HINDU WEDDING MUSIC
HINDU WEDDING CEREMONY
The team at Funkasia regard the wedding ceremony music as important if not more than playing music during a fun packed wedding reception. In recent times couples have lost their focus on the wedding day and look forward to the wedding reception, here we aim to bring back the importance of having the right type of music to set the tone for your wedding day.
Funkasia will play the appropriate atmospheric music to ensure you and your guests enjoy the Hindu wedding ceremony, ensuring that the music levels are correct, that your priest has a wireless microphone which is clear for any announcements or speeches.
At Funkasia we make sure the music that is played has the right tempo, whether that be from playing inspirational devotional or traditional Shehnai music through to the latest Bollywood music love songs, Funkasia will ensure your music will be remembered on this joyous occasion
We have hosted many Hindu Wedding Ceremonies throughout the years, detailed below is a guideline for a traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony.
In Hindu tradition, marriage is viewed as the most important stage of the four stages of life, not only does it unite two souls, but it creates a bond between two families as well.
The bond of matrimony is sacred and the ceremony of marriage is conducted according to Vedic traditions. The Vedic ceremonies originated from the Vedas, which is the most sacred scriptures of Hinduism.
The ceremony is conducted in Sanskrit and each step of the ceremony has a profound spiritual meaning and a life affirming purpose.
Ganesh Pooja
The wedding ceremony begins by offering a prayer to Lord Ganesh requesting for peace and harmony to prevail during the ceremony. Lord Ganesh’ blessings are sought for the auspicious beginning for the couple. This part of the ceremony is traditionally completed by the bride and her family prior to the groom arriving.
Pokwanu
After the celebratory arrival of the Jaan, the Bride’s family formally welcomes the groom and his family and friends. The bride’s mother applies tilak (red vermilion powder) on the groom’s forehead and sometimes she may even try to grab hold of his nose as a playful gesture.
The groom will then smash a clay pot with his right foot, demonstrating that he has the strength to overcome any obstacles the couple may face in their married life. The groom is then escorted to the mandap by the bride’s parents where the marriage ceremony is held.
Vaarpooja
The bride’s parents perform a pooja where they wash the groom’s feet, offer flowers and madhuparka, a drink mixture of yogurt and honey. It is stated in the Vedic scriptures that at the time of marriage the groom is a representation of Lord Vishnu himself. At the end of the pooja, a veil of cloth (Antarpat) is held in front of groom to prevent him from seeing the bride as she enters.
Kanya Aagman
The bride is escorted by her maternal uncles or her brothers to the Mandap, the bride’s entrance may also include flower girls or other family members to make a grand entrance. This part of the ceremony is traditionally an emotional moment for all.
Antarpat
A cloth was placed between the couple, before the bride entered the mandap.
The Priest will perform the Sanskrit Mantra and the cloth will then be removed. Traditionally this was the first time the couple will have seen each other, however now days it will be the first time the couple would have seen each other in their wedding outfits.
Jaimala
The bride offers a flower garland declaring that she has chosen the groom on her own free will, the groom will then return the compliment by offering her a too a flower garland welcoming her to a new life together and promising to look after her.
Sankalpa
A traditional part of the ceremony where the priest announces where, when and between whom the marriage is taking place.
Granthibandan
The groom’s scarf or shawl is tied to the bride’s saree while chanting prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and to Lord Narayan and Laxmi Devi praying for a strong marriage like theirs. The knot symbolises the union of two souls joined together in holy matrimony.
Varmala
The parents of the bride then place a long sacred cotton thread called Varmala around both the bride and groom bonding them spiritually.
Hastamalap
The Priest performs a small ceremony to unite both families, this is key for all to understand that not only is the bride and groom joining together for their married lives but the families are now joined together as one as well.
Kanyadan – Giving away the bride
This is the most important part of the ceremony and is performed by the bride’s parents where they give away their daughter in marriage by placing the bride’s right hand on the groom’s right hand while the priest chants the verses. This is considered the greatest Dana (gift).
Havan
A small sacred fire is lit in the centre of the Mandap inviting Agni.
The couple offers prayers to Agni who is the symbol of light, power and purity while offering ghee (Purified butter), rice and flowers into the flame. These prayers have a special importance, for it is Agni who dispels the darkness and ignorance from our lives and leads us to eternal light and knowledge.
Mangal Phera
Before each phera (circles), the open palms of the bride are filled with grains by her brother signifying wealth and prosperity, the grains are then offered to the holy fire.
The couple circle the holy fire four times as the priest chants mantras, the fire is considered as the witness to the wedding ceremony. The bride leads the groom around the fire for the first 3 mantras and then the groom leads the bride for the final 4th mantra.
The four pheras represent the four basic goals of a life.
Dharma (moral sense to lead a good life or Religious duties), Artha (Prosperity or economic development), Kama (energy and passion) and Moksha (Liberation).
Purnahuti
Final offerings are made to the Sacrimonial fire.
Saptapadi
This is one of the most vital parts of the ceremony, where the couple takes seven steps together to symbolise the beginning of their married life together, typically this is like traditional wedding vows. The couple will take a vow at the beginning of each step, at this point they receive blessings from the priest and all the guests present.
Sindur
The groom places sindur (red vermillion or Kum Kum powder) on the bride’s forehead and at the parting of her hair as a symbol of a married woman.
Mangal Sutra
Similar to the concept of the English wedding ring, the groom mother provides a golden and black bead necklace on a coconut and gives this to the groom who then places this around the bride’s neck, signifying his love, integrity and respect for her.
Kansar
This is an exchange of Sweets between the couple as a symbolic gesture that they will provide for each other’s needs and prosperity in their household life.
Akhand Saubhagyavati
A number of married women from the bride and groom families are invited to greet the couple and whisper in the bride’s right ear their blessings and good wishes of a blissful married life, prosperity and happiness.
Aashirwad
This is the last part of the ceremony and will conclude the wedding, the priest will offer blessings to the bride and groom by reciting the final Vedic mantras. It will normally be the case here that the priest then declares the bride and groom as officially married.