Tamil Nadu is a southeastern state of India, situated on the Bay of Bengal. It is specifically famous for its natural beauty. Apart from the backwaters, coffee plantations and luscious South Indian delicacies, the state is also known for its rich tradition and culture which dates back to the era of Dravidians. Wedding rituals play an important role in determining the mores and background of any civilization. Likewise, the wedding tradition of Tamil Nadu reflects its rich ancient ethnicity. In fact, the cultural and traditional customs are of prime importance in a typical Tamil wedding. Auspicious lagna timing is derived…
Author: HinduSCRiPtureS2026
Marriage is considered the most auspicious and noble amongst all Hindu occasions. According to the Hindu scripture Vedas, marriage is a sacred knot between two souls and an initiation into lifelong togetherness. Marriage is thus considered strongest of all social bonds. India is a land of diversity. Hence, marriage rituals and customs vary as per the provincial and cultural backgrounds of each state. However, irrespective of any cultural or territorial barriers, Vedic rituals form the basis of all Hindu marriages. The following paragraphs give a detailed idea of the wedding tradition in the Indian state of Gujarat. Like other Hindu…
After the navagrahas (nine planets) exercise, Snataka ceremony in the Hindu marriage is performed. The would-be bridegroom performs the Snataka ceremony, which marks the close of his studies under a guru with rigid Brahmacharya. A number of Brahmans are fed, and they wish him good. He then stands forth, and supplicates in this strain:- “O Brahman elders that have condescended to respond to our invitation, I pray you to hear attentively what I am going to say:- Guru Prayers Whereas during my Brahmacharya, from the time of my Upanayana till now, my gurus prescribed purity, Achamana, Sandhyavarndana three times a…
Introduction After the completion of Ganesh Puja on the wedding day, several other Gods are worshipped. These Gods are known as Nandi Devatas. Who are Nandi Devatas? The Nandi Devatas are the holy Pitris, who live in the lokas of Bhuvash and Suvah. They are the builders of the subtle bodies, Sukshmadeha, around which physical atoms aggregate to produce the physical body. As the objects of marriage are the maintenance of the Grihastha Dharma and the begetting of progeny with spiritual, not carnal tendencies, the co-operation of the PitriDevatas is essential. The Ritual The wedding ceremonies start with the Vratham…
Introduction KasiYatra ritual in a Hindu marriage traditionally comes after Snataka ceremonywhich is performed by the bridegroom giving due respect to his guru. The Snataka makes up his mind to complete his education by travel, and sets out for holy Kasi or Benares. Background and Tradition On the way he meets a company of holy Brahmans, and after conversing with them, he says: “I have finished my Brahmacharya, and I have duly performed the four Vratas, known as Prajapatya, Saumya, Agneya, and Vaisvadeva. I am wending my way to holy Benares. Do you give me leave, therefore, to depart.” One…
Introduction Saptapadi ritual in a Hindu marriage comes afterKankanaBandhana. Taking the bride’s hand to lead her to the Saptapadi ceremony, the bridegroom says, “Thy hand do I take to get good progeny! Mayest thou live with me, thy protector, till thou gettest old and feeble! Bhaga, Aryama, Savita, (names of the sun at different periods) the all-knowing, have given me thee for garhapatya. After this communication he leads her, and chants more Riks. The Oath of living together The Saptapadi ceremony is gone through. They go around in seven steps. He then stops and says to her, “Become thou now…
Meaning Kankanabandhana in Hindu marriage comes after Kanyadana, the Bridegroom’s promise to marry and accept the bride as his wife. The Kankanabandhana ceremony is of great significance, for from this time forth until the samavesana (sexual union) ceremony is performed, the bride and the bridegroom can suffer from no pollution, as they have kankana or Raksha. The ritual In the course of the ceremonies that follow, the bridegroom says to the bride: – “After that, have thou to unite thy body with mine, thy Lord’s.”Later on he says, “Go thou to my house; be thou there its mistress; control thou…
Why is it performed? A few days before the wedding as per SanatanDharma, the ceremony of Mridaharana(bringing some earth or clay) ceremony is performed. The origin of this ceremony is popular though it does not find mention in the ancient scriptures of the Hindus. How is it performed? This ceremony is found in the Paddhatis only.The Jyotirnibandha quoted by Gadadhara says, “In the beginning of every auspicious ceremony sprouts should be used for Mangala decoration. On the ninth, seventh, fifth or third day before the marriage, in an auspicious moment with music and dancing, one should go in the northern or eastern direction of his house to fetch…
Introduction Kanyadanaceremony in a Hindu wedding comes after the Sankalpaceremony. Kanyadana ceremony is a highly complex one, and rightly it is so; for marriage makes or mars a life. The bride’s parents, glad in their hearts, that they have secured a Vedavit for their daughter, treat him with due respect. He is to them a Lakshmi Narayana, for they are believers in the famous dictum of “Tat tvamasi – That thou art”. They give the bridegroom, clothes, ornaments, cows, lands, bedding, etc. The bridegroom assumes a second Yagnapavita to qualify himself for the discharge of the duties of a Grihastha…
Significance of the Puja The performance of the GanapatiPuja is essential at the commencement of every important undertaking. A traditional Hindu marriage cannot take off without performing a GaneshPujaby the bride’s parents. Through this Puja, unwanted obstacles and inauspicious elements are disposed off before tyingthe lifetime knot. Who is Ganapati? He is the Lord of Ganas or NamaRupaPrapancha,i.e. the world of names and forms; hence GanapatiPuja has to do with the mind. Even devas, as they have minds, have to worship him. “What a man thinks, that he becomes,” is the verdict of the Srutis. Hence to secure the necessary equipoise of mind, GanapatiPuja is enjoined. Ganapatiis…
Precondition to Marriage Ancient marriages gaverelative importance to days and hemispheres while fixing a marriage day. After the betrothal an auspicious day was fixed for the wedding ceremonies. Astrological considerations did not seem to play an important part in ancient times. As the union of the bride and the bridegroom was dependent on mutual attraction and love, there was not much scope for making matches on the actual calculation and determination of the movements of stars. Simple Astrological Calculations Moreover, though the ancient Hindus were acquainted with astronomy and astrology, the particular branch of astrology that deals with marriage was…
Popular rites in Indian Scriptures Indian rituals are one of the most ancient rituals, running down the contemporary era as crucial customs and practices. Many of these rituals are therefore not properly documented. During the earlier period,the scriptures were anxious to record only Vedic rituals and did not givea proper place to other purely popular rites and customs. Later on, the priests were forced by circumstances to recognize the latter as well. Popular Vs. Vedic rites The Paddhatis and the Prayogas on the marriage ceremonies, that are more practical than the ancient scriptures, incorporated many new elements under the auspices…
New Additions During the time of the Sutras, the marriage rituals had already been established and were advanced in nature. It was the ritualists, who had set the system and order pattern of the marriage ceremonies. The Post-Vedic period also saw many new additions and modifications along with assimilation of the popular rites and customs into the marriage ceremonies. The same were also systematically documented in scriptures by the priests of the time. Thus, in this manner they were also able to enlarge the scope of their own religion. In Scriptures As stated by Rajbali Pandey, these additions did not…
Bride’s Companion The word Lokni is derived from Lokan, to look. Lokni is an individual or a party, who accompanies the bride, when she leaves for the bridegroom’s place. In the older days, the rich families used to send servants and maids along with the bride. Even King Janaka had sent ten male and ten female servants, along with Sita, when she left for Ayodhya. In the Gangetic belt, they are also known as Lokandi and Lokanda. Loknis are usually the Nani or Dadi i.e. grandmother of the bride, whose husband is alive. The accompaniment is considered to be very…
The Importance of Unhusked Rice The bride’s party brings a bundle of unhusked rice, durba grass and turmeric roots, after the performance of the Tilak ceremony. They are sorted out during the Lagan Kholana ceremony. The turmeric roots are crushed into paste during the Haldi ceremony. The unhusked rice is kept at the Maroh or at a clean and pure place in his neighbor’s house. It is sometimes also kept at Vir Hanuman or Mahabir Sami shrines. The unhusked rice is parched at early morning, on the marriage day by ladies from the bride’s and bridegroom’s family. This occasion is…
Pre Marriage The Lagan for the marriage usually starts a few days earlier to the actual marriage day. The atmosphere and mood in the house of both the bride and bridegroom are indescribable and electrifying nature. There is a buzz of happiness permeating the atmosphere. This initiates the Shagun or the period of auspiciousness. Every precaution is taken to ensure that both the bride and bridegroom are protected from any form of evil force or mishap. The pouring in of close relatives, their children, married daughters, aunts, dadis and nanis sets the tempo for the big occasion. They also lend…
The Ritual Process The Katha is performed right after the Matkor and the Harish Gandhana ceremony. Katha is basically a recitation of stories from the Hindu Scriptures by the priests. Both the bride’s and bridegroom’s parents sit during the Katha as the Shrota or listener and as yajmaan or host. The most popular Kathas during the occasion of marriage is the Satyanarayan Swami Katha. It elaborates the Panch Nam or the five names of God. Previously, the Katha was performed a little before the Haldi Vidhi, but nowadays it is performed earlier on the marriage day or the previous day.…
Introduction India is a Hindu predominant country and is a land of unity and diversity. The convergence of different cultures and traditions on one single platform is the unique identity of the nation. People belonging to various religious communities and races live peacefully in India. People from Karnataka have their own cultural and regional significances. The Kannada wedding tradition is one of the unique marriage traditions in India. In performance, Kannada marriage resembles the traditional Hindu marriage. However, the customs and rituals observed highlight the typical essence of the region of Karnataka. The Kannada weddings hold up simple yet sophisticated…
The Sacred Thread Exchange A little piece of the nail from the bridegroom’s finger is cut and tied on piece of sacred thread and worn on the left wrist of the bride. In a similar manner, a piece of thread ties a piece of nail from the bride’s finger onto the right wrist of the bridegroom. The cutting of the nails is performed on the occasion of Nahacho Nonkh Tungna. These threads are believed to be protective cords or Kankan and worn till the Chowthari or the fourth day of the marriage. The thread is also worn until the husband…
The Ceremony Previously Haldi used to be applied for several days, for almost a week, in the Kohbar area. However, with the passage of time, the Haldi ceremony has been restricted only to the day of marriage. The ceremony begins early in the morning, and both the bride and the bridegroom are applied Haldi and Ubtan seven times in the day, by five married woman who have their husband alive, at their respective places. On this occasion, only close relatives apply Haldi, unlike the other occasions where both friends and family members apply the same. This occasion also allows a…