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Indian Wedding Theme

 

Many couples love Western weddings, but they want to do something unique, especially if they come from non-Western cultures. Indian weddings are growing in popularity in the United States, and more couples are embracing elements from this culture as ways to add something special to their own weddings.

Traditions

Indian weddings include plenty of traditions. For example, the groom usually arrives on a horse in an almost parade-like fashion. To show that they accept each other, the bride and groom place flower garlands around each other's necks.

When the bride enters for the ceremony, her father places her hand ceremoniously in the hand of her future husband – similar to how fathers “give away” their daughters in Western ceremonies. At the end of the ceremony, the guests toss flowers at the bride and groom as they exit the location.

Rituals

Like most cultures' wedding ceremonies, Indian weddings involve plenty of rituals which are based in their religion. In this case, that religion is Hinduism. For example, the marriage ceremony begins with the officiant calling upon Lord Ganesha to bless the couple in all part of their life. This is known as the Ganesh Puja.

Another example is the Gath Bandhan & Phere. During this portion of the ceremony, parts of the couple's clothing are tied together to symbolize their unity. Usually, the bride's sister or another close female relative will read an appropriate passage from the Geeta then the couple will take seven steps together which will symbolize their prayers for prosperity and good fortune in their married lives. This is known as the Sapta Padi.

Style

Like Chinese and Catholic weddings, the Indian wedding ceremony is also fairly formal and follows important established rules that are based in long-standing customs and religious practices. However, if you are simply choosing to incorporate some elements of an Indian wedding into your ceremony, you can still be more casual or semi-formal if you want. Remember that Indian weddings are associated with very rich colors, usually reds and golds predominantly.

Decorations

Decorating for an Indian-themed wedding usually will involve purchasing some special cultural items. A bandarwal, for example, is a traditional Indian decoration that hangs over the door. You can also purchase small statues of Ganesh – a god representing good luck in Hinduism – that can be used to decorate the tables. Flowers and any rich colors can also be perfect for decorations.

Food

Choosing a menu for your Indian-themed wedding can actually be more challenging than you think. Because there are so many different regions in the country and so many different types of food preferences, you may have trouble narrowing down your menu options sufficiently. Usually, the menu should consist of several dishes and at least one type of Indian bread, such as Naan. Some dishes you may consider include Kesar Chawal which is a type of saffron-flavored rice, Palak Gosht which is lamb served with spinach, or palak paneer which is spinach mixed with cottage cheese. Many types of curry or lamb dishes would also be appropriate.

Clothing

The traditional wedding dress for an Indian bride is the sari which is a single piece of fabric that is draped over the body. Beneath the sari the woman usually wears a type of Indian blouse and petticoat. Many of these dresses are elaborately designed in rich, brilliant colors – definitely not plain white. Men wear sherwani which are long coat-like garments which are usually worn over other clothing. These coats are normally only worn for special occasions.

Favor Ideas

Your wedding favors can include small statues of Ganesh made from metal which represent good luck for your guests. If you want something different, consider giving each guest a silver coin engraved with your names and the date of your wedding. Another option is to give each guest a puja thali, a type of dish used during Hindu prayers.

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