India is a land of diverse cultures and ethnicity. The languages that we speak, regional cultures, and rituals that are practiced in India are vibrant. There are diversities even across North Indian weddings and South Indian weddings. It is impossible to track down the wedding rituals and practices of various communities and ethnic groups in India. Certain ceremonies stand out and are common in most North Indian marriage ceremonies.
In North Indian marriage ceremonies the knot that is tied is beyond two individuals. The Indian marriages establish the bond between two families and reinstate the richness of Indian culture. The union of two families through the Indian traditional wedding involves numerous ceremonies and rituals.
India is highly diverse in cultures and traditions. North Indian weddings are glorious and charming, with vibrant and energetic ceremonies that resonate with the spirit of the nation. A north Indian marriage turns out to last for more than a day and becomes a festival of near and dear. There are many similarities within these diverse rituals.
Common Indian traditional wedding ceremonies
One of the most common rituals in every north Indian style of marriage is engagement. It is the very first ceremony that marks the beginning of the wedding celebrations that follow. The main significance of this event is that the acceptance of the bride and groom of each other and is signified by the exchange of rings. The engagement ceremony is followed by the shagun ceremony or tilak ceremony, during which the north Indian groom and/or his family visits the bride's home to give gifts, or the family of the north Indian bride visits the groom's family to give gifts.
The next ceremony in the north Indian wedding is Mehandi, during which Mehandi or henna is applied to the palms and feet of the bride. This is a vibrant and charming session of traditional weddings. Songs of blessings and traditional songs of the community are sung and danced to at the event of the sangeet. It is followed by Haldi during which turmeric paste is applied on the face and body of the north Indian bride and north Indian groom. It is an inevitable ritual of most north Indian weddings. The main events of the north Indian marriage ceremony are Kanya Daan, paanigraham, and saptapadi. Across these ceremonies, the bond between bride and groom is built and vows are announced. The bride is sent along with the groom to the new house at the end of all the rituals and this is known as bidai.
Even though these rituals are common to all the wedding ceremonies of India, there might be some additions, alterations, or elimination of certain practices and varies from region to region and community to community.
Now let us look at diversities across north Indian weddings and south Indian weddings by closely looking at rituals of two communities.
The ethereal ceremony of Kashmiri weddings
Kashmir is always equaled to paradise on earth. The scenic beauty and serenity of Kashmir warm our hearts and soul. There are many similarities with the wedding ceremonies of Kashmir and other parts of India.
The alliance that is suitable for Kashmiri north Indian bride and Kashmiri north Indian groom are found through a process called Parche Traavun and is the beginning ceremony of every wedding ritual. The consent for marriage called Thap Traavin is conducted and is followed by a vibrant engagement ceremony known as Nishayn. A delicious mega feast and exchange of gifts are conducted in this ceremony.
An official family get-together called Saatnaam is conducted to announce the dates of ceremonies to dear and near. Kashmiri bride wears the traditional Kashmiri dress, pheran on the wedding day. The Nikaah is followed by feasts and celebrations blessed by the elders. Walima or the reception is conducted the next day at Groom’s house and farewell is bid to the bride by her family (Ruksaati).
Traditions of North Karnataka marriage style
The marriage ceremonies of Karnataka resemble the traditional wedding ceremonies of south Indian weddings. The Kannada bride is received by the groom’s family with gifts that include jewelry, sweets, and other things. As with most Indian weddings, the ceremonies of Kannada marriages are conducted on mandap, exchange vows, and flower garlands, tie the mangal sutra knot, and take seven rounds around the sacred fire. The ceremonies are sealed by receiving blessings from the elders.
Certain rituals are practiced in certain parts of Karnataka before the wedding ceremony. For example, the Naandi ceremony, Kaashi Yatra ceremony, Dev Karya ceremony, etc. most of the rituals are associated with the worships and prayers to seek blessings from deities of their respective religions.
South India with its enthralling scenic beauty and rich heritage is the perfect space to get married. With diverse and vibrant rituals and ceremonies weddings in India are a unique experience. Now destination weddings in Kerala and destination weddings in Kochi are taking up the current wedding trends in South India.
Every ritual is worth treasuring. Every moment becomes a blissful experience when it is captured perfectly. Snatching your raw emotions from your magical experience of the wedding, irrespective of being a vibrant event echoing the richness of your culture or the serene destination wedding in Kerala is important.
Pepper Green wedding photography team is devoted to click the right moment of your precious day. Look down to Pepper Green wedding photography for the best wedding photography in Kochi and best wedding photography in Thrissur. We help you to transform your dream moment into a dreamier tale. Note down our name as we are extending our services of wedding photography in UAE and wedding photography in Dubai. Contact us at +91 96330 65508 for booking the best services for wedding photography in Kochi, Thrissur, UAE, and Dubai.
