The Beauty And Importance of Indian Wedding Traditions – Wedamor
The reason I love Indian weddings is because of their traditions. They aren’t called the Big Fat Indian Wedding for no reason. They are a grand affair of having splendid celebrations that have music, people dancing to good music, colorful rituals and shining outfits. Every religion and every region has different customs and different traditions.
Traditions are of utter importance here. Parents start planning their kids’ wedding from the day they’re born. The girls are brought up with the idea that someday she’ll have to leave her home and move to a different world altogether. She is taught all sorts of things to be done at her new home.
Every girl wants her wedding day to be special. It shouldn’t be anything less than a fairy tale so that she can cherish it for the rest of her life. For her, it is a completely new journey embarking the beginning of excitement and love.
The parents are content yet tense at the same time. Their dream of finally wedding their children is coming true yet they have to be on their toes to ensure that every detail is prim and prime. The arrangements at the girl’s end are slightly heavier as they are the hosts at the wedding.
The diversity in Indian wedding traditions is profound. Although they vary with respect to the state and regions, it adds more fun and flavor to the wedding rituals. Weddings are vibrant and immersed in grandeur. Preparations and celebrations start days and months before the actual wedding day.
Even the groom’s welcome also varies with regions and cultures. For instance, there’s a village in Uttar Pradesh called Sarsaul where the guests are welcomed with tomatoes instead of flowers. It is due to the belief that a bad beginning of a relationship leads to happiness and love.
The bride’s family anticipates the groom’s arrival and when he arrives, he receives a grand welcome. They apply tilak on his forehead and he is welcomed after the bride’s mother is done with his aarti. In Marwadi families, at the entrance, there is a shrine of 7 birds and Lord Ganesha. The groom has to touch that with a stick before entering.
Some regional wedding rituals are similar to each other yet quite different. For instance, in Kashmir, there are a ritual call Wanwun which is basically a musical night competition between the two families that takes place a few days before the wedding. Similarly, in Bengal, there is a ritual call Bashor which is again a musical night competition between the two families but it takes place on the day of the wedding.
Some of the wedding rituals are often challenging to the brides. Like, in Bihar, when the bride comes to her new home after marriage, she is asked to carry an earthen pot on her head. The groom’s family will keep on adding earthen pots until she finally gives up. This ritual is basically to check her endurance.
Every ritual aims at bringing the bride and the groom closer to each other. Like, in Manipur, the bride and the groom release fish in the pond to drive away evil forces.
The list of the regional rituals is endless but every ritual has a meaning behind it. It is these rituals that fill the color in the wedding. This defines the beauty of traditions in India. India is rich in diverse traditions and rituals. It is these traditions and customs that make the Big Fat Indian Wedding one of a kind!
You can also check out this article on the importance of getting a pre-wedding shoot.