WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime situation, which requires an intuitive sensitivity to each and every aspect of the ceremony. Choosing a professional wedding photographer is one of the prerequisites to make the ceremony a memorable one. 



When it comes to marriage photography, the decisions are very often made on the basis of price. In fact, what you should be looking for in a marriage photographer is his/her ability to capture the precious moments of the ceremony, so that you will enjoy viewing the photos time and again, and cherish them for the rest of your life. Here in this article, we provide you tips that will help you know how to choose a wedding photographer.

How To Choose A Wedding Photographer

• The best professional photographers usually do their bookings a year in advance. In case you want to have outstanding photographs for your wedding, then start searching for a professional wedding photographer few months prior to the ceremony.
• You may consult your relatives and friends, who have held weddings prior to your ceremony. Ask if they liked the photography of their own wedding. Browse through their wedding albums.
• If you have a list of photographers to choose from, then peruse their websites or portfolios, to scrutinize their photographic capabilities. Look at their wedding photo samples. Consider how they perform at different given environments and settings of wedding venue.
• Peruse the works of the photographer. For the purpose, request him to bring two or three wedding photo albums, which are he has done recently.
• Make sure that you see at least one album of an entire wedding, right from the start to the finish. This will enable you to figure out how the photographer has handled the entire ceremony.
• Be sure to examine the color, clarity, exposure, composition and graininess of the photographs clicked by the photographer. This will help you determine the style of photography adapted by him.
• Budget is an important aspect for the marriage photography. Clearly specify your affordability, to the photographer. Mention whether you want to capture the images of all the ceremony (pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals) or just want to frame the wedding photos. This decision will affect the budget.
• Find out whether he has shot at your wedding venue before. If yes, then he may know the places to get good shots or the best ways to capture the special moments.
• It is very important to discuss the wedding photography equipments as well. You should know the type of camera and equipment generally used by the photographer during wedding ceremonies.
• In case your photographer uses a digital camera, make sure that the gadget is capable of taking images of at least 8 mega pixels. In case he uses an optical camera, ensure that he uses professional grade quality film instead of consumer quality film.
• Every professional needs a backup equipment, in case his original equipment fails to work properly, during the ceremony. Check whether your photographer carries a

INDIAN BARAAT

The traditional Indian wedding establishes a bond between two families and their cultures, apart from creating a very special relationship between the couple, who tie the nuptial knot. The marriage ceremony is a series of colorful events, spread over two to three days. One of the important and fun ceremonies is the arrival of the groom on the day of the wedding, at the venue. 

The groom's family members, relatives and friends accompany him to the wedding venue, in a marriage procession called 'baraat'. Groom's friends and relatives are called the 'baraati'. The wedding baraat is held with high esteem and the baratis are pampered by the bride's family, when they arrive at the wedding venue. The baraat is received in different ways in different parts of the country. In the following lines, we have given description about the baraat in Indian marriage.

Indian Wedding Barat

• Traditionally in north India, the groom, dressed in his wedding attire, is seated on a white decorated mare, when he heads towards the wedding venue along with the baraati.
• Before sitting on the mare, the groom is adorned with a saafa (turban, preferably pink or saffron colored) along with a sehara (floral veil), which is tied around his forehead, by his mother. Saafa is mandatory, but tying sehara is not a compulsion. In some regions of north India, a sword is also provided to the groom.
• In the mare, the groom is accompanied by his younger brother, cousin or nephew who acts as his caregiver, who is called 'sarbaala'.
• The baraatis are often accompanied by music band, which provides them with entertainment, while on their way to the venue. The baraatis dance to the tune played by the band.
• A vivid display of fireworks contributes to the festive spirit of the marriage procession.
• A contemporary approach to the ritual is to make use of a car, instead of mare. For the purpose, people rent a car, in which the groom is seated. However, to maintain the tradition, the groom travels a certain distance via car and then rides on the mare.
• After reaching the wedding venue, the groom and the marriage procession are welcomed by the bride's parents and the elder members of her family.The bride's mother performs the aarti, when the groom enters the venue. In the mean time, the other members of the bride's family welcome others in the marriage procession.
• The groom's acquaintance is introduced to the bride's family, friends and relatives. This ritual is known as milni.
• Earlier, married women were not allowed to join the marriage procession. However, with the changing time, they have also become a part of the baraat. Nonetheless, married women are still not allowed at the interiors of rural India, to accompany the groom in the marriage procession.
• The barati who comes in the procession are garlanded and seated. Cold drinks, snacks and sweets are served to them. They are also invited for dinner as the guests of bride's parents.
• In most of the cases, all the expenses of the barat reception, marriage ceremony and the dinner are born by bride's parents in most of the cases.

SEVEN VOWS OF MARRIAGE

Hindu wedding is all about rituals and customs, which teach us the actual essence of a blissful married life. The seven vows of marriage symbolize seven promises, which are sworn by the bride and the groom during the auspicious ceremony of wedding. During the marriage, a sacred fire is created with ghee and wooden sticks, in order to evoke Agni (fire god), which serves as the witness to the ritual of seven vows. 





The priest, who conducts the wedding, chants Vedic mantras. Amidst the blazing fire of the havankund and the chanting of mantras, the bride and the groom pledge their commitment to each other, for the lifetime. Known as Saptapadi/pheras, seven vows is a beautiful ritual observed in Hindu marriages, although the act of taking the seven vows varies from region to region, in India.

People following Hinduism believe that if a married couple walks seven steps around the fire of the havankund, they will remain together for the lifetime. Generally, before taking the seven vows, the bride is seated to the right hand side of the groom. After taking the pheras, the bride shifts to the left side of the groom - this symbolizes that she is now closer to his heart. 

In most of the Hindu weddings, the newly married couple takes seven pheras, with the exception of Gujaratis and Sindhis, who take four pheras around the sacred fire. In the majority of the seven pheras, the groom leads the first four pheras, while he is preceded by the bride during the last three pheras. Given below are the meanings of the seven vows of marriage.

Seven Vows In Hindu Wedding

• The bride and the groom take the first step of the seven vows to pledge that they would provide a prospered living for the household or the family that they would look after and avoid those that might hinder their healthy living.
• During the second step of the seven pheras, the bride and the groom promise that they would develop their physical, mental and spiritual powers in order to lead a lifestyle that would be healthy.
• During the third vow, the couple promises to earn a living and increase by righteous and proper means, so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold.
• While taking the fourth vow, the married couple pledges to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faith.
• The fifth vow is taken to have expand their heredity by having children, for whom, they will be responsible. They also pray to be blessed with healthy, honest and brave children.
• While taking the sixth step around the sacred fire, the bride and the groom pray for self-control of the mind, body and soul and longevity of their marital relationship.
• When the bride and the groom take the seventh and the last vow, they promise that they would be true and loyal to each other and would remain companions and best of friends for the lifetime.
  

FAMOUS INDIAN WEDDINGS

Indian Wedding ceremonies have always been known for their elaborative and ritualistic nature. As most of the Indian religions regard marriage to be a social as well as religious ritual, the wedding ceremony acquires dual importance in the Indian context. Apart from this, in Indian families the Wedding ceremony is also reated as an occasion of celebrations and display of riches and wealth. 



That is why, the trend of grandiose and ostentatious wedding ceremonies have caught the attention of the people in the country. When even the middle class people go far beyond their capacities to make their wedding ceremony pompous and extravagant, you can easily imagine the display of luxuries in a famous Indian Wedding.

Some of the most famous Indian Weddings in contemporary times have been the wedding ceremonies of Sahara Shree Family and the Mittals. The wedding ceremony of Subroto Roy's sons Seemanto and Sushanto have been one of the most grand marriage ceremonies of modern Indian times.  

Arranged in the Sahara city, Lucknow the wedding ceremony was attended by over 11,000 guests and the guest list included the all the big and famous names in India.  The wedding ceremony was so grand that it would always be remembered as one of most exotic wedding ceremonies in the Indian History.

Another wedding, which became the talk of the town, was the wedding of Vanisha Mittal, the daughter of London-based steel tycoon Laxmi Niwas Mittal with Amit Bhatia, a Delhi based investment banker.  The venue of the wedding was the famous Palace of Versailles, where the French 'Sun King' Louis XIV held court in the 17th century, and the 17th-century Vaux le Vicomte, acknowledged as 'the finest chateau and garden' in France. 

The wedding celebrations went on for six days and the total estimated budget of the wedding was �30m / $55million i.e. about INR 200 crores. The guest list included all big and famous names from Indian and British society. Movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Aishwarya Rai to name a few.

The marriage ceremonies of Indian film and cricket stars are no less grand. Raveena Tandon's marriage ceremony was held with all the possible grandeur at the Jag Mandir Palace on an island in Pichchola Lake in the Udaipur city of Rajasthan. Hrithik Roshan's wedding ceremony with his long time sweetheart Sussanne at the Golden Palms Resort and Spa, Bangalore was also no less than a fairy tale. 

The other Indian ceremonies which came to limelight because of their grandeur and magnificence are actress Karisma Kapoor and businessman Sanjay Kapur's wedding, actor Abhishek Bachchan and former Miss World and famous Indian actress Aishwarya Rai's wedding, Ace Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan Gavaskar's wedding with his childhood sweetheart Swati, Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja's wedding with Aditi Jaitely and Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's wedding with Anjali Mehta.

MARRIAGES IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

India is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse customs. Each religion has its own traditions and ritual. Different existing religions in the country- Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jewish, Buddhism, Jain and Christianity every religion has their own wedding customs. 

Though Indian wedding is mainly associated with the Hindu marriage ceremony, actually the Indian Marriage canopies the marriages of all the different existing religions in the country. If you are interested in knowing about the different Indian Marriages, you must go through this article.

Hindu Wedding

The Hindu Marriage is very popular as the majority of Indian population follows Hinduism. Though there is also much variation in the Hindu religious customs in accordance with the regions and communities, the overall customs remain same throughout. The Hindu marriage is held in a big marquee, either in the bride's home yard or in a rented wedding hall. 

Different rituals are held pre marriage, on the main day and post marriage. Customs like Ganesh puja, Haldi, Sagan, Sangeet and Sagaai are held before the wedding day. On the wedding the most prominent rituals are Jaimala, Kanyadaan, Sindoor, Mangalphere and Saptapadi. Generally, Hindu Marriages are very royal and extravagant, especially the north Indian Hindu marriages held at night.

Muslim Wedding

After Hindus, Muslims form a major chunk of Indian Society. Muslim weddings in India are also celebrated with equal pomp and gaiety. They have various pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Each ritual has an important significance. In the pre-wedding rituals, Mehndi ceremony is an important function. It is mostly celebrated at the bride's home on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a few days before the wedding. 

On the wedding day, there are rituals like welcoming the baraat. The main wedding ritual in Muslims is the Nikaah. It is held either at the home of the bride or at any other common venue. The ceremony is conducted by the Maulvi (priest) in the presence of the close friends and relatives. The priest then reads the important verses from the Quran. Thereafter, the ritual of Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance) takes place, the Groom sends his proposal to the bride. The marriage is said to be solemnized only if the girl gives her consent.

Christian Wedding

In India like the Hindus and Muslims there are vast majority of Christians too. A Christian Wedding celebration in India is simple yet charming. The wedding ceremony is conducted in the church. On the day of the wedding, the best man greets the bride with a bouquet. The best man is someone very close to the bridegroom. She is than accompanied by her father to the altar. 

In the presence of two witnesses from both sides the bride and the groom declare themselves to be husband and wife. The groom declares his wedding vows. The couple exchanges their rings and the priest blesses the newly wedded couple and declares them husband and wife. The couple then walks down the aisle together. Everyone then joins the couple for the reception party. Here, the wedding cake is cut, and everyone raises the toast in the name of the bride and the groom.

Sikh Wedding 
Like Hindu, Muslim and Christians, Sikhs are also an important part of the Indian Society. Very much similar to the Hindu marriages, the Sikh marriages also involve different rituals and customs. The Reht Maryada, which is the official Sikh code of conduct, specifies certain guidelines that as long as both the boy and girl profess the Sikh faith and no other faith they are joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony. 
The guidelines strictly forbid any sort of dowry system, astrology and any other superstitions associated with wedding date or time. Different rituals are associated with the Sikh marriages, which are performed on different days.

Parsi Wedding 

Compared to the other religions in the country, the population of Parsis is very less in the country, yet the Parsi rituals and traditions hold a distinct identity in the Indian society. In a Parsi marriage, the gathering on the marriage day is called Shahjan, the gathering for the queenly bride. The bridegroom comes first to take the seat in the room where the marriage is to be celebrated. The bride comes later. The Parsi lagan or marraige is called �Achumichu', which takes place either at a Baug or at an Agiary.

Buddhist Wedding 
Buddhist Religion is also a very popular religion in India. Based on the principles of brotherhood and fraternity, the religion preaches simple living and high thinking. The Buddhist marriage in accordance with its principles is very simple and sober. 

With no religious obligations like horoscopes and astrology and no social obligations like feast and grandeur, the Buddhist marriage is more a family affair than a social or religious one. There is no hard-lined ritual for a Buddhist wedding ceremony; however people generally visit the temple and take blessings from the monks to solemnize the marriage.

Jewish Wedding 

The Jewish population in India is very limited, yet they are an important part of our diversified culture. The Jewish traditions are interesting yet simple. In the Jewish religion, marriage is considered to be mandatory as a single person is considered to be incomplete. The Jewish wedding ritual can be divided into two basic phases- the kiddushinor engagement phase and nissu'in or the actual wedding. 

While kiddushin leads to a change in the conjugal status of the bride and groom, nissu'in or the actual wedding is important to bring a legal change.  Kiddushin is a ring ceremony where the groom places a ring on the bride's right index finger and the bride just clenches her fist to show her acceptance. However, one the day on the day of nissu'in, the couple is joined in matrimony, under the chuppah.

Jain Wedding 
Jain religion also forms an important part of Indian society. They have a very interesting culture that adds to the diversity of Indian traditions. Marriage is considered to be very pious in Jain religion. As the Jain community does not believe in wasting time and money over the pomp and show of marriage, they Jain marriage is comparatively a less extravagant and more ritualistic affair.   

The most important rituals of Jain Wedding Ceremony are Phere, Kanyavaran, Havan and Granthi Bandhan. Once these four rituals are completed, the wedding of the couple is said to have been solemnized.

MUSLIM MARRIAGE ACT

India is land of diverse culture and religions. People of many religions live here with peace and harmony. Though similar constitutional rights and duties are assigned to all the citizens of the country, they are free to abide by their own social and religious belief.  The marriage acts of different religions are framed in the Indian constitution in accordance with their social and religious set up, as the Hindu Marriages are framed according to the Hindu cultural beliefs and customs, the Muslim Marriage Act has been framed keeping in mind the social, religious and cultural traditions of the Muslims. Given below are the basic interpretations of the various sections of Muslim Marriage Act, for the understanding of common men� Basic Interpretations Of Muslim Marriage Act Under the law, Nikah or marriage is a civil contract and may be permanent or temporary and no religious ceremony or ritual is necessary. It states that to have a valid Nikah or marriage under the Muslim law, presence of a Qazi or priest is not necessary. Merely a proposal in the presence and hearing of two normal males or one normal Muslim male and two normal Muslim female adults, and acceptance of the said proposals at the same time constitute a legal wedding under the Muslim Personal Law. The Muslim Marriage law permits a man four wives if he treats all of them equally. It is assumed that on completion of 15 years of age, a person attains puberty. If a person is of sound mind, normal and has attained puberty his or her marriage cannot be performed without his or her consent. To have a legal and valid marriage following conditions are to be satisfied like both should be of sound mind or the guardian in marriage should act on behalf of the person of unsound mind in arranging the marriage contract. Either the parties should have attained the age of puberty or the guardian in marriage on behalf of the party concerned should enter into the marriage contract. In case of divorce a husband can leave his wife without any reasons merely by pronouncing the word "Talak" thrice. However for a Muslim woman to obtain divorce certain conditions are necessary. The husband and the wife with mutual agreement can also put an end to the marriage. There are certain prohibited relationships, whose marriage is considered void. Like mother and son, grandmother and grandson, uncle and niece, brother and sister and nephew and aunt. There is a slight variation in the laws that govern the Sunni and Shia Marraiges. However, the basic elements are same in both of the cases.

SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT

The main reason behind the enactment of the Special Marriage Act was to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India and all Indians residing in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party, to perform the intended the marriage. According to the Act, the bride and the groom shall observe any ceremonies for the solemnization of their marriage, provided they complete certain formalities that are prescribed for the marriage, by the Act. The Special Marriage Act 1954 has proved to be beneficial for the NRIs, because it provides for the appointment of diplomatic and consular officers as marriage officers (registrars), for solemnizing and registering marriages between citizens of India, in a foreign country. The Special Marriage Act 1954 is applicable throughout India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Check out the clauses of the Act in the following lines. Special Marriage Act 1954 The Special Marriage Act states that a marriage between two persons can be legalized, only if the following conditions are satisfied at the time of marriage. Neither of the two has a spouse living, at the time of the marriage. Neither of the two is incapable of giving a valid consent to the marriage due to unsoundness of mind. Neither of the party has been suffering from mental ailments to such an extent, that they are unfit for marriage and the procreation of children. Neither party has been subjected to recurrent attacks of epilepsy or insanity. At the time of marriage, the groom should be of twenty-one years of age and the bride should be of eighteen years of age. Both the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship; provided where a custom governing at least one of the parties permits of a marriage between them, such marriage may be solemnized, notwithstanding that they are within the degrees of prohibited relationship. If the marriage is solemnized in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, both parties should be the citizens of India, domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends. When a marriage is intended to be performed in accordance with the Act, the parties of the marriage shall give notice in writing, in the Form specified in the Second Schedule to the Marriage Officer of the district, where the marriage is going to be solemnized. The marriage shall be solemnized after the expiration of thirty days of the notice period that has been published under sub-section of the Act. At least one of the parties going to perform the marriage should have resided for a period of not less than thirty days, immediately preceding the date on which the notice for marriage is issued to the registrar. The marriage officer is bound to display the notice of the intended marriage, by affixing a copy to some conspicuous place in his office. If the marriage officer refuses to solemnize the intended marriage, then within a period of thirty days of the intended marriage, either party can prefer an appeal to the District Court, within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the marriage officer has his office. The decision of the DistrictCourt, regarding the solemnization of the intended marriage, shall be final.

PARSI WEDDING CEREMONY

Like other Indian marriages, thewedding rituals and customs of Parsi community are also spread over a couple of days. In Parsi wedding also, the wedding celebrations are divided into three parts- pre wedding rituals, wedding day rituals and post wedding rituals. 




As marriage is a religious ritual encouraged in the Parsi religion, Parsi people consider marriage to be an occasion of social as well as religious celebrations. If you are keen about knowing the details of the Parsi wedding ceremony, given below is the detailed description of the Parsi marriage traditions from Pre-Marriage to Post Marriage Traditions.

Pre Wedding Rituals

Among the pre wedding rituals or customs we have Madhavsaro, which is celebrated four days before the lagan(marriage day), the families of the bride and groom each plant a young tree in a pot, amidst recitation of prayers by the family priest, and place this at the entrance of their homes. Generally a mango plant is used for this ceremony as it is treated as a symbol of fertility. The plant is watered every morning till the eighth day after the wedding and then transplanted elsewhere.

�Adarni' is the third day before the lagan and it is celebrated as a day for exchange of gifts. On this day the groom's family visits the bride's home and presents her with all kinds of gifts like clothes, jewelry, etc. The relatives, neighbors and friends are invited for a traditional meal of sev and dahi, boiled eggs and bananas. The immediate day before the wedding is called �Supra nu Murat' it is more like the mehendi and haldi ceremony of the Hindus. 

In this ritual four married women are given a supra each, containing paan, supari, haldi, dates and a piece of coconut. While singing traditional songs, these supras are exchanged seven times among the women cross-wise, length-wise and breadth-wise. A fifth lady sits in the middle with a khalbatto and dry turmeric. Then a paste of it is applied by all to the groom and bride along with a showering of blessings.

Wedding Day Rituals

�Nahan' is the day of the lagan. On the occasion of Nahan, the staircase, doorway and gate is decorated with beautiful decorative designs of rangoli(colorful motifs). According to the Zorastrians the time immediately after sunset or very early in the morning is considered auspicious for marriage. For the marriage ceremony the bride dresses in her �Madhavate', the white, ornate wedding saree given by her parents, while the groom wears the traditional �Parsi Dagli and Feta', a white kurta like garment and a black cap. The Parsi lagan is called �Achumichu', which takes place either at a Baug or at an Agiary (the fire temple). 

A stage is build up for the couple and before they step on it, the groom first, a ritual called Achumichu is performed. The bride's mother takes a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice, coconut, dates and water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be. In Ara antar ceremony the couple is made to sit facing each other with a cloth held between them, so they cannot see the other. Among the other main day rituals are Chero bandhvanu and Haath borvanu.

Post Wedding Rituals

In the post-wedding rituals the reception is held in a grand manner with varied menu of food, drink and music. The party is a whole night affair where all the guests have a lovely time. The menu mainly comprises of traditional Parsi dishes like Parsi bhonu like sarya (crisps), achaar - rotli (pickle and rotis), patra ni macchi (steamed fish), salli margi (chicken with potato crisps), lagan nu custard, pulao-dal and ice cream. The wedding ceremony ends with the couple being accompanied home by the bride's family and the Achumichu being performed once again by the groom's mother for the well being of the couple.

SIKH WEDDING RITUALS

The Sikh wedding is generally held in Gurudwara, amidst the preacher of the religious place, family, friends and relatives. When it comes to a Sikh Indian wedding, the festive ambiance is set a week before the ceremony. The groom's sister and the bride's father play a prominent role during the wedding ceremony, apart from the family members. The Sikh marriage is a simple, yet elegant occasion wherein various rituals are followed before, during and after it. Given below is detailed information on the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals followed by Sikhs.

Sikh Wedding Customs

Pre-Wedding Rituals
Shagun or engagement is the ceremony that marks the beginning of the Sikh wedding celebrations. The ceremony is also called Tilak, which is performed by a bhaiji (preacher) of the Gurudwara. He reads hymns and then applies a tilak on the groom's forehead, to mark the engagement ceremony. On the occasion, the families of the prospective bride and the groom exchange gifts in order to confirm the engagement of the couple. 

The bride's father takes care of the ceremonial activities of the engagement. As a part of the shagun, a thali containing coconut, dry dates, sugar and money are sent to the groom's family by the bride's family.

Choora or the bangle ceremony is another important Sikh pre-wedding ritual. The occasion is organized at the bride's home, wherein the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride adorn her wrist with white and red bangles. Ornaments made of silver and gold, known as kalira, are tied to the bangles. 

The third pre-wedding custom followed by Sikhs is 'maiya', according to which, the bride and the groom are not allowed to leave their house for few days prior to the wedding. Gana is a pre-wedding ritual wherein an auspicious red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride, at their respective homes. It is regarded as a sacred thread that protects the bride and the groom from ill omen.

Vatna is a ritual celebrated a few days before the wedding ceremony. According to the tradition followed by the Sikhs, vatna, a scented powder consisting of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil, is smeared to the bride and the groom. This is followed by an auspicious bath.Mehndi is another pre-wedding ritual organized on the eve of the marriage.During the ceremony, henna (mehndi) is applied on the hands and the feet of the bride.

Wedding Rituals
Gharoli is observed in the morning of the wedding day, at the groom's home. During the occasion, the groom's sister-in-law, accompanied by other female relatives, go to a nearby well or Gurudwara to fill an earther pitcher (gharoli) with water, which is later used to bathe and the groom. This is followed by the wedding ceremony, which is called 'milni'. The groom's sisters tie a sehera (floral veil) to his forehead. They adorn his neck with a garland of currency notes. The groom's procession then heads towards the bride's house, where the milni ceremony is held.

During the milni ceremony, the bride and the groom's families embrace and wish each other. Shabads are sung and the ardaas recited as the procession enters the Gurudwara breakfast is served to the guests.After the culmination of the milni ceremony, the bride and the groom sit together to attend the Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan. 

The groom's sister drapes a chunni around his neck. She ties one end of the chunni to the pallu of the lehanga worn by the bride. The chunni could be pink, red or orange in color.Thereafter, the bhaiji of the Gurudwara recites hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which are then sung and the bride and groom, who encircle the Guru Granth Sahib. While walking around the Guru Granth Sahib, the groom leads the bride, with a sword in his hand. The marriage ceremony culminates here. This is followed by a grand feast.

Post-Wedding Rituals
The post-wedding rituals of a traditional Sikh wedding consist of vidaai or doli ceremony, which marks the end of the celebration. It is a very emotional affair for the bride's family. As the bride departs from her parent's house, she throws back handful of rice over her shoulder, thereby wishing prosperity for her parents and family, which she leaves behind to start a new life with new dreams and aspirations.

MARRIAGE LEGALITIES IN INDIA

India is a land of many cultures and religions. So, it is important to remember the various legalities involved in marriages of different religion and community. India being a cosmopolitan country accepts personal laws of its citizen. As a result each citizen of India is entitled to have his own personal laws in the matter of marriage and divorce. 

In all the religions of India, marriage is considered to be a sacred ritual that is why this relationship is held in high regard in the Indian culture; however various legal implications are introduced in the marital regulations of the society, in order to overrule any discrepancy. In case you want to understand the basic marital legalities in India, here are few points you can refer to�

Basic Interpretation of Various Marriage Acts in India

• It is important for everybody to know that all marriages should be registered to make it legal.
• There are different rules and regulations for different religions. Like there are Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, and Christian Marriage Act and for the Parsee there is Parsee Marriage and Divorce Act.
• Hindus are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, under which the bridegroom should be the age of 21 years and bride of 18 years, they both should be Hindus and should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship.
• Divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 can be obtained on the various grounds.
• Hindu Marriage is applicable also to the Buddhist, Jain or Sikh religions and the person who is not a Muslim Christian, Parsi or Jew, and who is not governed by any other law.

• Muslims also have their own personal law, which states that Nikah or marriage is a contract and may be permanent or temporary and permits a man four wives if he treats all of them equally.
• A Muslim marriage requires proposal (Ijab) from one party and acceptance (Qubul) from the other to legally solemnize a marriage. Marriage without free consent would be void and also, if it is proved that such consent has been obtained by means of coercion, fraud or undue influence.
• Similarly for the Parsees there is a Parsee Marriage & Divorce Act, 1936, which governs their provisions of their marriage and divorce.
• By the Parsi Marriage and Divorce (Amendment) Act, 1988 (5 of 1988), the extent of certain provisions of the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 have been widened so as to bring them in line with the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Bigamy or Polygamy is punishable offence in Parsi Religion.
• For Indian Christian there is an Indian Christian Marriage Act 1889. The Christian marriage in India can be solemnized by any person or bishop who is either a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, any licensed minister of the religion or any licensed registrar. A person who has received episcopal ordination can also solemnize a Christian marriage.
• Persons of any religion who get married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 are governed by the said act. Those who get married under a civil marriage or no formal marriage ceremony marry under the Special Marriage Act, 1954; do not need to take any further legal steps because in this case

KANYADAAN

A Hindu Wedding is very elaborate and ritualistic.  There are several compulsory rituals in a Hindu wedding that hold immense significance and deep rooted meaning in the Hindu Religion. The rituals of the Hindu wedding ceremony start days before the actual wedding ceremony.  Sagaai is the first step towards the formal announcement of a marriage which is followed by various other rituals like Sagan, Haldi, Sangeet and Mehandi. Apart from the religious and ritualistic nature, a Hindu wedding is also quite an emotional affair. The most emotional of all the rituals of the Hindu Marriage is Kanyadaan when the father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom. On the wedding day, the complete marriage ritual last lasts for hours due to several small and big customs that are considered auspicious as well as vital for solemnizing a marriage. Among all the main day wedding rituals, kanyadaan is the most vital and significant ritual. Kanya Daan literary means gifting away a virgin, the word is actually a combination of two words, Kanya and Daan, where in Kanya means a virgin and Daan means donation. The ritual of Kanya Daan is performed just before the Mangalphere. Kanyadaan is a ritual in which the bride's father entrust her daughter to the groom, who is at the time of marriage considered to be a form of Lord Vishnu.  As a condition for offering his daughter to the groom for marriage, the father of the bride asks a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in achieving three important goals of the life- dharma, artha, and kama. The ritual of Kanya Daan is considered very auspicious in Hindu religion. It is a very pious and dutiful ritual which is said to bring fortune as well as relief from the sins for the bride's parents. In the ritual of kanyadaan the bride's parents normally her father or in his absence any elderly relative give their daughter to the groom by putting the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand (Hastamelap, which means joining of hands) while reciting sacred verse. The curtain separating the bride and groom is then removed and then the couple exchange flower garlands.  When the father of the bride gives away his daughter to the groom, followed by the offering of gifts and presents, then the elders of the family place an auspicious white cotton cord around the couple's shoulder's to protect them from ill omen since cotton signifies unity, the bride and the groom shower each other with rice. This ritual is a symbol of couple's bond and love. The groom holds the bride's hand and they both take vows to love, be loyal, committed and protect each other throughout their life.

INDIAN WEDDING FACTS

Indian wedding is a perfect blend of serious rituals and customs along with other fun filled rituals and frothy moments. Wedding marks the beginning of a new relationship not just between two individuals but also between two families and thus, there are various moments in the wedding ceremonies that help to build new relationships. 

Every caste and community has its own tradition and culture. India with such diverse cultural background showcases variety of rituals and customs. Here are few very interesting facts about various kinds of Indian Wedding:

Interesting Indian Wedding Facts

• In many communities in the Hindu Religion, there is a wedding ritual in which the sisters-in-law hide the shoes of their jija or brother-in-law and return them only in exchange for money. It's a very fun filled and enjoying ritual.
• In some communities, there are rituals where the hands of the couple are covered with a sacred cloth to ward off ill omen and evil eye during the pheras.
• In Parsee marriage ceremonies, the sisters-in-law take gifts from their brother-in-law during the ritual of Haath Boravanu where the groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he pays money to them, Pag Dhovanu is another such ritual where the groom is threatened with milk on his shoes and chero chorvanu is a ritual in which seven strands of thread tying the couple are removed on payment.
• In Gujarati custom the groom's mother-in-law tries to catch his nose on arrival of the baraat, as a reminder of the fact that he is taking away their daughter and is now responsible for her happiness.
• Aeki-Beki is also very fun filled rituals among the Gujarati community. A tray or pot of water is mixed with milk and vermillion. A ring and a few coins are thrown into the mixture. The bride and groom are given seven chances to fish out the ring. The winner is considered as having a dominating personality and it is predicted amidst much laughter that he or she will rule the roost!
• In Punjabi custom the bride's wear a Chuda, this is a set of red and ivory bangles by her maternal uncle. This custom is considered good omen for the bride as it is said to bring good luck to the bride in her new home.
• Punjabi brides wear Kaleeres. These are silver or gold plated ornaments tied to the Chudas. It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the Kaleere. One interesting ritual related with the Kaleere is the custom in which a bride shakes her Kaleere over the unmarried girls in her family. It is said that if the Kaleere falls on the head of any of them, she is the next one to be married.
• Another ritual which is found in almost every community is when the groom brings home his new bride; the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in. This is a fun filled and amusing ritual.

MUSLIM WEDDING CEREMONY

Muslim wedding ceremony is celebrated with grandeur. Muslim wedding, nown as 'Nikaah' in Urdu, can take place at any convenient time, because there is nothing like muhurat (the auspicious time) for the Muslims. Traditionally, the Muslim wedding is held at either the bride or the groom's home. 

However, in the present time, due to convenience and the availability of enough space to accommodate the long list of guests, Muslim weddings are organized in banquet halls, auditorium as well as community centers. Wherever the wedding is held, all the rituals of the three phases of wedding are strictly followed by the Muslims.

Muslim wedding is divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding rituals. Pre-wedding rituals largely involve the exchange of sweets, fruits and visits to the bride and groom's houses. The pre-wedding rituals increase the level of excitement among the families of the bride and groom, who keenly look forward to the wedding day. 

The wedding is organized in an elegant and charming way, while the culmination of the entire ceremony, known as post wedding rituals, is special in its own terms. If you are keen about knowing more about Muslim wedding, then go through our section, where we have provided detailed information on the rituals of Muslim wedding.

Muslim Pre-Wedding Rituals
Known as 'Nikah' in Urdu, the Muslim marriage is the most important ceremony for the Islam. It is a much awaited occasion, wherein the union of two souls is celebrated in an elegant and charming way. It is not just restricted to a single day. The formal procedures are divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding, each being different from the other.

Muslim Wedding Rituals
Wedding is an important turning point in everyone's life. The ceremonious occasion is organized and celebrated in myriad ways all around the world. Different communities of the society have their own way of organizing the most important occasion. The wedding rituals are broadly divided according to the religions.

Muslim Post-Wedding Rituals
In India, wedding is something that cannot be restricted to a single-day celebration. People in different communities, following different religions, have their own way of honoring the newly wed couple, post marriage. The post-wedding rituals followed by Muslims are divided into four phases, wherein the bride is bid goodbye by her family and is welcomed to her 'new home', by the groom's family.

HINDU MARRIAGE ACT

Unlike West, marriage in India is regarded more as a religious and social affair than a legal affair. Despite a very detailed chapter on the Indian marriages in the Indian constitution, most of the people in the country are unaware of the laws associated with marriages. 


In a cosmopolitan culture like India where umpteen numbers of cultures and religion prevail under the same canopy, it is very difficult to regulate all the customs by same kind of regulation especially of the matter is related with sensitive issues like marriage and hierarchy. Therefore, different kinds of Marriage Acts have been defined for different religions in the country. The Hindu marriage is governed by, �The Hindu Marriage Act', which came into existence on 18 May 1955.

Basic Provisions of Hindu Marriage Act

• The provision under the Act is that it applies to any person who is Hindu by religion and it is also applicable to Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhsas well as and the person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew, and who is not governed by any other law.
• It extends to the entire India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and it is applicable to Hindus domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are outside the said territories.
• Under this law the bridegroom should be of 21 years of age and the bride should be of 18 years of age. They both should be Hindu by origin and should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship. Neither party should have a spouse living nor any party should be subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy, either of them should not be suffering from mental disorders or should not be unfit for marriage and procreation of children and both should be of sound mind and capable of giving valuable consent.
• Bigamy or Polygamy is now prohibited and as per law it is treated as an offence under the Indian Penal code.
• Just like marriages the law also governs divorces. Under the law divorce can be obtained on the grounds of adultery, cruelty, desertion for two years, conversion in religion, unsound mind, etc.
• The Hindu Marriage law has also described certain prohibited relationships whose marriage is not legalized. Like father and daughter, son and mother, brother and sister and many more.
• The Hindu Marriage act also does not set any prescribe or particular ceremonial for marriage. It states that a Hindu marriage may be formalized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party. Where rituals include the saptapadi (seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage is said to be solemnized once the seventh step is taken.
• It has now become mandatory to register a Hindu Marriage.