facinating: weddings

WEDDINGS

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united inmarriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of wedding vows by the couple, presentation of a gift (offering, ring(s), symbolic item, flowers, money), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is sometimes followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers or readings from scripture or literature are also commonly incorporated into the ceremony.

BEAUTY OF WEDDING:

The Asian wedding is known for its beauty, variety of events, colorful clothing and for the food that goes along with it. For a successful wedding, it is necessary to make sure that the wedding is planned properly and systematically. An Asian wedding is said to be one of the best weddings in the world and Asian wedding planners are known to be the best when it comes to organizing a wedding due to the nature and requirements of an Asian wedding.

Coordination and planning are two main aspects, which is important and should be done very carefully and way before time. When a person hears the word Asian wedding, the Indian wedding is the first concept. The celebrations start from the engagement and then shifts towards the musical night, which is just like a small festival where everyone who is invited has fun, sing, and dance. This musical night is arranged separately for the bride and groom’s side. After that there are various other days where there are different types of celebration till the main wedding, once the main wedding is done there are still even more celebrations which are done till the first year of the wedding.

INDIAN WEDDINGS:

EXCHANGE OF RINGS:
We have ceremonies and symbols to express the inexpressible. Fidelity, the pledged special faithfulness of man and woman to each other, often is symbolized by the unending circle of a ring. Rings are not necessary in marriage. Our more plain Brethren do not wear them. But when we know what they mean to us, rings can bind us in fidelity. Some couples choose only to have the wife wear a ring.

MANDAP:

The place where ceremony took place ,many modern couples the mandap is a fashion statement in itself and a very integral part of the wedding decorations. However, traditionally, the mandap is the focal point of the Hindu wedding where the ceremony is conducted around the sacred fire. The four pillars of the structure represent the Vedas and each stand for Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. They also represent the four parents of the couple.

HINDU CUSTOM:
Hindu ceremonies are usually conducted totally or at least partially in Sanskrit, the language of theHindu scriptures. The wedding celebrations may last for several days (see the previous sub-section onIndian customs) and they can be extremely diverse, depending upon the region, denomination andcaste. On the wedding day, the bride and the bridegroom garland each other in front of the guests. Most guests witness only this short ceremony and then socialize, have food and leave. The religious part (if applicable) comes hours later, witnessed by close friends and relatives. In cases where a religious ceremony is present, a Brahmin (Hindu priest) arranges a sacred yajna (fire-sacrifice), and the sacred fire (Agni) is considered the prime witness (sākshī) of the marriage. He chants mantrasfrom the Vedas and subsidiary texts while the couple are seated before the fire. The most important step is saptapadi or saat phere, wherein the bride and the groom, hand-in-hand, encircle the sacred fire seven times, each circle representing a matrimonial vow. Then the groom marks the bride's forehead with vermilion (sindoor) and puts a gold necklace (mangalsutra) around her neck. Several other rituals may precede or follow these afore-mentioned rites. Then the bride formally departs from her blood-relatives to join the groom's family.

ASPECTS OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN WEDDING:

A wedding is an important time in everybodies life. Acording to Indian Religon, one person can't be complete without being married.

That's why being married is so important in one's life. So neither a man or a women can be complete without marridge. The wedding isn't just for the bride and the groom but for all of the family. In a traditional Indian wedding they're are a few rituals,

RITUALS:

Kanyadan
Mangalasutra
Kongummudi
Exchange Of Garlands
Saptapadi
Naticharami
Panigrahanaetc
The Witness Of Fire

FACTS ABOUT TRADITIONAL INDIAN WEDDING:

Indian weddings are one of the most serious occasions in the world marriage wise, Some even believe that one can not be complete or perfect without marriage. Most of the opinions of religious people and priests believe that weddings are more of a religious affair than a social or legal affair like over in America and other western countries. Indian weddings are about customs and rituals of a serious manner. They are filled with fun, singing and dancing. Weddings mark the beginning of the new reltionships and oppourtunities. They families of either the groom or the bride begin new relationships as well. In a traditional indian wedding their are several rituals, each has it's own significance. The weddings are treated as the union of spirit and the soul (male and female.) Some may call it 'journey to the soul'. A wedding is not only a union of the two persons but also of the two families.

KEY POINTS OF A MARRIAGE:

To make the wedding a memorable one the Indian People celebrate grandly. Marriages signify customs, rituals and elaberate celebrations and are full of fun. The main reason behind the entactment of the Special Marriage Act was to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India and all Indians residing in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party, to preform the intended marriage. The seven vows of marriage symbolize seven promises, which are sworn by the bride and groom. During the marriage a sacred fire is created and made out of wooden sticks. The groom's sister and the bride's father play an important role in the wedding.
TRADITIONAL INDIAN BRIDAL DRESSES:

INDIAN WEDDING CARDS:

7VOWS:

The Seven Vows:

1. Groom: You will offer me food and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide for the welfare and happiness of you and our children.

Bride: I am responsible for the home, and take charge of all household responsibilities.

2. Groom: Together we will protect our house and children.

Bride: I will be by your side, and be your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me alone.

3. Groom: May we grow wealthy and prosperous, strive for the education of our children. May our children live long.

Bride: I will love only you for the rest of my life, as you are my husband. Every other man in my life will come second to you. I vow to remain chaste.

4. Groom: You have brought sacredness into my life, and have completed me. May we be blessed with noble,obedient children children. May our children live long.

Bride: I will shower you will happiness, from head to toe. I will strive to please you in every way that I can.

5. Groom: You are my best friend, and staunchest well-wisher. You have come into my life, and have enriched it. God bless you.

Bride: I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I love. Your happiness is my happiness, and your sorrow is my sorrow. I will trust and honour you, and will strive to fulfill all your wishes.

6.Groom: May you be filled with joy and peace.

Bride: I will always be by your side.

7. Groom: We are now husband and wife, and are one. You are mine and I am yours for all time.

Bride: As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honour and cherish each other forever.

Divorce has become out of control in the past few years. Even in well established family, divorce in most common and it is mainly due to lack of adjustment and ego clashes.The process of saat phere acquires more significance in that the couple prays for the peace and well being of the entire universe. After each saying a mantra at each of the seven steps, the couple say these words together: ""Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, and share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder - together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou

The key to a successful and happy relationship is the willingness of the couple to work hard at keeping their relationship healthy. Marriage is something that puts two people together who love each other and plan to do that for the rest of their lives.

There is no 'perfect' marriage. But there are many couples who have managed to work through their differences and keep their marriages vibrant and alive. Every marriage needs help now and then, both during the good times and when things become difficult. For marriage successful. When two people get married, numerous drastic changes happen in their lives. For the most part these two individuals should become one. They eat together, sleep together, play together, talk together, walk together, and do things together. But the union goes deeper than purely physical activities. Their hopes, dreams, and ambitions should blend and become one. For a marriage to truly last, the both partners should discover to think always, from now on, in terms of“we”and not“me.”Everything they do, every plan they devise and every decision they make should now consider what is for their mutual collective interest. When there is a difference of opinion and one partner thinks about self then there are more chances of separation.

When your hearts are so pure and strong, and offcourse one! you don't require any authentication from anyone to say that you are married. Marriage is nothing but a union of hearts and souls and that comes when you feel that you're one. Maybe the physical nature of these formalities might pose some kind of substance to keep you feeling being together, but then again, it is just a kind of mental force only and that can be created when you yourself feel the responsibility of your mate and the feeling that you are not two, but infact one!