We are not wholly unfamiliar with the traditional Western wedding. When it comes to the other cultures, there are other traditions. This time we discuss the Hindu customs. You can put it in one word: color! The Hindu wedding is full of religious traditions, good food and rich of emotions. The Hindu marriage is also called the Wiwah and it usually takes longer than a Western marriage. The ceremony takes merely a few hours, but there are a lot of happenings before the actual wedding. Traditionally the family of the bride organizes the wedding. The groom’s family is ‘a guest’ at the whole wedding.
The engagement
The engagement is also called the Barchekki. This takes place when all involved parties have given their permission for the marriage. The father of the bride hands his daughter to her groom. During the Barchekki it is usual to pick a date for the official wedding.
Wedding license / betrothal
The wedding license or betrothal is also called Tilak in the Hindu wedding. Traditionally a sacrificial service will take place. The father of the bride offers sweet treats and money to the groom. After that he applies a round spot with colored powder on the forehead of the groom to be.
Matkworwa
The Matkorwa is typical for the Hindu wedding. Two days before the ceremonial wedding there is a kind of party. The women dig up earth at the residences of the couple. The earth that is being excavated is needed to make a fire pot on the wedding day. More about that later.
Bhattwan
The day before the wedding is called Bhattwan. Again, the Hindu people organize a sacrificial service. During this service rice or padi is puffed.
Ceremony
After the Bhattwam the wedding continues with the Shadie. It is the day on which the wedding takes place. Family and friends of the wedding couple come together in the house where the groom lives. From there, a bridal parade is organized. The groom appears in a beautifully colored robe. His mother makes rice for the – unmarried – boys and her son. According to the tradition the mother pushes her son close to her. After the farewell of the mother the wedding procession marches to the house of the bride-to-be. This is a festive occasion with drum music and sometimes even fireworks.
Parchan
The Parchan is the moment when the women are welcomed in the wedding room. A copper bowl with roasted oil jars are used for this. The seeds are turned over the head of the groom. The intention is that the wedding guests are presented to the groom.
After this tradition, it is time for the bride to take place under a wedding baldachin, decorated with beautiful colored fabrics. The bride expresses her gratitude for the marriage and offers sacrifices in the sacred fire. The groom takes place at the wedding fire and the bride welcomes him at the wedding ceremony by hanging a flower wreath. During this event, there a number of rituals to symbolize prosperity and health in the marriage.
Hangadin
During the Hangadin the father of the bride asks the groom to accept his daughter as his wife. After an obvious ‘yes’ the groom’s parents offer the bride gifts. The bride moves over to the right side of the groom. As a sign of real solidarity between the new bride and groom the groom’s scarf is tied to the bride’s sari. They are officially connected!
Despite the connection, the traditions are not yet to an end. The newlywed couple moves seven steps in the north-east direction of the pole star. Hindus believe that the pole star and the sun should be witnesses of marriage. The bride and groom touches each other’s neck and the groom puts his hand on the forehead of his wife. Red powder is sprinkled around the separation in the hair of the bride, so it can be noticed that she is married. At the end of the wedding, it is sprinkled with rice.