A Traditional Indian Wedding
Gold and Red -
Fortune and Happiness
Text: Johanna Kaestner
Photography:
In Hindi, the word "Ritu"
means seasons. In searching for a wedding location, Ritu sought a venue
where she and Ajit could have an elegant and private outdoor ceremony,
to celebrate the changing season from summer to fall. In the grandness
of Kohl Mansion, she found everything she was looking for. It epitomized
Ritu and Ajit's wedding dreams: the feeling of home, along with the
grand extravagance and opulence of Indian weddings.
Ritu and Ajit's wedding date, August 28, 2005, was an auspicious date
for Hindus. This year, it was the day after Janamashtmi, the celebration
of the birth of Krisnha, a Hindu god. There couldn't have been a
better-chosen day, and, with the warm sunshine of this perfect late
summer day, they felt it was truly a day made for them.
The wedding was planned by the bride's family and encompassed so much
that it will be published in two excerpts. This month's topic is the
traditional celebration.
POOJA
One week before the wedding, the pooja is celebrated. It is a religious ceremony
announcing the beginning of the wedding. About 50 of Ritu's family members and
closest friends attended the ceremony conducted by Pundit Dhirendra Sharma, the
same priest who officiated at the wedding. After the pooja, friends sang
traditional and jolly wedding songs accompanied by an Indian drum. Several
string lights, inside and outside of the house, and a colorful Rangoli (a
painted design outside the bride's doorstep) announced to the neighbors the
start of the wedding festivities. The purpose of the pooja is to pray for
happiness on the day of the wedding and for prosperity, joy, and peace in the
couple's married life. Many Indian gods are invoked during the pooja. The priest
burns sweet-smelling incense, and the family offers flowers and sweets to the
gods.
MEHNDI AND SANGEET PARTY
Two days before the wedding, the Mehndi (henna) and Sangeet (singing) party was
celebrated. This is the traditional gathering of the bride and groom's relatives
and friends.
Three professional Mehndi artists were
present to paint intricate designs in henna on female guests' hands. The
act of other women joining in the henna painting signifies good fortune
and happiness for the new bride. Red is an auspicious color, and the red
of the henna symbolizes happiness, fertility, and good fortune for the
bride.
Mayuri Indian Cuisine, an Indian
restaurant in Santa Clara, catered a wonderful, traditional, six-course
dinner in the restaurant's attached hall. That morning, Ritu's hands and
feet were decorated with intricate patterns of henna. The patterns
included elaborate peacocks, a full profile of a bride and groom, and
Ritu and Ajit's initials. The whole design took five hours to finish. If
the henna changes to a very deep red, it means that the husband's love
for his bride is great! Ritu's henna on her hands and feet turned a deep
red. A professional Indian dance band performed during the first hour of
the party, dedicating songs to the couple. After dinner, a group of
mothers performed Indian wedding songs accompanied by an Indian drum.
As a sign of offering good luck and
fortune to all the guests, Ritu's mother hand-wrapped hundreds of
brightly colored Indian bracelets and packaged them with bindis
(decorative stick-on jewelry that married Indian women wear) as party
favors. To tie into the party's theme of "singing," Ritu's brother
created hundreds of CDs (which featured a photo of the couple) of
favorite Indian wedding songs to also distribute as party favors.
WELCOMING OF THE BARAAT
PARTY
On the day before the wedding, Ritu's family welcomed Ajit's family into their
house, to indicate the oneness of the two families, and that there is a meeting
of minds and hearts between the two families. The purpose of this event is to
welcome the baraat, which included about 35 people. "Baraat" stands for the
entire groom's family, including all of their friends and extended family.
Ritu's family welcomed Ajit's friends and family with brightly wrapped gifts to
indicate the joining of the two families, and Ajit's family also exchanged
gifts. After a prayer to Ganesh, the Hindu Elephant God known for his wisdom,
Ritu slipped a golden "engagement ring" on Ajit's finger to signify their
intention to be married. Gold is considered the most precious metal in Indian
culture. The evening ended at Ritu's parents' house after a full, catered
dinner.
WEDDING DAY
On the morning of the wedding day, Ritu awoke to a perfect blue sky. Ritu's two
bridal gowns were ready and packed for the ceremony. For the traditional Indian
ceremony, there was a red and gold one with a red and gold veil. For the
reception, there was a gold one with red undertones. Each gown was studded with
Svarawoski crystals, and each gown was 20 pounds in weight.
Around 2 p.m., Ajit and his family arrived in a decorated white
limousine. It stopped mid-way on the long driveway leading to the
mansion. Ajit and his family were greeted by members of Ritu's family,
and an Indian drum player (a dhol player) performing welcoming songs,
indicating the start of the "baraat procession." Accompanied by the drum
player, and DJ music, Ajit and his family danced down the long driveway,
symbolizing their joy for the upcoming wedding. In India, the groom's
family traditionally dances from door to door of every home in their
village to gather up guests to go to the wedding.
At the end of the long driveway,
near the entrance to the mansion, a beautifully decorated lattice-work
gate was set up where the Milni Ceremony was performed. Here, Ritu's
parents and brother greeted Ajit's family, and adorned each member of
the family with a fresh flower lei. Before the wedding ceremony began,
guests enjoyed fruit tarts, bruschetta, Indian sweets, lemonade, a
refreshing rose water punch, and soft drinks. This was to welcome all
the wedding guests, and to begin the festivities.
CEREMONY
The wedding ceremony took place on Kohl Mansion's grand lawn. The mandap,
a kind of chuppah, was made of white lattice work and set-up on a stage
with four large pillars. A three-foot copper statue of the Indian
elephant god, Ganesh, was in the mandap, along with two red thrones for
Ajit and Ritu. The couple's families sat on the periphery of the mandap,
which was covered with flowers -- yellow, red, and orange roses and
hydrangeas.
All the symbols used in a Hindu wedding
ceremony were there: fresh flowers (to signify beauty), coconut (to
signify fertility), rice and other grains (prosperity and good fortune),
purified butter (to light the sacred fire), agni (the sacred fire, which
symbolizes purity and energy), water (to wash away any obstacles in
life).
To the tunes of Indian shennai music,
Ritu's father accompanied her down the aisle, which was covered with
rose petals. This ceremonial wedding music, played on flute-type brass
instruments, signifies the beginning of the wedding. Ritu wore the red
and gold lehenga and Ajit wore a gold and cream sherwani (the
traditional Indian wedding costume for grooms.) Ritu walked up to the
mandap, and the couple garlanded each other with fresh flower leis. This
is called the Jaymala Ceremony, and it signifies the desire to be
married.
Then, the priest guided Ritu and Ajit in lighting the sacred fire under
the mandap, while reciting some prayers. The sacred fire symbolizes
purity and source of energy. It is believed that the sacred fire dispels
darkness and ignorance from the couple's life and leads them into the
world of light and knowledge. Various other rituals followed.
An important one is the "Mangal
Phere," in which the bride and groom circle the sacred fire seven times. The
groom leads the first three rounds; the bride leads the next four. As the couple
circles, they repeat seven vows of love, marriage, health, and knowledge. At the
end of the circling, the bride moves to the groom's left, taking her place
closest to his heart. Another important ritual is Satapadi, or "Taking Seven
Steps Together." This ritual involves walking alongside a line of seven nuts,
which signify the seven principles of marriage in a Hindu ceremony.
The seven principles are: 1) We will be
caring and patient with one another. 2) We will stand together in sorrow
and bliss. 3) We will be respectful, honest, and true with one another.
4) We will travel the journey of life with love and harmony. 5) We will
raise moral and virtuous children. 6) We will do everything to keep our
family happy, healthy, and strong. 7) We will search together for
knowledge, and beauty.
At the end of the ceremony,
Ajit and Ritu walked down the aisle and were showered with rose petals by their
guests.
In November, Ritu and Ajit invite you to participate at the their
wedding reception!
