Preparing for a traditional Indian wedding ceremony can be thrilling and exciting. It's the perfect opportunity for embracing Indian culture, so you can honor your heritage and show family and friends the depth of love you have for your soon-to-be-life partner.
These popular Indian wedding traditions are more than just rituals and traditions. They're a way to show your family and friends your love.
With these traditions come responsibilities that must be respected, and many of them involve the bride's parents and the groom's family playing important roles on your big day.
The beautiful array of intricate symbolism on your wedding day—ranging from the sacred fire at the center of the ceremony to the floral garlands adorning the venue, and the gold jewelry worn by Indian brides—creates an unforgettable experience.
It's a day when female family members, wedding guests, wedding party members, and the entire family can come together to celebrate the union of you and your partner.
There are tons of traditional ceremonies to include in your Indian wedding celebration. Each enriches the special day with meaningful gestures and powerful customs. The groom's procession, the lighting of the holy fire, and the bride's brother playing his special role, are all special elements with serious depth and significance.
Below are 13 of our favorite Indian wedding traditions. We recommend incorporating them into your wedding to create a day everyone fondly remembers forever. Read on to learn more.
1. The Tilak Ceremony
The Tilak Ceremony is a heartfelt pre-wedding tradition that signifies the formal acceptance of the groom by the bride's family.
In this ceremony, the bride’s father (or elder male family members) applies a red vermillion mark (tilak) on the groom's forehead. The tilak is a symbol of blessings, respect, and goodwill that marks the beginning of the wedding celebrations.
The two families also give each other gifts in addition to the tilak, which can be clothes, sweets, and even jewelry.
It’s an intimate gathering that helps foster a deeper connection, creating a sense of unity before the main wedding events begin, and a wonderful way to set a positive, welcoming vibe that makes the groom and his family feel embraced by the bride's family.
2. The Jago Ceremony
The Jago ceremony is a lively, traditional Punjabi pre-wedding ceremony that takes place the night before the wedding.
The word Jago means "wake up," and the ceremony is all about waking up the community to celebrate the upcoming marriage.
During Jago, the bride's and groom's families walk through the streets, singing and dancing, while carrying decorated copper pots with lit candles on their heads.
3. The Mehndi Ceremony
Every Indian bride needs a Mehndi ceremony. This ceremony is a sort of bridal party common in Hindu weddings that focuses exclusively on the bride-to-be.
During the Mehendi, the bride's hands and feet are adorned with henna tattoos by her female friends and family members.
The bride wears these intricate henna designs on her hands and feet to provide a stunning visual element that elevates her look to new heights on the day of the ceremony.
The Mehendi is one of the oldest and most important traditions in Indian weddings. This fun, festive wedding party is an excellent opportunity for the bride to relax and unwind with her loved ones before the main ceremony begins.
4. The Sangeet Ceremony
The Sangeet ceremony is one of the most joyous moments in any Indian wedding. Families and friends from both sides of the wedding gather for this day-long affair to celebrate with music, dance, and of course, tons of love!
This special occasion involves elegant costumes and lively decorations. Usually, it takes place a day or two before the big event.
Before joining the lively crowd, both the bride and groom often take some time to be in their own reverent space. Meanwhile, their families perform interactive skits expressing their excitement over the wedding. Talented artists then entertain all in attendance with singing and dancing to create an energetic evening full of rich memories as family and friends come together.
5. The Haldi Ceremony
The Haldi ceremony takes place a few days before the actual wedding. This fun ceremony is something that newlywed couples always look forward to.
The intimate event involves beloved family and friends anointing the bride and groom with a paste made from turmeric, oils, and other fragrant ingredients.
The Haldi ceremony takes place a few days before the actual wedding. This intimate ceremony brings a blend of tradition, fun, and joy. It's a time when the Indian couple's families can come together in a beautiful union.
In this ceremony, the bride and groom wear special outfits, chosen with care to reflect the serious nature of commitment. The groom's shoes are set aside as he sits for the ceremony, symbolizing his readiness to walk into a new life.
The ceremony involves anointing the bride and groom with a paste made from turmeric, oils, and other fragrant ingredients. This paste is gently applied to the bride's head and neck and the groom's forehead as a symbol of protection and blessings from Hindu goddesses.
The act is believed to shield the couple from negative energy and cleanse them in preparation for their union, paving the way for virtuous children and harmonious married life.
As the groom joins hands with the bride, they are surrounded by love and laughter, strengthening a bond that will carry them through their life together. The Haldi ceremony is a celebration of love, family, and the spiritual journey that the groom takes towards his future with his bride.
6. The Ghudchadi Ceremony
The Ghudchadi ceremony is an integral and vibrant pre-wedding ritual in Indian wedding traditions. Often celebrated in the context of two Indian weddings, this ceremony unfolds days before the main event, setting the tone for the union of the Indian couple.
During this auspicious ceremony, both the bride and groom, adorned in their respective traditional attire. They visit both families, starting with the bride's. Here, she is often adorned with elegant jewelry around her neck to signify her transition into married life.
The Ghudchadi ceremony is a great way to involve more of your loved ones in the most memorable day of your life. Endless smiles, joyous laughter, and overflowing love make this ceremony a great opportunity for photos – and a must-have event for every great Indian wedding.
7. The Baraat Ceremony
The Baraat stands out as one of the most memorable Indian wedding traditions, marking the beginning of the wedding date. It's the equivalent of the "grand entrance" in an Indian wedding.
It signifies the groom's journey to meet the bride, often seen as a key moment in the transition from single to married life. This procession features the Indian groom making his way to the ceremony.
During this spectacular event, the groom wears extravagant clothing and traditionally arrives on a white horse as a symbol of his purity and virtue.
Lively music, vibrant colors, and dancing make the Baraat an impressive spectacle. As the procession reaches its destination, either the bride or her representative warmly receives the groom. This is where the groom joins hands with the bride, often touching her head in a gesture of affection, ready to take the seven steps around the ceremonial fire pit, each step representing a vow for their future together.
When the groom arrives the atmosphere is electric – you can almost feel the anticipation for the upcoming sacred ceremonies in the air. The couple then travels together to the wedding venue, where a reception awaits, filled with joyous celebrations and feasting, marking the Indian couple's new beginning.
8. The Jaimala Ceremony
This captivating experience takes place during traditional Indian weddings and provides a heightened sense of celebration and joy.
During the Jaimala ceremony, both the bride and the groom cross the aisle to join and exchange garlands, which they place around each other's necks as their families beam happily in the background.
As the ritual begins, the groom makes his way toward the bride, often guided by the bride's family, as a symbol of the joining of two lives. Then, the bride makes her way toward the groom.
This ceremony is an auspicious symbol of love, commitment, and respect. It memorializes the moment the groom lifts his partner's veil to see them smiling for the first time on their special day.
The Jaimala is a beautiful and intimate moment where couples can express love and devotion in front of their loved ones. It's an emotional ceremony that brides and grooms will cherish forever.
9. The Kanyadaan Ceremony
The Kanyadaan ceremony is integral to traditional Indian weddings and one of the most sentimental moments for the bride and her family. This ceremony stands as a vivid testament to love, commitment, and respect between the bride and groom.
In this poignant moment the bride's father gives her hand to the groom. The groom receives her as they both join hands, symbolizing the unity and strength of their new bond.
This gesture signifies the transfer of responsibility for the bride's well-being from her father to her new partner. The bride's neck is often adorned with jewelry as a symbol of her new status as a married woman.
The Kanyadaan ceremony takes place after the Jaimala. It's a highly emotional ceremony that marks the beginning of the bride's new life as a married woman.
10. The Mandap Ceremony
The Mandap Ceremony is a quintessential part of Indian weddings with deep roots in tradition and symbolism. This ceremony takes place under the Mandap, a beautifully decorated canopy that signifies the universe and sacred union.
During the Mandap Ceremony, the couple sits in front of a holy fire, or 'Agni', which symbolizes purity and acts as a witness to the vows they exchange.
The ceremony includes several other rituals like the 'Saptapadi' or 'Seven Steps', where the bride and groom walk around the fire, each step representing a marital vow and a promise for their life together.
This ceremony is also where the 'Mangal Sutra' is tied around the bride's neck by the groom, signifying their marital bond, and the bride's head is adorned with 'Sindoor', marking her as a married woman.
The Mandap Ceremony is a defining moment in Indian weddings. It's when the bride and groom exchange a harmonious blend of solemn vows and display their commitment to family and friends. If you want to learn more, check out our related article about ideas for the Mandap.
11. The Saptapadi Ceremony
The Saptapadi is one of the most sacred and important rituals in a Hindu wedding. During this ceremony, the bride and groom take seven steps around a holy fire, with each step representing a specific vow they make to one another.
The vows themselves cover everything from mutual love and respect to lifelong companionship and support. The fire, called the Agni, symbolizes purity and serves as a witness to the couple’s commitment to each other.
As the couple completes the seven steps, their bond is considered sealed, and they are officially married! This ritual powerfully represents the strength and unity of the marriage, and is a beautiful tradition to include in your wedding.
12. The Vidaai Ceremony
The Vidaai Ceremony is an emotional farewell ritual that marks the end of the wedding festivities. It represents the bride's departs from her parental home and begins her journey to her husband's home, where she'll start a new chapter in her life.
During Vidai, the bride throws a handful of rice over her shoulder as a gesture of repaying her debt to her parents for her upbringing and as a way of seeking blessings in her new home. The bride's departure is often accompanied by tears and poignant moments, as it signifies the end of her life as a daughter in her parental home and the beginning of her role as a wife and daughter-in-law in her new family.
As the bride leaves with the groom, there are often scenes of mixed emotions – joy for the new life ahead and sadness for the separation from her family. Still, the Vidai Ceremony is a beautiful representation of the Indian family structure and the deep bonds that Indian weddings celebrate and honor.
13. The Aashirwad Ceremony
The Aashirwad ceremony is a cherished ritual in Indian weddings, where the groom's parents bestow their blessing upon the bride.
This poignant moment often involves touching the bride's forehead and neck with sacred symbols, a gesture meant to show the family's acceptance and love. Surrounded by close family and friends, the newly married couple stands at the center of this ceremony, hands joined in unity.
This meaningful ceremony symbolizes the union of two families, blending traditions and cultures. It's a perfect embodiment of Hindu culture, often marked by the mother-in-law presenting the bride with a traditional red sari, symbolizing her welcome into the groom's house. The bride's parents giving their blessings alongside the groom's family creates an atmosphere of eternal happiness.
Including this ceremony on your wedding day is a great way to involve more of your loved ones. Imagine the scene adorned with colorful flowers, and the air filled with the aroma of the delicious Indian wedding menu, served buffet style at the reception feast.
The Aashirwad sets a tone of reverence and joy, paving the way for the rest of the wedding celebrations. Whether it's at the bride's home or another venue, this ceremony ensures that your wedding day is one where every step – from the groom's walk to the dance floor – is filled with love and meaningful traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There A Difference Between Hindu Weddings And Indian Weddings?
The terms are often used interchangeably in the US, but there is a difference.
A Hindu wedding is a type of religious ceremony that follows Hindu traditions, with specific rituals like walking around a fire and exchanging garlands.
On the other hand, an Indian wedding refers to any wedding that happens in India or among Indian people.
Indian weddings can include many different religions and cultures besides Hinduism, like Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity.
In other words, a Hindu wedding is one kind of Indian wedding, but not all Indian weddings are Hindu weddings.
What Are Some Traditions Specific To Hindu Weddings?
We've mentioned a few Hindu wedding traditions above!
One is the Saptapadi, where the couple takes seven steps around a sacred fire, each step representing a vow of commitment.
Then there's the Kanyadaan ceremony, where the bride’s parents give her away to the groom. The groom ties a sacred necklace called a mangalsutra around the bride’s neck and applies sindoor (red powder) to her forehead to mark her as a married woman.
Another important tradition is the exchange of garlands, or jaimala (found in our list above), where the couple places flower garlands on each other to show their acceptance.
Before the wedding, there's also the haldi ceremony (also found above), which involves applying turmeric paste to the bride and groom to bless and purify them.
What Are Some Differences Between Western And Indian Weddings?
Western weddings usually last for one day, while Indian weddings can last several days with events like the Mehndi and Sangeet.
Guests at Western weddings often wear formal, neutral-colored clothes, while Indian wedding guests wear bright, colorful outfits like saris and lehengas.
The ceremonies are different too. Western weddings follow a set program with vows and ring exchanges. Indian weddings include rituals like walking around a fire and family blessings.
When it comes to gifts, Western couples often have a registry, but Indian guests often give cash or gold jewelry.
In Indian weddings, families are deeply involved in the planning and ceremonies, while Western weddings tend to focus more on the couple.
Should You Bring A Gift To A Mehndi?
Yes! It’s a great idea to bring a gift to a Mehndi. The Mehndi is focused on the bride, so small, thoughtful gifts are perfect. You can bring items like jewelry, bangles, or beauty products.
If you're not sure what to get, cash in a nice envelope is always welcome. Keep the gift simple and personal, as the Mehndi is about celebrating the bride with close friends and family.
Should You Bring A Gift To A Sangeet?
It’s not required, but it’s a nice gesture. If you want to bring something, small gifts like sweets, flowers, or a card for the couple are thoughtful choices. That said, most guests save larger gifts for the wedding itself.
Host An Unforgettable Indian Wedding Party At The Dallas Oasis
A traditional Indian wedding ceremony is a luxurious and unforgettable experience celebrating the joy of uniting two families.
Indian wedding ceremonies combine a rich blend of culture, symbolism, and meaning, making every event unique from the vibrant Mehendi ceremony to the emotional Kandayaan ritual.
Every tradition conveys love and commitment between couples standing at the wedding altar and draws their families closer together. And in case you'd like to simplify the planning process, we've even put together a checklist specifically for planning Hindu weddings!
If you want to incorporate Indian traditions into your own special day, these amazing wedding rituals will add an extra-special sparkle to your wedding procession.
Contact the Dallas Oasis today to learn more about why our spectacular venue is the perfect place to host your Indian wedding.
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