WEDDING

Weddings are a celebration of love and commitment, and can also be a celebration of the
couple's religion and culture. One such ceremony that you might not be so familiar with?
A Hindu wedding ceremony. Whether you're invited as a guest, attending as a member of
the wedding party, or are simply curious, there are a few of the Hindu wedding rituals
and traditions you should expect to see.

1. The Wedding Date is Determined in the Stars

Before the wedding, an auspicious time (known as the muhurta) is fixed for the event.
Using the bride and groom's dates of birth, astrologists calculate the position of planets
and stars to reflect the celestial union of the couple. During the ceremony, the gautra of
both bride and groom (going back at least three generations) are announced. A gautra is
the ancestral lineage or the ancestor's original clan (this is not related to caste or religion).
In Hindu law, marriages should not take place within the same clan.

2. There's a Pre-Party Called the Sangeet a Few Days Before

the Wedding
Prior to the actual the wedding, there's a pre-party called the sangeet where family comes
together to sing, dance and revel in the joy of the upcoming union. Family members even
give performances! The bride's family sings a traditional folk song to the groom's family
to welcome them. The sangeet, which translates to "sung together," takes place a a few
the mehendi ceremony that kicks off the wedding itself.

3. The Bride's Hands and Feet Are Adorned with Henna

Paint During a Mehendi Ceremony
During the mehendi ceremony, which also takes place in Muslim weddings, henna is used
to apply intricate designs to the bride's hands and feet. The mehndi ceremony usually
takes place one day before the marriage will be held, as the application can take hours.

4. The Couple Weds Under a Mandap

The wedding mandap is a temporary structure constructed for the purpose of the marriage
ceremony. It may appear on an elevated platform, and is decorated with anything from
flowers and greenery to fabric and crystals.

5. A Fire Burns in the Center of the Mandap

In the center of the mandap, or wedding altar, a fire is kindled. A Hindu marriage is a
sacrament, not a contract. To signify the viability of the ceremony, fire is kept as a
witness and offerings are made. The bride's brother gives three fistfuls of puffed rice to
the bride as a wish for his sister's happy marriage. Each time, the bride offers the rice to
the fire. This offering is known as a homam.

6. The Couple Exchanges Floral Garlands During the Jai

Mala
This is the part of the ceremony during which the bride and groom exchange floral
garlands. This expresses the desire of the couple to marry each other. In the U.S., the ring
ceremony usually follows.

7. The Father of the Bride Pours Water Through the Bride's

Hand As He Gives Her Away
The moment the father gives the bride away is known as the kanyadaan. In the Hindu
tradition, no man can claim a woman until she is offered. During the ceremony, the father
of the bride places his daughter's hands into the groom's hands as a gesture of giving her
away. The father of the bride may also pour water into the bride's hand, which will flow
through her fingers and into the hand of her groom.

8. The Bride and Groom's Garments are Tied Together as

They Circle a Fire
The saptapadi is an important ritual in North Indian Hindu weddings. During the
saptapadi, the bride and groom have their garments tied together. In South India, the
couple walks seven steps together to signify their friendship. In North Indian tradition,
they make seven circles around a ceremonial fire, each round signifying a specific
blessing they request of the gods. The main significance of saptapadi is establishing
friendship, which is the basis of a Hindu marriage.

8. Red Powder is Applied to the Bride's Hair, Signifying She

is Married
Sindoor, a red-orange powder, is applied to the part of a woman's hair, symbolizes her
new status as a married woman and is applied to her hair during the ceremony.

9. The Bride Wears a Red Dress

The bride's garments will also be red (also the case for Muslim brides). In Indian culture,
red symbolizes the rising sun, prosperity and fertility.

10. Hindu Wedding Rituals Begin with a Prayer to Ganesha

The ceremony begins with a prayer to Ganesha, the god of beginnings and good fortune
and the remover of obstacles. Salutations are offered so that Ganesha may pave the way
for the couple's married life.

11. Cords Are Tied to the Wrists of the Bride and Groom
During Raksha Bandhan
Cords are tied to the wrists of both the bride and the groom. Marriage is considered to be
an arduous stage in life, and the cords are meant as protection.

12. The Groom Adorns the Bride with a Necklace Called

the Mangala Sutra
The groom places a necklace of black and gold beads on the bride. Traditionally,
Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity, is invoked in the mangala
sutra and the bride is said to receive blessings throughout her marriage.

https://www.brides.com/story/hindu-wedding-ceremony

Guru

The guru plays a central role in Hinduism, often acting as the intermediary between the soul and the
Supreme. Many schools claim that God-realisation without spiritual mentorship is impossible, for one
will inevitably be waylaid by maya (illusion). The guru is required in order to properly understand
scripture. Many schools also claim that the blessings of God come through the genuine spiritual teacher,
and that the teacher speaks and acts on behalf of God. The guru may also accept veneration on behalf of
the Lord. Many Hindus accept diksha, initiation from a spiritual teacher, thus becoming a formal disciple.
The principle of disciplic succession (sampradaya) is central to the transmission of spiritual knowledge.

Some traditions, such as the advaita schools equate guru with God. Others, such as most bhakti schools,
insist that the spiritual teacher is God’s representative and can never become God himself.

https://iskconeducationalservices.org/HoH/concepts/key-concepts/scripture-and-guru/