Sweets, eggs, and money are woven into to wedding themes of India. They symbolize, respectively, a sweet life, fertility, and prosperity. The Hindu wedding ceremony also includes customary rituals to ward off evil spirits. After the wedding vows have been exchanged, the groom's father or brother showers flower petals on the newlyweds, then he holds a
coconut over the bride and groom's heads and circles it around them three times. An Indian groom often wears a turban with a veil of flowers streaming down in front of his face to protect him from evil spirits. Traditional Indian brides wear pink and red saris on their wedding day, adorning themselves extravagantly with as much jewelry as possible. Henna staining, a customary art form, is still practiced by many Indian brides-to-be. On the eve of her wedding vows, following a traditional ceremonial cleansing, the bride-to-be will have her hands and feet painted with henna, in beautiful paisley or medallion patterns. Then a special wedding gift is given to the bride, a necklace signifying her married status. Another
ritual, which is found in almost every community, is when the groom brings home his new bride, the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a 'shagun' before they let him in. This is a fun filled and well-enjoyed ritual. These are some of the light-hearted customs in an Indian wedding which makes it exciting and enjoying. These fun memories are cherished for the years to come, and should be captured by some of our expert photographers and videographers. |