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The main Indian wedding traditions explained, from mehndi and sangeet to the seven steps, the Sikh laavan and the nikah, and how customs differ by region and faith.
There is no single Indian wedding. Traditions depend on religion (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Jain and others), region, language and family. Many Hindu weddings share a recognisable core: pre-wedding events such as the mehndi and sangeet, the groom's arrival procession (baraat), a ceremony around a sacred fire ending in the seven steps (saptapadi), and the bride's farewell (vidaai). Sikh couples marry by circling the Guru Granth Sahib four times, and Muslim couples sign a nikah contract. Celebrations commonly run over several days.
Common Indian wedding traditions and their meaning: Mehndi, Many communities, across faiths, Henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet, Adornment and celebration with the women of the family; Sangeet, Especially North India, An evening of music and dance, Families meet and celebrate before the ceremony; Haldi, Many Hindu communities, Turmeric paste is applied to the couple, Blessing and preparation; Baraat, North India, The groom arrives in procession with his family, His family's joyful arrival at the bride's side; Kanyadaan, Hindu, The bride's parents give her hand in marriage, The parents' blessing of the union; Saptapadi (saat phere), Hindu, Seven steps or rounds around a sacred fire, Seven vows; the marriage is considered complete after the seventh; Laavan, Sikh, Four rounds around the Guru Granth Sahib, Four stages of spiritual and married life; Nikah, Muslim, Consent and a signed marriage contract, The legal and religious marriage; Vidaai, Hindu, especially North India, The bride leaves her family home, Farewell and a new beginning.
A Hindu wedding is a series of rites rather than one moment, and the exact order depends on region and community. The ceremony usually takes place under a canopy (mandap) in front of a sacred fire, led by a priest reciting in Sanskrit.
The Sikh wedding is called the Anand Karaj, the "blissful ceremony". It usually takes place in a gurdwara in the morning. At its heart are the four laavan: hymns composed by Guru Ram Das, sung while the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, four times. The groom leads, and the couple hold either end of a scarf (palla). Marriages by this rite were recognised in law by the Anand Marriage Act of 1909.
For Muslim couples the nikah is the marriage itself: both partners consent, witnesses are present, and a contract is signed that includes the mahr, a gift promised to the bride. Many Indian Muslim families also hold mehndi and other pre-wedding events and a reception (walima) afterwards.
India's regions produce very different weddings, even within the same faith.
Many Indian weddings span several days, with the mehndi, sangeet and haldi on the days before the ceremony and a reception after it. Smaller weddings may fold everything into one or two days. Each event can have its own guest list, which is why the invitation and RSVP side of an Indian wedding is unusually involved. For comparison with other cultures, see how long are weddings around the world.
Going as a guest? What to expect at an Indian wedding covers dress, timings and etiquette in detail. In short: bright colours are welcome, check with the couple before wearing all white or all black, cover your head in a gurdwara, and expect to remove your shoes at a temple or gurdwara.
Couples blending an Indian ceremony with another tradition often hold two ceremonies, or one long day with both. How to plan a multicultural wedding and why some cultures have multiple wedding ceremonies go into the options. When several events have different guest lists, it helps to track who is invited to which: Forever Farrah lets you send RSVPs per event and see each event's head count separately.
The saptapadi is the Hindu rite in which the couple take seven steps, or walk seven times around a sacred fire, making one vow at each step. The marriage is considered complete after the seventh.
Red is traditional for brides in many parts of North India, where it is associated with auspiciousness and marriage. It isn't universal: many South Indian brides wear silk saris in other colours, and Christian brides often wear white.
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