The wedding ceremony

Thanks to Gretchen, the groom's cousin for posting the text to her blog and letting me copy it. Thanks also to the family for preparing beautiful folders and guides to the ceremony for those of us for which it was a new experience. I can't wait to add pictures. So far on this trip, I've taken almost 500 (that's compared to about 100 in the past 10 years). Lots to see and hear.

The Wedding Ceremony

The Hindu wedding ceremony is a sacrament contained in the Vedas (Ancient scriptures), from the Vedic period, which historians place between 5000-3000 BC. The wedding is performed to unite two souls so firmly that although their bodies remain separate, their souls unite and harmoniously become one. The couple embarks on a new life enriched by their union, with the blessings of God, their ancestors and elders, and the good wishes of all of their friends and relatives. The wedding takes place under the sacred altar known as the mandapam. The four pillars of the mandapam symbolize the four parents of the bride and groom and the vital role they have played in raising their children, sheltering them, and supporting them The ceremony embraces the five elements of nature: fire, earth, water, air, and light. The priest reads mantras from the Holy Scriptures in Sanskrit, the root of many modern Indian languages.


The Wedding Rites
Worship of the Goddess Gowri.
In a private ceremony before the start of the wedding, the bride performs a puja to invoke the blessings of Goddess Gowri, the icon of an ideal wife, for a long, prosperous, and happy married life.


Welcoming the Groom.
The groom is escorted to the mandapam by his family members and friends, and is received by the bride's parents. He prepares himself for the ensuing wedding rites by performing a purification ceremony. This ceremony begins with a prayer to Lord Ganesha, who is the remover of all obstacles and symbolizes truth and light. Also, during this ceremony the parents wash the groom's feet, just as they would wash the idol of the God in the temple; this symbolizes that they are acknowledging that on this important day, both bride and groom are manifestations of God.

Bond of Protection.
A sanctified thread dipped in turmeric water, which protects the wearer from harm and trouble, is tied to the right wrist of the groom with the blessings of Durga, the Goddess of Power.

Entrance of the Bride.
Before the bride enters, a cloth screen is held in front of the groom. The couple does not see each other until the auspicious moment, previously determined by Hindu astrology (for Mark and Smriti, this was 10:42 am, and Chuck's digital watch was the official time keeper). The maternal aunts and uncles of the bride escort her to the mandapam, followed by her female cousins and close friends. The bride carries a green coconut sprinkled with turmeric and kumkum (vermillino powder) to ward off evil spirits (in this case, Smriti was delivered sitting in a large red basket...too bad Mark missed seeing his wife-to-be in a basket; he was on the other side of the cloth!). She seats herself between her parents on the opposite side of the screen from the groom.

Giving the Bride away.
The bride's father offers her hand to the groom and declares that on this auspicious day he is giving his daughter away. The groom takes her hand and together they take a solemn oath in the presence of God to remain entirely devoted to each other. They declare that their hearts have been united and that they have become one.

Auspicious Time for the Wedding.
This is the most auspicious time of the wedding, when the bride and groom place a paste of jaggery, turmeric powder, and cumin on each other's heads; the three ingredients of the mixture represent their commitment to share their life through sweet and bitter times. The screen between the couple is then removed, signifying that the two separate individuals are now united in marriage.

Tying the Auspicious Thread.
The groom ties the Mangala Sutra (the auspicious thread with two gold pendants) around the bride's neck, making three knots. These knots symbolize the bonding between the two souls for a hundred years. The necklace that is created is the Indian version of the wedding ring; the bride will wear it always, so that people know she is married.

Shower of Rice.
The bride and groom shower each other with sanctified rice and flower petals, symbolizing a happy, prosperous, and peaceful married life. This is a fun competition, with the onlookers egging on both bride and groom to really let the other have it!

Taking of the Hand.
The couple holds hands and takes their vows in the presence of the Lord and of those assembled. The two then exchange garlands.

Knot of Commitment.
To symbolize their union, the loose ends of the bride and groom's garments are tied together in a knot, symbolizing a firm and lasting commitment.

Fire Altar.
A small fire is lit and the couple offers prayers to Agni, the God of fire, by placing butter and herbs into the flames. Agni dispels ignorance from our lives and leads us to eternal light and knowledge.

Seven Steps.
The couple takes seven steps. With each step the couple takes a vow. The first step to nourish each other and develop our physical, mental, and spiritual powers; the second step to grow together in strength, through the sharing of experiences, and by enabling each other to blossom infinitely; the third step to create and share great prosperity; the fourth step to commit to the pursuit of life long happiness, daily filling our hearts with joy, peace, and spiritual practice; the fifth step to care for and protect the integrity, honor, and well being of our family and friends; the sixth step to help in humanitarian work, lessen suffering, and promote human good; and, the seventh step to be united in life-long friendship and mutual devotion in all phases of our lives.

Auspicious Camphor Light.
The ceremony ends with the offering of good wishes to the bride and groom with lighted camphor.

Reverence to a Legendary Couple.
The priest points in the direction of the binary star, named after the legendary seer couple Vasishta and Arundhati, to whom the couple offers reference and prays for guidance.

Giving the Bride to the Groom's Family.
The bride's family offer gifts and blessings to the members of the groom's family. Chuck and Vicky sat together first to symbolize the Hakkarinen family, and then Gretchen sat to symbolize the Wegner family.

Blessing.
The priest and family bless the newly married couple.