Sunday, March 25, 2007
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Mehndi-traditional hand painting. See explanation below. To be held from 4pm to 8pm at the Wagner residence in Newton. Casual dress.
7/15/07--
Ceremony and reception--All will be held on the site of the Hyatt Cambridge. See detailed explanations of ceremony below.
Schedule of Events
Ceremony: 4pm-6pm
Cocktail hour: 6pm-7pm
Reception: 7pm-11pm
Reception will be DJ'ed by Magic Mike
Saturday, September 02, 2006
INDIAN WEDDING 101
The Hindu Marriage Ceremony
Conducted by Dr. Jayant Sane
The Hindu wedding, part of an ancient religion which incorporates timeless rituals and customs, will be conducted in the traditional Vedic way. The Hindu Scriptures (Vedas) describe the philosophy and the rituals of the marriage Sanskaras. According to the Vedas, the Hindu Scriptures, marriage is a sacred, lifelong commitment of the husband and wife. More importantly, marriage unites the couple, linking them spiritually, mentally and physically in the sacred bond of matrimony. This, the strongest of social bonds, is sacrificed by seven pledges made by the bride and groom and consummated when the bride and groom have completed seven circles around a sacred fire.
Barat (Marriage Procession)
The Groom arrives in a procession to the place of marriage accompanied by his family, relatives and friends.
Dwarpooja (Welcome)
Preliminary prayers are offered by the bride’s family. The groom and his party are welcomed by the bride’s parents. The bride’s mother puts a Tilak (vermilion mark) on the groom’s forehead to bestow well wishes on the marriage. The priest gives water (an element of life) to the bride’s parents to drink and he applies Tilak to their foreheads. Then, the bride’s parents escort the groom to the mandap (stage).
Kanya Aagaman (Arrival of the Bride)
The bride is escorted to the mandap by her father. As the bride and the groom stand facing each other Jai Mala (a garland) is exchanged at the entrance.
Sri Ganesh Pooja (Prayers to Destroyers of all Evils)
Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesh (destroyer of all evil), for an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in which to perform the ceremony.
Sankalpa (Joining of Hands)
The Bride and the Groom express to the priest and parents their desire to marry and attain Dharma (righteous life), Artha (prosperity),
Kanya Daan (Offering from Bride’s Parents)
The parents of the Bride express their desire to offer their daughter (Bride) to the Groom for a life long union.
Hast Milap (Giving away the Bride)
The bride’s parents bestow her to the groom by placing the bride’s hand in the groom’s hand. They request the groom accept their daughter as an equal partner in all walks of life and the groom promises he shall treat her as his equal and agrees to marry her.
Visabrahma (nourisher of the universe), the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and all living beings are witness to the ceremony.
Vivaha Homa (Singing the Marriage Hyms)
Invocation and prayers are offered to sacred fire (Agni) that represents power in the form of light and heat energy. Blessings are given to the Bride and Groom by the parents, relatives and friends. After each verse the couple is showered with akshata (Holy Rice) by the guests. Rice is a symbol of success, prosperity, wealth and fertility.
Mangalphera (Encircling the Fire)
It is believed that Agni (fire) dispels darkness and ignorance from our lives and leads us into the world of light and knowledge. The bride and groom are offer prayers and are joined in a sacred knot which signifies the bond of marriage. The bride and groom walk around the fire seven times once for each of the four duties of life: Dharma (religion), Earth (wealth), Kam (love and family), Moksh (salvation). The groom leads first three and a half rounds and the bride leads last three and a half.
Sapta-Padi (Seven Pledges)
The bride and groom pledge before the fire which is witness to the ceremony:
We shall love and care for one another in sickness and in health.
We shall be life long friends.
We shall follow one another’s ideals.
We shall nourish one another’s ideals, strength, wealth and fortune
We shall make one another happy.
We shall love and care for our children.
We shall sail through all seasons in spiritual unity.
Mangalsutra (Silver and Black Beaded Sacred Necklace)
The groom ties a necklace around the bride’s neck as a symbol of their marriage. This mangalsutra signifies love, integrity, good fortune and prosperity. Groom also applies Sindhoor (powdered vermilion) in the parted part of Bride’s hair. Mangalsutra traditionally signifies a married woman.
Mithai Bhojan (Indian Sweets)
The two halves make a perfect whole-The bride and groom are married and offer one another sweets as a symbol of their willingness to share all they have with one another in their life.
Akhand Saubhagyawati Bhav (Blessing the Bride)
Five or seven married women from both sides of the family get onto the altar to whisper secret blessings in to the right ear of the bride and to sprinkle grains of rice over the bride and groom. May you always be happy, married for ever, and may the bond between you never be broken. May heaven shower upon you both with happiness, wealth, love, children and peace.
Aashirvad (Blessings)
The couple seeks blessings of their parents, priest and elders in the family. Finally couple seeks blessings from all invited guests.
Vidai (Farewell)
The ceremony now comes to an end with a touching and emotional farewell to the daughter. The bride now begins an important role in life as a wife and becomes part of the groom’s family. She throws a fistful of rice, so the house of her childhood remains prosperous and happy.
The newly weds bow to the elders for blessings. Then they proceed to greet friends and relatives.
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