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What every photographer should know about hindu weddings
by Enrique Launi 


While photographing the casual shoot for Poonam and Abbas,  we chat about hindu weddings and their  different rituals.

Hindu weddings are very colorful and ritualistic. Every ritual has a deep meaning and aims at the well-being of the couple. The rituals differ within each community in the Hindus. However, there are certain customs and traditions that are widespread and common to almost every Hindu community.

Typically, there are pre-wedding ceremonies in a north Indian wedding that lasts over 3 or 4 days, which involve,

  •       applying henna or mehendi to the bride’s hands and the other women in the house;
  •       tying of a turmeric band around the bride’s hand to protect her from evil eyes;
  •       performing sacred prayers or pooja for the well being of the couple. This is usually done by a priest;
  •       receiving gifts from the maternal uncles, exchanging gifts with the groom’s family,
  •       celebrating the occasion by singing and dancing, typically done on the night of the mehendi. This is called the sangeet ceremony.


THE WEDDING DRESS

On the day of the wedding, the bride dresses up in crimson red – gold – white saree or long skirt and blouse with an ornately decorated shawl draped modestly over her head. She is magnificently bejeweled. The groom is no less handsome on his big day. He wears a cream or white and gold, elaborately embroidered sherwani with or without a headgear (padgi) and jootis, shoes that go with the long-shirt and pant attire.


The wedding begins with the arrival of the groom and his family at the bride’s house at the stipulated time. The bride waits inside the mandap or the wedding canopy with a garland in her hands. After few preliminaries, which differ from community to community, the bride and the groom exchange garlands, sit under the wedding canopy.


The wedding vows are supposed to be solemnized having the 5 natural elements (the water, fire, soil, air and the space) as the witnesses. Thus, 3 of the 5 are used in the wedding rituals (water, fire and soil), while the other two (air and space) are assumed to be present all around the bride and groom.


The most important part of any Indian Hindu wedding is tying of the sacred thread around the bride’s neck by the groom, called the mangal sutra and going around the fire (burning in a wide vessel) 7 times. This is called as saat phere (seven rotations). The way the couple goes around differs in each community. Either the groom or the bride leads the other and this is sometimes alternated within the 7 rotations.


The saat phere solemnizes the wedding, which is usually followed by the bride taking leave of her parent’s and going off to her husband’s house. This is called as vidai (farewell). Now the guests may honor the hosts by going off to lunch/dinner!


Nowadays, the day before or after the wedding is designated for a formal evening reception for the couple to meet the guests in a more relaxed atmosphere. The 5 day ceremony of the Indian wedding is now more like couple of day’s affair owing to the need to change with progressive times.


WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN MONTREAL

Perhaps one of the advantages of being a wedding photographer in Montreal is the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and people that live in this cosmopolitan city.  I can't wait for Poonam and Abbas' wedding to see once again all those rituals unfold. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindu wedding photographer in montreal Canada Launi.com
 
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