The grandeur of Indian Weddings

“Click!” Went the camera as the to-be couple posed for the picture, in bright flashy smiles and in
colourful clothes. There are few elderly people going about passing instructions, while others are
moving about busily following them. There are women adorned gracefully in bright silk sarees and
gorgeous ornaments. This is the perfect event for all the people to mark their presence with the best of
their dressing, as well as the importance attached to their role among the relatives. What is all this
hustle-bustle about?! Well, that is the stage set for the grand Indian wedding we are talking about.

What makes Indian wedding celebrations so special?

The beauty of Indian weddings dates back to ancient times, when families come together and bless the
new couple. The essence of marriage, as explained in our epics, is the union of two souls invoking the
blessing of God. Furthermore, it is an event that brings together two families. This is the best get-
together that friends and relatives look forward to and prepare themselves with lot of pre-planning.
People who might not have come together face to face for many years find a relative's wedding as a
convenient excuse to meet up. Despite their busy schedule, people take out time to attend this typical
cultural celebration in the family.

And that's not all. The celebrations are abundant. The hosts of the wedding, usually the bride's parents,
take all the trouble to ensure that every small arrangement is perfect and is admired by the groom’s
family and all those who attend. Right from food to ambience, from wedding procedures to giving
return gifts, they ensure that every detail is flawless and becomes a fond memory for years to come.

How wedding celebrations changed over the years

Indian mythology describes wedding celebrations as a sacred ritual that brings peace not only to the
couple and their families but also to the world. Through the marriage, the society waits for the couple
to present it with a well-mannered child who later grows into a responsible person who benefits the
society and brings fame to the family. But over the centuries, this thought process has changed into
something else. Today, wedding events are misunderstood to be status symbols, with the notion that,
the more grandly they are celebrated, the higher the status of the families.

In conclusion

It is important to bear in mind that every ritual in the marriage process is holy. The priest makes the
bride and groom do puja for a specific purpose. It is to take oaths from both of them that they would
play their role in married life with love and dedication towards each other. The hosts invite relatives and
give them food, because Indian culture believes that no celebration is incomplete without honouring the
guests with food and gifts. The guests in turn, are requested to offer their good wishes to the couple. In
course of time, unfortunately, people started ignoring the essence of these rituals and began to view
them as commercial practices. The real grandeur of Indian weddings lies in its meaning and cultural
significance, rather than its commercial formalities. Hopefully, a time would come when the people give
more importance the essence of marriage than to its external show.