newlyweds take a sacred oath, which turns out to be very similar to the European one. After these words, the hands of the young are connected with a garland of flowers. At this time, the groom applies red paint to the parting and forehead of the bride, after which they become husband and wife. Then the celebration is transferred to the room, where the real fun begins with dances and songs. An Indian wedding is a real colorful show and it lasts all night. The next morning, the guests leave the house of the newly-made wife, taking her with them to the groom's house. There they are waiting for gifts and blessings, then everyone rests. And the next day, the wife's relatives gather to continue the fun. In general, an Indian wedding can be celebrated for a very long time, but this is optional.

The Indian wedding is charming with its legend of the perfect couple in every way. There were such husband and wife who lived a happy life in marriage, not one of them looked at anyone else in his whole life. Their life was full of love and understanding. This legend is the ideal for all Indians to which they always aspire.

With the wedding rites of India are distinguished by a clear traditional character - this means that they have remained almost the same as they were millennia ago. I will immediately emphasize the essential thing in which Indian marriage differs from all others. In other countries, usually a young man chooses a girl, and the reverse situation is often encountered. In India, marriage is completely dependent on the decision of the groom's parents. They are looking for a suitable bride for their son and negotiate with her parents about the future. marriage union. Little depends on the girl: in the end, her parents can simply order her to marry even an unfamiliar young man, and she is obliged to obey. That is why the Indian matrimonial system is called "arranged marriage".

After an agreement between the parents, two meetings of the future cell of society are organized, which is called "ashir-wad" or "blessing". The first meeting takes place in the bride's house, the second - in the groom's house. During these meetings, young people receive gifts from future relatives and give gifts to each other.

Of course, times are changing, and more and more marriages in India are made for love, but only residents of large cities are so advanced in these matters, while the rest of India lives the old fashioned way.

The happiness of young people is also strongly influenced by their belonging to one or another caste. Let me remind you that in India there were 4 main castes - Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders, cattle breeders and farmers) and Shudras (servants and laborers). Naturally, marriage can only be entered into among families in one's own caste. If the family young man passed him off as a girl from a lower caste, then the prestige of the family was reduced to the caste of the bride's family. In modern India, the caste system has officially been abolished, but in reality it is not. Belonging to a particular caste is easy to determine (easy, of course, for an Indian, not for us).

But, there is some progress ... you can even find such ads in newspapers, in the dating section:
“Professional educated male 79/5’7″ CA/CPA/MBA working in the USA is looking for an educated female. Caste doesn't matter."

But, along with such bold statements, there are also such:
“A 30-year-old Sikh in a turban (!), with a separate house and an income of 50,000 rupees”

On the day of the wedding, the bride and groom are not allowed to eat anything until the beginning of the marriage ceremony. In the groom's house, girls from among relatives perform wedding dances and songs. Then a small but important ritual called "gaye holud" - a rite of praise for the yellow color, which the Indians associate with the color of the sun and serves as a symbol of fidelity. The ceremony "gaye holud" is very similar to the festival of colors "holi", with the only difference being that there is only one color - yellow. First, all those present paint their foreheads, and then sprinkle each other with yellow powder.

After “gaye holud”, the groom’s father in a solemn voice lists the names of the deceased relatives of this family, as if calling them to witness and informing the spirits of their ancestors that their descendant is getting married. Then all participants of the ceremony go to the bride's house, where the gaye holud ceremony is repeated.

Suits for the bride and groom
Traditional Indian wedding dresses are the most exquisite and colorful wedding dresses in the world. The red color of the dress is generally accepted in all areas of India, however, modern fashionistas other colors began to be used. Indian Wedding Dresses very different from traditional western outfits. The bride on her wedding day should literally sparkle - this is the effect that they try to achieve with rich embroidery, embellishments and the use of reflective fabrics for the dress - satin, silk or chiffon.

India is a large country and style from region to region wedding dress changes a little, but the types of wedding attire remain unchanged:

Sari - traditional Indian clothing - piece long fabric wrapped in a special way around the body.
. gagra choli - a traditional North Indian outfit consisting of a floor-length skirt (lahenga), a blouse with short / long sleeves and long scarf thrown over the shoulder.
. salwar (shalwar) kameez - appeared in India during the Mongol conquests, but, unlike the Mongols, remained forever. This is extremely comfortable clothes"for every day", consisting of trousers and an elongated blouse.

Why red and shades of red? Red is the color of good luck, it will bring a lot of happiness to the future family.

The bride and groom, personifying beauty and elegance, are dressed in luxurious clothes so that the eyes of the guests are fixed on happy couple. Mandatory 16 elements of the bride's wedding wardrobe, called Solah Shringar are:

wedding dress. According to tradition, the wedding dress of the bride is sari, lenga choli (lehenga) or salwar kameez. However, the wedding attire may correspond to the clothes worn in a certain region of India. The classic Indian, Vedic wedding dress of the bride should be red, although others are sometimes found, for example, purple, burgundy, orange, golden, in Maharashtra - green. The bride’s wedding attire among the ancient Slavs was also red, and the old expression “beautiful maiden”, which came to us from ancient times, means the following: innocent, pure, modest, beautiful, like a bride dressed in red.

Black and white colors are prohibited, because. black is considered a symbol of ignorance, impurity, darkness, and white has been considered the color of widowhood and mourning by Indian women since Vedic times. By the way, it is worth noting that in ancient times, white was also considered a mourning color for all Indo-European peoples, for example, the Slavs. Black appeared with the advent of Christianity, which borrowed it, as well as the tradition of hanging mirrors in the house of the deceased, from Judaism. In the XVI century. Queen Anne of England established the tradition of wearing black as a sign of mourning. Since then, in many countries of the world, widows wear black dresses.

Keshapasharachana. To make great wedding hairstyle (keshapasarachanu), it is necessary to smear the bride's hair with fragrant oils, decorate them with flower garlands and jewelry. A traditional wedding hairstyle is a braid decorated with flower garlands. Long hair braided in a braid - the most important detail the appearance of an Indian woman, preserved from Vedic times. According to Vedic traditions, a pious woman should have long hair, braided into a braid. A woman can unbraid her hair in the following cases: a) during periods intimacy with a spouse; b) while performing ablution.
Loose hair is also allowed in girls who have not reached puberty.

The appearance, as they say, "in public" in a public place with loose hair was considered the greatest sin and shame. Only hetaeras (courtesans), harlots and slaves were allowed to wear loose hair. The Old Slavic (Old Russian) expressions "slutty" and "libertine" indicate to us that ancient Vedic traditions were once adhered to in Rus'.

Kajal or anjana- black eyeliner, makes the look of the bride attractive and mysterious.

Bindi- a red dot on the forehead, which is a sacred symbol of a married woman. Sometimes bindi complemented by small white dots or graceful patterns around the eyebrows.

Sindur - parting of the bride, dyed red during the wedding ceremony.

Mangtika - jewelry on the parting.

Nath - a nose ring worn in the left nostril. Like bindi and sinduru, it (worn in the left nostril) is the symbol of a married woman.

Karn Phul - unusually beautiful wedding earrings, usually inlaid in abundance precious stones, which is why they are quite heavy.

Haar - wedding necklace, traditionally made of gold and adorned with precious stones, having various options depending on the region. In many families haar is inherited.

Bajubankh(baajuband) - bracelets that are worn on the hands above the elbow.

mehndi- patterns applied with henna on the hands and feet.

Chudiyan- bracelets worn on the wrist, usually red.

Itard - aroma oils.

Kamarband (cummerbund) - an elegant gold or silver belt inlaid with stones, which is worn on the lower back to support the wedding attire.

Payal- silver anklets with many small bells that emit a gentle melodic ringing in time with the gait.

Aarsi- a large elegant ring-mirror, which is worn on thumb hands.

In addition to the dress, there are obligatory jewelry that complete the image of the bride and carry additional symbolism - these are necklaces, glass bracelets on both hands, silver bracelets on the legs, rings on both hands, rings on the toes, earrings, an earring in the nose with a chain to ear and special decorations for hair - there are not many decorations in India. Such an abundance is the norm for an Indian bride, who, as I said, should shine in the truest sense of the word. Whatever it is, both the bride and groom are abundantly sprinkled with garlands of flowers from above.

There is another decoration, the mangal-sutra (waist necklace), which the groom ties to the bride around the neck during the ceremony - this decoration symbolizes that a man gives himself under the magical protection of a woman (after all, it is a woman who is able to provide prosperity and good luck to her husband). The necklace consists of beads or black beads and a gold insert.

An integral part of the bride's decoration is also mehndi (mehendi) - a short-term henna tattoo. These tattoos are applied to the bride, her friends and female relatives during pre-wedding celebrations. Mendi in India is applied only during major celebrations - Diwali (festival of Lights), weddings, engagements.

Mehndi or henna comes in various shades and colors, ranging from reddish and orange to brown-black. Other colors are also available by mixing the colors and adding them to the henna.

The more refined and intricate the mehndi pattern, the happier you will be. future life young family. Most often, symbols of fertility and religious motifs interspersed in the patterns, and you can also encrypt the name of your lover.

The groom's wedding attire, as well as the bride's attire, is beautiful and elegant. Traditionally it consists of shervani(a long frock coat fastened to the collar) of various colors, embroidered with gold threads, and churidars(tight pants). In addition to the costume, they wear traditional, beaded shoes with curved toes, called juti, and also a magnificent turban, called pagdi (pagri) or safa. In Punjab, the groom's face is covered with pendants made of beads or flowers, which are called sehra. Dressed in the rich wedding clothes the bride and groom, like the god and goddess, dazzle with their beauty.

Most of the inhabitants of India share the beliefs of Hinduism and practice traditional rituals that have existed since the birth of the religion. One of these rituals is the wedding ceremony. Indian weddings are well-thought-out elegant holidays lasting from three days to several weeks (depending on the wealth of the families and the talent of the brahmin leading the ceremony). Moreover, certain rituals are performed every day, varying somewhat from region to region and containing from eight to eighteen basic steps. Modern rapidly developing India, unfortunately, no longer has enough time to follow all the numerous wedding traditions, but all the most important, nevertheless, has remained unchanged.

First of all, this concerns the design of the wedding, because the wedding decorations should match the brilliant bride and groom. Traditional Indian wedding colors are red and gold. Red, as I mentioned, brings good luck, and gold or yellow is a symbol of the sun and fidelity.

Of the flowers for decoration, orchids, carnations, small roses, lilies are most often used - all this is woven into garlands. Moreover, the use of artificial and natural flowers together is considered the norm. In the decor, carpets, tapestries, candles and incense are used along with flowers. Usually not spent on decorating the place of celebration. less funds than on the attire of the newlyweds themselves and their close relatives, since a wedding is also a public union of two families.

The scenario of the wedding day and pre-wedding celebrations varies from state to state, so the list below is just one of the many options for celebrating in India.

Sagaai (engagement)
Sagaai - betrothal ceremony: the bride comes to the groom's house with a special offering - matli, which brings good luck. Usually this is some kind of box with sweets and gifts for the groom and his family. This ritual symbolizes the acceptance by the bride's family of the union of their daughter and her future husband. Then there is a small ceremony where five women from each family bless the future couple.

Garba (pre-ceremony party, bachelor party)
Garba is a dance party held on the eve of the ceremony. Garba - a great opportunity relatives of the future newlyweds to meet and have a good time on the eve of the ceremony.

Pithi (Yellow color ceremony)
Yellow in India symbolizes fidelity, and it would be simply ridiculous not to praise it before the ceremony ... which is done in the house of the bride and groom, where their relatives and friends gather. They put yellow paint on the forehead of the newlyweds, thus cleansing the newlyweds before the ceremony, and sprinkle each other with yellow paint.

Mehndi (bride decoration, bachelorette party)
The day before the ceremony, her close friends and family members gather at the bride's house, her feet and hands are painted with henna, after which they are dressed in a wedding dress while singing wedding songs and vedas.

Mandap Mahurat
This is a typical ritual held on the eve of any important event in the life of the family - Pandit conducts rituals in the house of the bride and groom, during which families pray to Ganesh and seek his blessing.

Griha Shanti (Peace to your home!)
This is a ceremony of studying the horoscopes of future newlyweds and choosing the most auspicious date and the time of the ceremony. The ceremony is performed by the Pandit for the bride, her relatives and the groom's family members. Happiness and peace in the family depend on the choice of a favorable date.

Actually, the wedding is played, as a rule, in the evening - and always in the bride's house, where the groom arrives at the appointed hour, accompanied by relatives and friends. By this time, a small temple, specially built for the ceremony, is already ready. It is covered with an awning, decorated at the corners with four palm trees, and decorated with many fragrant flowers, mostly yellow. The groom gets on flat stone and waits for a few people to carry out the bride in a wooden palanquin - in a rich, usually bright red sari, with many decorations. Seven times the porters go around the groom, and then, stopping, ask the young people to look into each other's eyes. This look is called "shubho drishti" - the very first look.

Baraat (Wedding cortege)
The groom arrives at the ceremony venue with his friends and family members. Many use horses or special carts as transport. The arrival of the groom is accompanied by noisy celebrations and dances. Traditionally, the people of Gujart choose their brides from other cities or villages, so on the day of the ceremony, the groom's wedding cortege arrives at the bride's village.

Ponkvu (Arrival of the Groom, Beginning of the Ceremony)
The groom's arrival is considered the official start of the ceremony. The groom is greeted by his mother-in-law, trying to perform a symbolic ritual - to grab the groom by the nose, which should remind him that it was he who knocked on their door to ask for the hand of their daughter.

Jaimala (Flower Garland Exchange)
After the Ponkvu ceremony, the bride appears and she and the groom put flower garlands around each other's necks. Traditionally, during this ceremony, the groom is higher than the bride, usually the groom's friends take care of this, thereby showing that the bride cannot "pick up" the groom from the family and friends.

Madhuparka (The bride's family receives the groom)
The mother-in-law brings the groom to the Mandap - a special canopy or tent for the newlyweds, where the most important ceremony of the evening takes place. The traditional fire burns in the mandapa and sacred prayers are said. Second no less important element the wedding is served by Shamiana - a cloth tent for guests, where they are treated while waiting for the bride and groom. In the mandapa, the bride's brother washes the groom's feet, thereby "accepting" him into the family, while the bride's sister tries to "steal" his shoes. Indeed, according to tradition, the groom must leave his wedding in the same shoes in which he came to her, and if the shoes are “stolen”, they must be “redeemed” from his daughter-in-law.

Kanya Agamana (Entrance of the bride)
The bride is brought to the mandap by her maternal uncle. Before the ceremony begins, a special curtain (antarpaat) is pulled between the bride and groom, separating them from each other. The guru begins the ceremony, the curtain falls and the couple can exchange garlands. The ceremony is held in front of a sacred fire.

Kanya Daan (Bride handover)
The ceremony of handing over the bride by her parents to the groom - the bride's hand is placed in the groom's hand. The bride's parents do not eat anything before the ceremony, thereby purifying themselves. It is believed that at the wedding, parents give their daughter, Goddess Lakshmi, to the groom - God Vishnu.

Hasta Milap (Union of two souls)
The groom's scarf is tied to the bride's sari, symbolizing the union of two souls. The Guru says prayers invoking Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati. The couple's relatives unite, sprinkling rice and petals on the young.

Varmala
The necks of the newlyweds are tied with a cord in order to protect them from evil. This is done by older relatives of the newlyweds.

Mangal Pheras
The newlyweds go around the sacred fire 4 times, symbolizing the main human goals in life - Dharma (morality, righteousness), Artha (wealth, material well-being), Kama (joy, spiritual satisfaction) and Moksha (liberation, eternal bliss). At this time, the Guru says a prayer and the groom repeats after him. It's funny that after 4 laps, the young people are in a hurry to take their places, because there is such a sign that the one who first sits in his place will manage the house.

Saptapadi (Seven Ritual Steps)
The groom helps the bride to take the seven ritual steps (touch thumb right foot of the seven "steps"), while they pronounce the seven oaths. Each step is also accompanied by a prayer that the groom says.

1. With the first step, the couple asks the gods for a clean, comfortable and noble life.
2. With the second step, they pray for the physical and mental health and ask for a healthy and peaceful life.
3. The third step is asking for spiritual strength to fulfill spiritual obligations.
4. In the fourth step, they ask for happiness and harmony, which can be achieved through mutual love, trust and long life together.
5. The fifth step is done with a prayer for the welfare of all living relatives and for the birth of noble children.
6. The sixth step is a promise to be together and go through all the joys and hardships together.
7. During the last seventh step, they pray for life in general, asking for mutual understanding, respect, unity, not only for themselves, but for the whole world.

Sindoor Daan
Next is the turn of the Sindhur Daan ritual. Sindhur is a red powder with which the groom applies a strip on the bride's parting. This red stripe in the hair, as well as the dot in the middle of the forehead, speaks of the woman's married status.

Saubhagyavati Bhava
Seven married women on the bride's side walk past the couple and whisper blessings into the bride's right ear.

Ashirwaad
The wedding traditionally ends with the young family asking for blessings from the elders.

Vidaai
The departure ceremony of a newly married couple is often accompanied by tears of joy and sadness.

Ghar Nu Laxmi
When the couple arrives at the groom's house, the bride is greeted as Goddess Lakshmi, who brings good luck in new house. The mother-in-law (mother of the groom) places a bowl of rice at the entrance to the house. If the bride spills rice, touching it with her right foot, then this is to wealth. Thus, the bride accepts her duties in her new home.

Aeki Beki
The game, the meaning of which is to find the ring, which is placed in a tray with water, red powder, milk and a few coins. It is believed that the one who finds the ring four out of seven times will be the head of the house and will manage the household. The day ends with prayers asking for the happiness and love of the young.

The entire wedding procession then moves to the place where the priest, after saying a prayer and listening to the oath of the young, will join the hands of the newlyweds with a garland of flowers. The groom at this moment will apply red paint to the forehead and parting of his bride: now they are already husband and wife. Then everyone goes to celebrate in a room called “bozargan”, where a whole performance is arranged with dances and songs. The fun lasts all night, and in the morning the guests leave the house of the young wife, taking her to her husband's house, where gifts and blessings await the young. On this day, no ceremonies take place: everyone rests. And only the next day, in the husband's house, the wife's relatives are received with gifts, they arrange dinner and entertainment for them.

The groom is led into a pandal and seated near a bowl of rice. The bride appears, accompanied by her mother, relatives and friends. The groom gets up, to the sounds of a wedding tune, the bride slowly puts a flower garland around his neck and receives the same one from her future husband. Then the young people exchange rings, and the groom gives the bride a gold chain, which she will wear from now on until the end of her days.

Women in the south don't dye their partings and don't put the sign of marriage on their foreheads. For them, this sign is a gold chain. Taking it off is a bad omen.

In the evening, the young are taken to the room reserved for them, where the Husband is given a glass of milk and left alone, and the young wife is taken to the guests. Begins festive dinner. after which all the guests from the groom's side go home, and the bride returns to her husband's room. The next morning, he takes her on a honeymoon trip.

And now about the cheapest wedding in the world, which costs 1 rupee and 25 paise (about 16 kopecks). Nandhari tribe lives in the very north of the country. The wedding here is celebrated exceptionally simply, even ascetically. Dowries, gifts, any demonstration of wealth, boasting of wealth are strictly prohibited. Nandharis do not have single weddings. Several times a year, collective celebrations are held, in which 30-50 couples of newlyweds take part.

Often this happens near small villages, and in order to accommodate all the numerous relatives and just guests, the residents build a whole town of tents and huts. The wedding ritual begins early in the morning under open sky. Brides and grooms are dressed in white from head to toe. Jewelry girls are only allowed to wear a garland of white flowers around their necks. The grooms come out first. They solemnly sit down on mats made of rice straw. Then the brides approach, of course, each to her betrothed. However, it also happens that a girl does not remember or is not sure whether this is her chosen one, and then a miracle of technology comes to the rescue - photography. (Poor girls who got married before the invention of the photo!) The brides put white garlands on the grooms and sit down on left side from their future husbands. At the same time, it is impossible to determine the degree of security of the bride - everyone is equal.

The clergyman approaches the couples in turn and pours "holy" water into a handful of each bride and groom. Young people should immediately drink it. Then the priest kindles the fire and says prayers, adding oil from time to time - he does this with a special spoon made in the form of a small shuttle.

Then all the couples rise and the grooms tie the ends of their sashes to the ends of the brides' scarves. In this knot, the groom is obliged to invest the wedding fee - so to speak, the wedding fee. According to tradition, it is equal to 1 rupee 25 paise. True, it is allowed to increase it to 13 rupees, but not a paisa more, otherwise it will be regarded as reprehensible waste. Having connected, the couples form a circle and begin to slowly move around the fire. They must make five full circles, after which the priest will bless the young. He calls on God to send mercy to the newlyweds and wishes them a long and happy married life.

Then all the couples go to their places, sit down in the same order as at the beginning of the ceremony, and the priest goes around them, untying the ends of the scarves and taking out the hidden money. All the money collected is transferred to the main managers, they buy food for the ceremony participants and guests. Usually the dinner is extremely modest, consisting of sweets and fruits.

At the end of the wedding, the bride goes to her husband's house, carrying neither dowry nor gifts. She must live in this house for at least a week, and only then will she be allowed to pay a visit to her parents.

In India there is beautiful legend about a husband and wife who were the perfect couple in every way:

neither he nor she had ever looked at anyone else in their lives. The couple lived together and happily and died on the same day. On the same evening, not far from the North Star, rose new star Anadurata - in honor of the happy married couple. It is this star that the groom shows to his bride on the wedding day, as if urging her to follow the example of those happy lovers.

Here is a brief outline of several wedding ceremonies in their traditional form. Of course, in fact there are a lot of them, various rituals can be found within the same state, and within the city, and even within the community, but it is important to note the common thing that is inherent in absolutely all Indian weddings. First of all, it is fire, personifying the presence of God himself: all oaths of piety are given with him. Another feature is multiplicity. At any wedding, no matter how poor it may be, a huge number of people are invited.

And a few more words about decorations. Jewelry is not so much a sign of luxury as an important tribute to symbolism. For such a solemn event as a wedding, a certain amount is usually prepared. special products which are given to both the bride and the groom. For example, a marriage necklace is made for the bride - "thali", or "mangel-sutra", which during the wedding ceremony the groom puts on the narrowed neck. From now on, a woman will wear a "waist" all her life (unless she becomes a widow). The handing of the bracelet in many parts of the country is associated with the entry into kinship, brotherly and sisterly relations.

The Indian family is numerous. It often consists of parents, their married sons with wives and children, unmarried sons and unmarried daughters - sometimes up to sixty people live in the house. The tradition gives the daughter-in-law to the full power of the mother-in-law, and if a girl marries the youngest in the family, then the power of the older daughters-in-law also applies to her. Only restraint brought up from childhood helps the mother-in-law to suppress jealous hostility towards her son's wife and not offend her very much.

Men give their parents all their earnings, and the mistress of the house determines what and how the money should be spent. If the mother-in-law does not pamper the daughter-in-law with gifts, the latter should make do with those things that she brought from her home or received as a gift for the wedding. If the mother-in-law does not consider it necessary to involve the daughter-in-law in discussing the family budget, in raising and educating children and solving other problems, the daughter-in-law will live as an unpaid servant, spending her days at the hearth, children's bed, doing laundry, washing dishes, completely deprived of the right to vote. If the husband's relatives find it necessary to send the children to some relatives, they will send them away. If they find it necessary to take a second wife for their husband, they will.

Fortunately, difficult relationships in an Indian family are the exception rather than the rule. Meek, hardworking, patient daughters-in-law, especially those who "managed" to give birth to a son, fit into the family circle quite quickly. A step below are those who give birth to girls. But since it is customary in India to have many children, both boys and girls appear over the years, and the mother woman occupies a strong place in the family.

Children in families grow up in an atmosphere of goodwill. The first words they hear call for good attitude to all living things. "Do not crush an ant, do not hit a dog, a goat, a calf, do not step on a lizard, do not throw stones at birds, do not destroy nests, do not harm anyone" - these rules are accepted over time new form: "Do not offend the younger and weak, respect the elders, do not raise an immodest look at the girl, do not offend the woman with an unclean thought, be faithful to the family, be kind to children."

Indians are characterized by naturalness - here you will not see in family circle defiant behavior, coquetry. A woman to such an extent firmly closes the ring of her inner world around her husband, his life, his interests, that for her all other men simply cease to exist.

Foreigners who do not know India and its people very well are often surprised by the “non-contact” of local women, who seem to be completely unresponsive to the presence unknown men. They like to dress beautifully - for their husband. They care for their skin, clean their hair, make their eyelids black, paint a parting in their hair with red paint, put on jewelry - for their husband. Learn to sing and dance - for the husband. And if the husband is alive and well, if he is devoted to the family - and this is a rule, exceptions to which are very rare - the woman is happy, she does not want anything else.

With all the difference wedding ceremonies in different states and parts of the country there is something in common. Very similar everywhere are the words of the solemn oath that a young man and a girl pronounce when entering into marriage:

"We swear to be together in sorrow and happiness - until the day when death separates us..."

In principle, all Indian weddings in wealthy families are very expensive. They cost from five thousand to twenty thousand rupees, depending on the financial situation of the parents. But in the state of Punjab, a wedding is a particularly expensive undertaking: firstly, a large dowry is due to the bride, and secondly, the parents of the young try to outdo each other and show off their generosity and wealth.

Usually, one or two very busy months pass between the engagement, during which the groom puts the wedding ring on the bride's finger, and the wedding. These days, the bride's parents collect their daughter's dowry:

a lot of saris for all occasions, other clothes, jewelry, kitchen utensils ... Two days before the wedding, the bride does not go anywhere. Her house is decorated with foil, garlands of flowers and multi-colored light bulbs.

Finally, the day of the wedding arrives, which gathers up to 700-800 guests. The bride's parents must provide them with food and lodging. The bride is dressed in a bright red sari, and she always has bright red bracelets on her hands, which means that the girl is getting married. She will wear these bracelets for at least another month after the wedding.

In the evening, the bride is taken to the open area in front of the house, where she patiently waits for the arrival of the groom. Punjabi girls are considered very modest and shy. This is emphasized by the fact that the bride's face is half covered with a sari. Finally, the bridegroom arrives on horseback - his clothes are embroidered with gold embroidery, he is girded with a fiery sash, a bright turban is on his head. Behind, a friend is galloping on a decorated horse - a "little groom" in the same outfit.

This procession is usually accompanied by musicians. Since the guests have fun, sing and dance right on the road, it is clear to all passers-by without explanation what is happening on this street. Having met the groom at the gate, the bride's parents take him to the newlywed, and the young people exchange garlands of flowers - this, in fact, means a wedding.

After dinner, the young people are taken to the "vedi" - a small temple built from five bamboo sticks covered with an awning. A fire burns in its center. One end of the bride's sari is tied to the groom's sash, which should mean their union and affection for each other. Young people are planted near the fire. Then the young people should rise, join hands and go around the fire seven times.

Now they are married. Upon returning to the bride's house young husband with jokes and jokes put to sleep in private room while the wife stays in her girlish bedroom. The husband's relatives go to spend the night at their home. In the morning the young wife is all the same wedding dress take her to her husband's house. Now the young wife will come to visit her parents' house only in a month - she will pay her "first visit".

In many parts of South India, there is no betrothal ceremony. The parents of the bride and groom are in no hurry to announce the wedding day, but first of all they study the horoscopes of the young. Only in the event that the stellar destinies coincide, the bride's parents invite future in-laws to the bride.

Finally, the preparations begin. Four days before the wedding, all the relatives of the bride come together. In the courtyard of her house, a special canopy is erected - a pandal, decorated with flowers, garlands of coconuts and bananas, and multi-colored lights.

In the center of the pandal, a large bowl is set, filled to the brim with rice, on top of which lies a coconut palm flower - all together this symbolizes happiness. Fires are lit around the bowl. However, the ceremony does not begin in the pandal, but in the temple, only the bride is present at it, the groom's turn has not yet reached. At half past six in the morning, a girl dressed in a wedding sari is taken to the temple. There, the bride throws four coconuts on the floor, gives alms to the poor, and then returns home.

The groom is met only by the father and uncle of the bride. No woman from the house should get in the way of her future husband. At the very gates of the groom, the younger brother of the bride meets him, washes his feet and kisses him. This means that the future son-in-law and brother-in-law intermarried.