India is a diversified country with multiple religions, languages and cultures. We have communities within religions which again slightly differ in customs from the original customs. India being the land of rituals and families, Indian weddings are much more than just a legal union of two people; they are a combination of love, tradition, celebration and revelry. It is said that in India the wedding doesn’t happen between two people, rather it is a union of two families who re then bounded by the relation.
Though Indian weddingsvary across the subcontinent, the only common thing in everything is the essence of commitment and rituals- which vary slightly from other weddings.
Here are the common types of Weddings in India. Christian weddings again vary based on the region. In Goa, the weddings are completely Christian, while in Kerala Malabar Coast, the Christian weddings are a beautiful amalgamation of Indian Culture and Christian Culture. Similarly Hindu Weddings differ as well based on the regions.
1. Bengali Weddings
Bengali weddings are an elaborate consolidation of various rituals, which are a visual treat filled with colors, merriment and elegance. The pre-wedding rituals and post-wedding rituals are very colorful and have a great Vedic significance.
Be it the beautiful Aalta on the bride’s hands and feet or the elegant way in which the bride enters in covering her face with beetel leaves or the melodious ooli which the ladies sing to welcome the groom. This wedding is a visual treat.
2. Christian Weddings
Christian weddings are known for their sobriety and elegance. The Christian weddings in India are a stunning assortment of Indian and Western customs. The Indian Christians, while adhering to their Indian culture have incorporated some western customs. This amalgamation of Indo-Western customs is visible in the wedding rituals.
3. Hindu Weddings
Hindu Weddings in India are one of the most celebrated and is considered as a festival. It lasts for several days due to pre-wedding and post wedding rituals and is one of the most colourful and beautiful weddings. These weddings differ according to the regions and communities. Hindu Weddings consists of Punjabi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Baniya, Awadhi, Bhopali, Marwari, Telugu, Tamil ,Malyalam etc., weddings. All these weddings vary slightly from ech other in the rituals they perform but the main essence3 remains the same. The weddings have Haldi, Mehendi, Sangeet, among the most popular pre-wedding rituals which are common in all these weddings, but there are some additions in these pre-wedding rituals based on the region and community. Coming to South Indian Weddings, the weddings are very simple, graceful and traditional. As one enters the place or venue of ceremony of a South Indian wedding, one notice things such as full-grown plantain trees tied to both the gateposts, festoons overhead of mango leaves, and screw-pine petals that never fade, notes of the Nadaswaram, the South Indian Shehnai, Kolam or Rangoli designs at the doorsteps and the like.
4. Muslim Weddings
Muslim weddings are also celebrated at great level. They have many rituals pre-wedding, wedding, post -wedding. Every ritual has its own importance, Mehendi ceremony is the most important pre-wedding ritual,celebrated at the eve of wedding, or before some days of wedding at bride’s house. On the wedding day Baarat is the main event, there are rituals for welcoming the baarat. The main function is the wedding day known as Nikah. It may be held at brides home. The whole ceremony of nikaah is started by Maulvi ( priest ) in presence of close relatives or friends. Maulvi then read the inportant verses from the Quran. Then the ritual of Ijab- e qubul (proposal and acceptance by both sides) takes place, the groom sends his proposal to the bride. The Nikaah is said to be solemnized if the girl gave her consent.
5. Parsi Weddings
As the rituals followed by the parsis are having a distinct and unique form in India. In Parsi, the gathering on the wedding date is called the Shahjan, gathering for the queenly bride. The bride-groom comes first to the palace to take the seat first in the marriage, after that bride comes and join him. The Parsi marriage or lagan is known as“achumichu “, which takes place either at Baug or at Agiary.
6. Rajput Weddings
Rajputs, as the name suggests, its all royal. The weddings of Rajputs are an extravagant royal affair. Its mesmerizing and splendor. The weddings boasts of many rich and stunning pre-wedding and post wedding rituals.
7. Sikh Weddings
Sikh weddings are similar to Hindu weddings, but also have different customs. Sikh marriages are also have different customs. The RehtMaryada , it is the official sikh code of conduct, specifies the guideline , that as long as the both boy and girl profess the Sikh faith , and no other faith they are joined by wedlock Anand Karaj Ceremony. These guidelines strictly forbid the sort of dowry system, astrology or any other superstitious added with the wedding day or any other. Different rituals are also added with the Sikh Marriages which are performed at different days. The variation is that in Hindu weddings, the pheras are taken in the presence of sacred fire, while in sikh wedding the pheras are taken in the presence of the holy book
By: Archa Dave
