The mysterious culture of India attracts people from all over the world - even in the age of globalization, this country has managed to preserve its identity and traditional heritage. It is interesting that many Indians, even in large modern cities, prefer the national costume to ordinary clothes - a women's sari and a men's shevrani. If a couple in love is interested in the culture of this country, a great idea would be to organize a wedding in an oriental style, using traditional Indian attire. Below we will talk in detail about the sari and other women's accessories that a bride can wear to an Indian celebration.
Indian outfits of future spouses
Traditionally, the bride’s attire at a wedding celebration is a burgundy, red or golden Indian wedding dress - a sari, with jewelry and flowers in a braided hairstyle. The eye shape is outlined with a line of black kajal eyeliner, which makes the look mysterious and attractive. A red bindi dot is drawn in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows, a sacred sign of marriage. The parting in the sindur's hair is tinted with red vegetable dye and a mangtika, a special piece of jewelry, is worn.
A nath ring is inserted into the wing of the left nostril, symbolizing marriage. A massive, rather heavy wedding decoration - gold karn phool earrings are inlaid with precious multi-colored stones. Precious necklace for wedding haar has different designs according to local traditions and is inherited in Indian families. Bracelets of different shapes and sizes are worn above the elbow and on the wrist, soldered with bells for the feet.
The groom's formal attire looks no less elegant and beautiful than the bride's dress. He wears an elongated, embroidered sherwani frock coat with narrow matching chiridan pants. Juti shoes are embroidered with beads, usually with their toes raised up. The pagdi turban is also of a special cut; it can be decorated with pendants made of flowers and beads.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee
A graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, India's most eminent young designer, British Council Femina awardee Sabyasachi Mukherjee is another one of the top 10 fashion designers in India. Royal, making statements is the hallmark of his design journey, which has been a hit, especially with his stunningly captivating wedding dress evocation.
Fine detailing and exquisite patterns find life in his vibrant fashion pieces, which are heavily influenced by his roots in Kolkata. Looking at the soulful designs of Indian traditions and the innate understanding of Western styles, Mukherjee talks about perfecting the flaws in his designs, which came to be glorified and praised for their majestic stature and regal essence.
However, this young designer's strengths are not only traditional elements and design. He also dabbles in local Indian fabrics and his skillful use of Indian Khadi fabrics has helped him gain a foothold on the international platform.
Wedding traditions in India
The groom, surrounded by his family, arrives at the bride’s house on a festively decorated elephant, but today a car has begun to take part in the ritual. The girl’s mother, wearing a festive dress, conducts an arati worship ceremony upon meeting, here a red dot - tilak - is applied to the forehead of the future husband. Nearby there is a beautifully decorated wedding tent, under which the main sacred action takes place. Under the shade of a tent, the newlyweds exchange festive garlands of flowers in the Var Mala ritual to the sounds of sacred mantras. This is how they express their consent to marriage.
The joined hands of the young are traditionally tied with symbolic threads. A wedding celebration in India is accompanied by the Kanya Daan ceremony. The father of the future wife washes the hands of the newlyweds with spring water. The clothes of the future spouses are tied at the bottom with a strong knot. The culmination of events is the sacrament of Agni Parinaya, to the sounds of mantras, the newlyweds make three circles around the sacrificial fire, they become spouses only after this.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=n0J6ZGz9o74
After the Sindurdana ceremony, where the groom dyes the parting of his young wife with red dye made from plants, presents her with jewelry, after a sumptuous feast, the blessings of the Brahmin and relatives, the newlyweds go to the husband’s house. As you can see, an Indian wedding is a combination of many rites, rituals and manifestations of Indian culture.
On the threshold of a new house, as part of the ritual of welcoming the bride to her mother-in-law, the girl performs arati according to custom, knocking a jug with rice grains and a small coin onto the floor with her foot, invoking material well-being. Later, the bride is asked to stand with her bare feet in a dish of red dyeing powder and walk into the house, leaving bright marks on the white cloth, symbolizing good luck.
wedding ceremony
The wedding itself, according to Indian canons and traditions, is incredibly beautiful. A fairy tale coming to life before our eyes makes the hearts of even those who have not believed in miracles for a long time tremble. Handsome young people, a white horse, like a girl’s dream come true, and much more. This is how an Indian wedding works.
Arrival of the groom
Every girl's dream is a betrothed on a white horse! According to wedding tradition in India, the groom comes to his chosen one on a white horse decorated with red and yellow garlands. Accompanied by a witness, guests, musicians with loud songs and dances, the groom arrives at the girl’s home. Only men meet him - the bride's father and uncle, all women run out of the way so as not to catch the groom's eye, this is considered a bad omen.
The bride's younger brother is given the honor of meeting the groom at the very gate. According to tradition, he washes his feet and kisses him like a relative.
Shubho drishti - the very first look
The wedding itself in India begins in the evening at the girl’s home. To perform the ceremony, according to tradition, a special tent is built. It is covered with an awning and four palm trees are placed in the corners. The tent is decorated with fresh fragrant flowers, mostly yellow.
The groom, standing on a stone, waits for the wooden palanquin with his betrothed to be taken out. The bearers carry the bride seven times around the groom and stand her down. The guests ask the guy and the girl to look at each other, that is, to perform the wedding ritual of Shubho Drishti - the first glance.
Wedding
According to all traditions, weddings in India are performed on an empty stomach; the newlyweds are forbidden to eat anything until the ceremony is completed.
For weddings, a small wedding temple “vedi” is built from five bamboo sticks, which are covered with an awning on top. A fire is lit inside the temple. One end of the bride's sari is tied to the groom's sash to unite them forever. The newlyweds sit near the fire.
The brahman (priest) reads prayers, chants sacred mantras, gives the floor to the newlyweds to take an oath, after which he ties the hands of the young couple with a wedding garland of flowers, uniting their souls forever, for all seven generations. As tradition dictates, the newlyweds walk around the fire seven times. From now on, the groom considers the girl his wife, which he confirms by applying red paint to her forehead and parting. Indians call a parting dyed red "sindoor".
Celebration in Bozargan
After the wedding, all guests go to a special room - bozargan, where they arrange a fun wedding spectacle with original Indian dances and songs, which lasts until the morning.
At the end of the wedding fun, the newlyweds still stay overnight at the bride’s house; according to tradition, the newlyweds are put to bed in different rooms.
Escorting a young wife to her husband's house
On the morning of the second day, the guests take the newlyweds, who are still wearing their wedding dresses, home to their husband, where the parents once again bless the newlyweds and give them gifts. On the second day of the wedding, no events take place; everyone is resting after yesterday's celebration.
According to tradition, in India a young wife can return home to her parents only after a month and pay them their first visit.
Arrival of in-laws at the husband's house
Having rested after the wedding, on the third day the young wife’s relatives traditionally come with gifts to her husband’s home, where the festive table is already set for them and wedding entertainment awaits them again.
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The traditions and rituals that accompany an Indian wedding go back to the Vedas, to the glorious times of the dominance of Aryan culture. In Indian society, a wedding is not only the union of two people, but also of two souls. The wedding binds the families of the bride and groom with inextricable ties, and from that moment on, happiness and misfortune, sorrows and joys, respect and honor affect each member of the large family. Indians are devoted to faith and ancient traditions, strictly preserving and honoring them for many millennia. Neither Buddhism, nor the invasion of the Greeks, nor the thousand-year rule of Muslims and Mughals, nor the almost three-hundred-year period of English colonization could force Hindus to turn away from the Vedas, from the faith of their ancestors, from their Aryan roots.
The Vedic wedding ceremony Vivaha, , is undoubtedly the most important event in the life of every resident of India, and therefore its preparation and implementation is approached with the utmost attention and the highest reverence. Hindus firmly believe that the wedding ceremony binds husband and wife for the next seven lives, being one of the 16 sanskars - the most important sacraments of sacrifice in the life of a Hindu. Chastity is of great importance here. Marrying a girl who has lost her virginity is excluded as a useless action devoid of any meaning. People who enter into such marriages and their offspring automatically fall into the category of outcasts. The fact is that a woman, in accordance with Vedic ideas, is compared to a field (kshetra), and a man is compared to the owner of the field (kshetrin). The first person to sow (put in the seed, cultivate) the field becomes its owner and, accordingly, the owner of everything that will ever sprout (be born) on this field. Therefore, if you were not the first sower of the field, then the fruits (children) born of this field from your seed do not belong to you, and you are equated to a thief who used (sowed) someone else’s field. Divorce and second marriage among Indian women are an exceptional phenomenon and are found only in the lower castes of the Shudras (a Shudra is a member of the fourth, lowest varna of Indians, which includes workers, peasants, domestic servants, shepherds, etc.) or among the Achchhutas (Achchhutas, Ashprushas, Harijans or Dalits - untouchables, not included in the four varna system, representatives of lower castes, mob). Parapurva or Purva - this is how, in accordance with ancient prescriptions, a woman who is newly married or cohabiting with someone should be called. By the way, the word “kurva”, which has the same meaning among almost all Indo-European peoples, comes from the Sanskrit “purva”.
An Indian wedding is not only a connection between two young people, but also the beginning of a new life. According to tradition, the selection of a couple is preceded by drawing up a horoscope for the guy and the girl so that their characters suit each other and family life proceeds without disagreement. According to the Vedas, the Hindu wedding ceremony is performed at the sacred sacrificial fire by a vipra (brahman priest), and a purohit (brahman ancestral priest) also takes part in it. The houses of the bride and groom are marked with a swastika - (Svasti, “su-asti” translated from Sanskrit means literally “this is good” - an ancient Aryan, Vedic exclamation, indicated by a characteristic symbol, expressing well-being, happiness, success). Rituals performed in front of the sacred fire - a witness to the marriage union, place the husband in the position of God in relation to his wife. From now on, she must perceive her husband in exactly this way, understanding that without a spouse her existence is devoid of any meaning, and the gates to spiritual life are closed, that her husband is the Most High for her. Well, to the groom, that his wife is the most valuable gift given to him by heaven.
Indian weddings have always been famous for their luxury and opulence. According to existing tradition, they are organized by the bride's parents. The celebration and all the necessary rituals last four to five days, but preparations for the wedding begin long before the wedding ceremony. A Hindu wedding is divided into three stages: pre-wedding ceremonies, wedding ceremony, and post-wedding rituals. The treats served during this period consist exclusively of dairy-vegetarian dishes. Eating meat, fish and eggs is prohibited. The rituals of North Indian weddings are somewhat different from those held in South India. As we move south, wedding ceremonies increasingly contain elements characteristic of Dravidian, not Aryan, culture. India is a country of people belonging to different religions, castes and communities, people speaking different languages and belonging to different cultures. This diversity is reflected in wedding ceremonies.
The bride and groom, personifying beauty and elegance, are dressed in luxurious clothes so that the eyes of the guests are fixed on the happy couple. The required 16 elements of a bride's wedding wardrobe, called Solah Shringar, are: Wedding attire . Traditionally, the bride's wedding attire is a sari, lenga choli (lehenga) or salwar kameez. However, the wedding attire may correspond to the clothing worn in a particular region of India. The classical Indian wedding dress of the bride, in accordance with Vedic prescriptions, should be red, although sometimes there are others, for example, purple, burgundy, orange, gold, and in Maharashtra - green. The wedding dress of the bride among the ancient Slavs was also red, and the ancient expression “red maiden,” which came to us from ancient times, means the following: innocent, pure, modest, beautiful, like a bride dressed in red. Black and white colors are prohibited because... black is considered a symbol of ignorance, impurity, darkness, and white has been considered the color of widowhood and mourning since Vedic times. By the way, it is worth noting that in ancient times, white was also considered a mourning color among all Indo-European peoples, for example, the Slavs. Black appeared with the advent of Christianity, which borrowed it, like the tradition of hanging mirrors in the house of the deceased, from Judaism. In the 16th century Queen Anne of England established the tradition of wearing black clothes as a sign of mourning. Since then, in many countries around the world, widows have worn black dresses.
Kesapasharacana . To create a magnificent wedding hairstyle (keshapasharachanu), you need to anoint the bride's hair with fragrant oils, decorate it with flower garlands and jewelry. A traditional wedding hairstyle is a braid decorated with flower garlands. Long hair braided is the most important detail of the appearance of an Indian woman, preserved since Vedic times. According to Vedic traditions, a pious woman should have long hair braided. A woman can unbraid her hair in the following cases: a) during periods of intimacy with her husband; b) when performing ablution. Loose hair is also allowed for girls who have not reached puberty. Appearing, as they say, “in public” in a public place with your hair down was considered the greatest sin and shame. Only hetaeras (courtesans), harlots and slaves were allowed to wear their hair down. The ancient Slavic (Old Russian) expressions “dissolute” and “slutty” indicate to us that in Rus' they once adhered to ancient Vedic traditions. Kajal or anjana - black eyeliner makes the bride's look attractive and mysterious. Bindi is a red dot on the forehead that is a sacred symbol of a married woman. Sometimes the bindi is complemented with small white dots or delicate designs around the eyebrows. Sindoor is the bride's parting, dyed red during the wedding ceremony. Mangtika is a parting of jewelry. Nath is a nose ring worn in the left nostril. Like the bindi and sindoor, it (worn in the left nostril) is a symbol of a married woman. Karn Phool are unusually beautiful wedding earrings, usually inlaid with precious stones in abundance, which is why they are quite heavy. A haar is a wedding necklace, traditionally made of gold and studded with precious stones, and has different variations depending on the region. In many families, haar is passed down through generations. Bajubankh (baajuband) are bracelets that are worn on the hands above the elbow. Mehndi is a design made with henna on the hands and feet. Chudiyan are bracelets worn on the wrist, usually red in color. Itar - aromatic oils. Kamarband (kamerband) is an elegant gold or silver belt inlaid with stones, which is worn on the lower back to support a wedding dress. Payal - silver anklets with many small bells that make a gentle melodious ringing in time with their gait. Aarsi is a large, elegant mirror ring worn on the thumb.
The groom's wedding attire, like the bride's attire, is beautiful and elegant. Traditionally, it consists of a sherwani (a long frock coat buttoned up to the collar) of various colors, decorated with gold thread embroidery, and churidars (tight trousers). In addition to the costume, traditional beaded shoes with turned-up toes called juti are worn, as well as a magnificent turban called pagdi (pagri) or safa. In Punjab, the groom's face is covered with pendants made of beads or flowers, called sehra. Dressed in rich wedding clothes, the bride and groom, like god and goddess, dazzle with their beauty.
One of the initial ceremonies before the wedding ceremony is the Tilak (Tikka, Sagan or Sagai), known for its magnificent celebration and performance of rituals outlined in the Vedas. Traditionally, it is held a month before the wedding day, but today, the date of the ceremony is set based on the desires and capabilities of both families. In India, the groom and his family hold a highly revered position because Hindu society is patriarchal and reveres the masculine principle (purusha). Finding a noble husband for your daughter who will guide her all her life along the path of dharma is the dream of every parent. This is exactly what is reflected in the Tilak ceremony. As a rule, only the male half of both families participates in this ceremony. During the ceremony, the bride's father, accompanied by relatives, goes to the groom's house to perform the necessary ritual - placing a tilak (a sacred, auspicious sign made from kumkum - red turmeric or saffron powder) on the groom's forehead as a sign that the bride's family accepts him as their future son-in-law . After this, a brahmana (a brahmana is literally “the best by birth”, the best of the twice-born, a representative of the highest varna (class), a clergyman, a priest), chanting mantras glorifying the Gods, performs a puja (ritual of worship of the gods). After praising the Gods and asking for their blessings for the future couple, the bride's brother places a tilak on the groom's forehead and presents him with gifts. The same ritual is performed by all men along the bride’s line to show their respect and sympathy (love) for their future son-in-law. Having completed the necessary rituals, families sit down to a festive meal. The groom's family does not forget about the bride, to whom they give gifts. In addition, quite often the wedding date is fixed during the engagement.
The ring exchange ceremony, which acts as an adjunct to the main Tilak ceremony, has different names such as Chunni Chadana, Mangni, Misri, depending on the region of the country.
About 15 days before the wedding ceremony, worship of Ganesha is performed, known as Barni Bandhvana . Lord Ganesha is asked to remove all obstacles during the wedding ceremony. All subsequent days until the wedding ceremony, the families of the bride and groom will worship Ganesha.
The next stage of preparation for the wedding is the most joyful and cheerful ceremony, traditionally intended exclusively for women. It is called Sangeet , that is, a ceremony dedicated to dance and music. Initially, only the female half of the bride took part in the Sangeet, but today it is also possible for women from the groom’s family to participate, and men are also allowed to participate. Moreover, until recently, Sangeet was performed only in North Indian weddings, but now this ceremony is common in the territories of West Bengal as well as in the South Indian states. The Sangeet ceremony takes place against the backdrop of the joyful and cheerful pre-wedding bustle. According to tradition, the bride's family invites female relatives who, gathered together, to the accompaniment of a wooden drum called a dholak, sing folk songs dedicated to the wedding and the bride. During the fun, all the women dance and sing, joke, tease the bride, remember their youth and wish the bride well-being and prosperity in her family life. Quite often during the ceremony, the bride and her mother are overcome by the emotions of imminent separation and tears appear in their eyes. Like all Indian celebrations, the Sangeet ceremony ends with a rich meal. National dishes and sweets prepared by relatives bring pleasure to all participants of the holiday.
One of the ceremonies held in the bride's house is Suhagin (Sumangali, Sadhaba), during which prayers are offered glorifying women who died before their husbands and fulfilled their sacred duty to the end. They are called sumangali, suhagin or suhag. When a girl is married off, she becomes suhagin, that is, a woman whose husband is alive. According to ancient Vedic beliefs, the longevity and health of a husband are in the hands of his wife. To please her husband's eyes, she must always be attractively dressed, cheerful and helpful. Never show sadness or anger. Every married woman in India wishes to die as a Suhagin. If a woman dies before her husband, then before cremation she is dressed like a bride in a bright new sari, her hands are decorated with bangles, sindoor is applied to her parting, and her feet are covered with red dye called alta. All of the above are signs of marriage. When a young woman bows with respect before the older women, the latter bless her, saying: “Sada suhagin raho. (Always be suhagin). May your forehead always be decorated with sindoor. And may your bracelets be like a vajra, as strong and indestructible as the lightning (vajra) of the god Indra.” Vedic hymns glorify sumangali. According to ancient Indian canons, widows do not wear wedding bracelets, and immediately after the ceremony of cremation of the deceased husband, the widow (vidava) must go to the pond and wash off the sindoor from her parting, break (break) her bracelets and put on a white mourning sari. She should never again put on jewelry, beautiful clothes and fun. To remain a widow and live without a husband is a great grief for a woman, and a wife who survives her husband deserves censure. Widows everywhere in India experience neglect, especially if their spouses have died of illness. Widows' lives are miserable and their social status is the lowest. The presence of a widow at various celebrations and celebrations is undesirable, since it is believed that misfortunes follow her. They are not allowed to participate in religious ceremonies at all.
The next exciting part of the preparations for a Hindu wedding is the Mehndi (Mehendi) ceremony - applying henna designs to the bride's hands and feet. India is a country of lovers of beauty and elegance. It is this fact that is reflected in the Mehndi ceremony, which has been carried out since ancient times and is an integral part of wedding preparations. Mehndi is one of the 16 decorations of the bride ( Solah Shringar ). The ceremony is held at the bride's house in the presence of family members, relatives and friends. Sometimes Mehndi is celebrated with great pomp and sometimes resembles Sangeet. According to popular belief, the darker the mehndi patterns, the more the future husband will love his wife. Traditionally, after marriage, a woman should not work in her new home until the mehndi designs disappear. The entire ceremony is accompanied by singing and music. After the Mehndi ceremony, the bride should not leave the house until the wedding ceremony. On the long-awaited wedding day or the day before it, the Haldi , during which turmeric paste is applied to the face, hands and feet of the bride and groom to make their skin glow. On this day, in the houses of the bride and groom they perform Shradha , a ritual of remembrance of deceased ancestors, offering them funeral food - pinda (pinda - balls of rice boiled in milk, sesame grains, honey and ghee).
At an auspicious moment, dressed in rich clothes (sherwani, churidar and pagdi (pagri) - wedding turban), the groom goes to the wedding ceremony site riding on a decorated horse or elephant, accompanied by dancing and singing relatives and friends. However, in our time, the groom's wedding procession, called Barat Nikasi, most often consists of a line of cars. The arriving groom is greeted by the bride's mother. She performs an arati (worship ceremony) as a sign of her respect and places a tilak on his forehead to protect her son-in-law from all evil. After greeting the bride's mother, the groom proceeds to a mandapa (tent) decorated with rich fabrics, banana leaves, coconut leaves or flowers - the place where the wedding ceremony is held, in the center of which a sacrificial fire is lit. There he awaits the arrival of his bride to begin the marriage ceremony called Var Mala , or Jai Mala - the ceremony of exchanging garlands. This ancient ritual, described in the Vedas, has survived to this day without changes. The wedding ritual that once existed among the ancient Slavs of exchanging flower wreaths that decorated their heads is nothing more than a simplified version of the Vedic Var Mala (Jai Mala). Soon the bride appears with a flower garland in her hands. Facing each other, while sacred mantras are chanted, the bride and groom exchange garlands, which signifies their acceptance of each other as husband and wife.
The exchange of garlands is followed by various rituals performed in the mandapa, the four pillars of which represent the parents of the bride and groom providing support to their children. So one of the main rituals of the Hindu wedding ceremony is Kanya Daan . Kanya means virgin and daan means gift. During the Kanya Daan ritual, the bride's father places his daughter's right hand in the groom's right hand and, while chanting mantras, pours sacred water into their palms, symbolizing the handing over of his daughter to the groom. The bride's father asks his son-in-law to promise to help the bride achieve the three main goals (values) of life, called trivarga: dharma, artha, kama. Dharma - observance of religious, moral and ethical duty, divine law, justice; artha - benefit, goal, benefit that ensures material well-being; kama - pleasures, emotional and sensual pleasures, desires, love.
During the Panigrahan Khathlev , the hands of the bride and groom are tied with cloth or threads as a sign of their unbreakable union. A Brahmin priest (vipra) performs puja to Ganesha.
The sacred marriage should never be broken, so the Gathabandhan ritual is performed, during which the brahmin ties the ends of the clothes of the bride and groom into a knot, which even after the wedding should not be untied.
One of the important rituals performed in the wedding mandap is Laja Homa, the offering of grains of rice to the sacrificial fire by the bride and groom. The bride places her palm on the groom's palm. The bride's brother pours rice into her palm (usually puffed rice - laya, laja or muri), half of which falls through her fingers into the groom's palm. The bride pours grains of rice into the fire, praying to Yama (Yamaraja) - the god of death, the lord of the kingdom of the dead, the god of justice, to grant her husband long life, happiness, health and prosperity.
The culmination of the Hindu wedding ceremony is the ritual of Agni Parinaya (or Mangalphera, Mangalfera) - circumambulation (phere) of the sacred fire clockwise three times, symbolizing the three main human values (goals): dharma, artha and kama. The groom holds the bride's right hand with his right hand and leads her around the sacred wedding fire. Depending on the region of the country, the bride may go first in the last circle, symbolizing that she is responsible for the fulfillment of kama (pleasures, delights) in her husband’s life. Sometimes another, fourth circle is added to the ritual, symbolizing moksha (liberation from the material world).
This is followed by the ritual of Saptapadi . The bride and groom, facing north, take seven steps together, each time starting from the right foot, calling on God to bless them with consistency of food, health, spiritual strength to observe dharma, noble offspring, prosperity, happiness and a long family life. In some regions, the Saptapadi ritual is combined with Agni Parinaya. In this case, the bride and groom walk around the sacrificial fire not three or four times, but seven times.
The final ritual of the Hindu wedding ceremony is Sindoora (Suhaag or Subhagya Chinya), during which the groom applies sindoor, a red cinnabar powder, to the bride's parting, which signifies his acceptance of the bride as his wife. He also gives her a wedding gold necklace called mangalsutra, which symbolizes his love for her. The newlyweds then feed each other sweets as a sign that they will care for each other. This joyful ritual is known as Anna-prashana . At the end of the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds are blessed by the purohit (Brahman, ancestral priest), parents and close relatives. This ritual is called Ashirvaad . After the wedding ceremony is completed, a rich treat awaits everyone.
At the end of the celebration, the most emotional moment comes - the bride says goodbye to her parents and moves to her husband's house. This moment is called Vidaai or Rukhsati. Mixed feelings engulf the bride's parents: the pain of separation from their daughter, the joy that fills their hearts, tears from their loving eyes. Blessed by relatives and friends, the newlyweds leave the wedding ceremony site. Traditionally, the bride goes to her husband's house on a palanquin, but nowadays a car procession is quite common.
When a married couple arrives home, they are greeted by the groom's sisters or aunts, holding a clay vessel with salt water in their hands to ward off any evil from the groom. Only after the vessel is broken on the ground will the married couple be able to cross the threshold of the house. This ritual is known as Dwar-rokai .
The next important ritual is Griha Pravesh . The bride arriving at her new home is greeted by her mother-in-law with arati. Before entering the house, the bride must tip over a jar filled with rice and coins with her right foot. Scattered grain and money (jewelry) are a sign of prosperity and abundance. Then the bride stands barefoot in a large tray filled with red paint (cinnabar diluted with water or milk). Having painted her feet, she enters the house, leaving red prints on the white cloth spread on the floor, symbolizing good luck. A red border of alta remains on her feet - one of the signs of marriage.
Author of the article: Bharatiya.ru project participant Ishvari Abani
Indian bride
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
It is difficult to find a more beautiful outfit for a girl getting married. But no one on Earth dresses more beautifully and brightly than the Indian bride on this day.
Wedding outfit
Newlyweds in India wear expensive and colorful clothes. Each region of India prefers certain types of sarees.
@Sadasiv Swain
According to the canons of the Vedas, a person entering into marriage must dress exclusively in red. Nowadays, a young woman can wear a sari and other bright and rich colors. Only black and white colors are excluded. The first was previously present in the attire of representatives of the low class, and white has been worn for mourning events since ancient times in India.
Makeup of a young woman at a wedding ceremony
An Indian bride always flaunts her palms decorated with henna patterns at her wedding. The more saturated the color of the design, the more intricate it is, the happier and richer the family life of the newlyweds will be, the stronger the love between the spouses will be - such is the belief.
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
In some areas, mehendi - painting parts of the body with henna - is also performed on the feet.
In addition to this procedure, the bride pays special attention to facial makeup. Cosmetic pre-wedding procedures include:
- sindur - a parting in the hair, dyed red;
- kajal - thick black eyeliner;
- Bindi is a red dot between the eyebrows, symbolizing the third eye.
Jewelry for the bride
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
Every newlywed tries to wear some kind of jewelry. There are no strict regulations in this regard in Europe. But an Indian bride cannot do without special jewelry at her wedding. Together with cosmetic procedures and clothing itself, there must be at least 16 of them.
- She hangs a mangika from the parting in her hair.
- A nath ring is inserted into the left nostril - a symbol of marriage.
- Luxurious karn phool earrings with precious stones are hung on the earlobes.
- A haar necklace made of gold and jewelry stones is passed down through the family.
- Aarsi is a ring with a mirror worn on the thumb.
- The forearms are decorated with banjubanh bracelets.
- Churia are also bracelets, but worn on the wrists, usually red.
- Bichua are bracelets that decorate the feet. Indian brides often use these that are accessorized with silver bells.
- Payal - toe rings.
- The young woman’s hairstyle is crowned with kesapasharacana – flowers and jewelry.
- Kamarband is a beautiful belt made of gold and precious stones, which is passed on from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law.
- Mehendi.
- Everyday
- Bindi.
- Sindoor.
- Sari.
Decor options for a wedding sari
On the special day, the bride will look elegant not only by choosing the right color, but also by matching the decor of the sari. What does a girl expect from family life? What does he want to give to his husband? Having answered these questions, the bride will decide on the ornament. Example: mango - fertility; elephant - strength, power, fertility; fish - abundance associated with supernatural powers.
The festive saree is full of gold. These are embroideries, threads, stripes, checks, fringes. Don't forget about the addition - decorations. More often, privileged castes put a large amount of gold on the bride. Among them are chains, pendants, earrings, which are inherited from generation to generation. Less often, a girl is allowed to wear jewelry. This option is possible only in a few cases (economic status of the family, consistency of a single style with the decor of the sari).
The Mangal Sutra or Thali is considered the symbol of marriage. The groom places a kind of wedding cord, medallion, or pendant around the bride’s neck. This moment is tantamount to a declaration of love. The thali looks original when black and gold colors are combined in the beads. In addition to the listed jewelry, no bride can do without rings and bracelets on her feet. The wedding ceremony takes place without shoes.
With silver and gold embroidery
A sari is considered ceremonial when it has abundant use of silver or gold threads. They are located in different directions - geometric shapes, stripes, checkered patterns, ancient symbols. The choli is also decorated with embroidery - on the bottom, on the sleeves. Pattern in the batik style is popular
Gold and silver fringe will complement a monotonous sari and emphasize the importance of the event.
Rhinestones, beads and stones
Embroidery with rhinestones, beads and stones is considered festive. With them, the shape of the sari changes dramatically. The wedding dress becomes voluminous, skillfully hides figure flaws, and emphasizes advantages. Well-placed rhinestones on the belt make the waist thin and the hips feminine. Brides happily opt for sarees with voluminous jewelry.
Indian beautiful brides - amazing wedding look
Indian wedding traditions extend not only to the preparation for the wedding and the celebration itself, but also to the outfits the newlyweds will wear. In India, the choice of costumes and jewelry has a very symbolic meaning, so the bride must adhere to certain rules in creating her wedding look.
Traditional wedding fashion in India:
- Wedding Dress. The traditional dress for a bride in India is the sari. The color of the dress is chosen based on its symbolism: red, green, white or yellow are considered the most favorable. Most often, brides prefer red, since this color promises prosperity and family happiness. Modern saris can be decorated with embroidery, beads and even precious stones, which makes the bride's look luxurious and fashionable. The most expensive fabric is chosen for the bride, because at the wedding she should look incredibly beautiful!
- Wedding decorations. It is difficult to imagine an Indian bride without numerous jewelry. These can be all kinds of bracelets, rings, necklaces and large earrings. Accessories are also present in wedding hairstyles, and very often brides wear small nose earrings. The wealthiest families can afford not only jewelry, but also gold jewelry, which is present in large quantities in the festive look. Indian beautiful brides strive to beautify themselves as much as possible with clothes and accessories to make the best impression on the groom and guests.
- Wedding make-up. An Indian-style wedding always means luxurious, bright makeup that emphasizes the beauty of the Indian bride. Bright smokey eyes, expressive eyebrows and rich lip color - all this is typical for oriental makeup. Brides can use shadows that will match the color of the dress, but the eyes are usually emphasized with black pencil, since they are usually the main focus. Lips also do not remain in the shadows: the most popular shades of lipstick are berry colors, which give the lips freshness and juiciness.
On the website Svadebka.ws you got acquainted with some of the features of an Indian wedding, and also learned about what Indian wedding jewelry and outfits are popular among brides in this amazing country with a rich culture!
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A good option for an evening and more
A dress, similar in style to the traditional Indian women's costume, will be a winning option for an evening dress. Complemented with catchy colorful decorations, it will give its owner luxury and confidence in her own irresistibility. Such a woman will definitely not go unnoticed!
But those who admire the fashion of the East are not only able to shine at social events. Indian dresses are an excellent basis for casual and comfortable clothing. A loose-fitting tunic on top and loose trousers on the bottom is an option that combines elegance and freedom of movement. However, tight pants are acceptable nowadays even in India itself. European style makes its own adjustments. Colors are also chosen: calm, light or rich, bright, with unusual patterns.
Intricate embroidery or decoration with stones, beads, or gold braid will not only be appropriate, but will also emphasize the Asian flavor in both cases. In accordance with modern fashion trends, such an ensemble will go equally well with ballet flats and wedge or flat sandals. Instead of a shirt with sleeves up to the middle of the elbow, you can wear an elongated blouse-T-shirt with straps, preferably multi-layered, airy. It will be stylish to drape one shoulder with a chiffon scarf. In these loose and at the same time expressive clothes, it is so easy to feel like a beautiful Indian princess. Young girls will certainly enjoy this prospect.
If we remember that all national clothing is made from fabric of natural origin, the advantage of wearing Indian summer dresses becomes obvious: even in combination with trousers it will not be hot.
A suit made from a cropped top (similar to the above-mentioned choli) and the same trousers (shalwars) looks great. Pants of this type have long been appreciated for their comfort in wearing and have been among the trendy items for several years now. Jewelry will help complete the look: several bracelets, bright earrings and rings with large stones. Elegant high-heeled sandals will turn comfortable clothes into suitable ones, for example, for a romantic date.
What is a wedding like in India?
The celebration may take a couple of days, but it can also last for a week. Today, most Indian weddings take 1-2 days, just like in Russia.
The bride and groom celebrate their first wedding day separately in their respective homes. Each of them has its own ceremony. A beautiful henna pattern is applied to the bride's hands and feet - this is the mehendi ceremony. For men, the ceremony is called haldi. His body is covered with turmeric paste. In the evening, dancing begins - sangeet. In modern India, sangeet is a communal event. The bride and groom can prepare for this in advance by signing up for courses with a choreographer. By the way, they make good money here, although they dance in two steps. Wealthy families can host a cocktail party. There may be alcoholic drinks on the tables, but this is rare. As a rule, there is no alcohol at Indian weddings.
On the second day, the groom goes to the bride's house. The wedding ceremony is already taking place there, and only after it can he take her to his home. Today, the “bride's house” can be replaced with a banquet hall.
The wedding procession itself in India is noisy, with drums and music. The groom rides on a white horse, accompanied by his relatives, moving alongside him. Sometimes they may stop to dance. If you are stuck in a traffic jam, then perhaps the reason is the wedding procession. She moves slowly, and often along the roadway. Local residents don’t swear, it’s a wedding after all. All that remains is to admire this musical and colorful procession.
When the groom gets to the banquet hall, he immediately goes up to the stage. It was built specifically for the newlyweds, who sit on luxurious armchairs. Guests can freely come up to the newlyweds to congratulate them on their marriage. They give gifts, take pictures, and say wishes. In general, these weddings are similar to Russian ones.
Despite the fact that several ceremonies have already passed, the young couple are not yet husband and wife. All these rituals are only pre-wedding. Only in the evening comes the most magical moment - fere. The time for the phere is set by the priest pandit, for this he calculates the most favorable arrangement of the planets. Therefore, the ritual can take place not only in the evening, but also at night. That's why you can see how at Indian weddings someone is wrapped in a blanket, and someone may fall asleep.
The ceremony is held under a pandap canopy, which is specially decorated with colorful colors. The pandit lights a caster under it, and the bride and groom sit directly in front of the fire. The priest begins to read prayers, and a series of traditional rules follows. Finally, the couple must circle the sacred flame 7 times. Only after this do they become husband and wife.
The husband puts a mangalsutra - a necklace - on his beloved. Then she applies red powder - sindoor - to the parting of her hair. He should also put payal bracelets on her ankles and rings on her toes. All these are considered signs of a married woman, like the dot on the forehead. She must wear them all her life, just as in Russia wives wear a ring.
If you are interested, then read my other article about the standards of female beauty in India. Oh, how difficult it was for girls to live up to the ideal.
What is a sari
A saree is 5 to 9 meters of fabric with a width of at least one meter. The edge is usually decorated with a different color border or embroidery. Learning how to wrap this fabric around your body so that it turns into a beautiful outfit is not as difficult as it may seem at first. It took me about a week of practice to learn how to “wrap myself” in a sari in 5 minutes.
First, a cotton petticoat is put on (called “pavada” in the south and “shaya” in eastern India): it gives the shape of the skirt and can also be used to fasten the sari. You can buy ready-made petticoats in India almost everywhere. Both very fluffy - up to 6 meters wide, to make you feel like a queen, and modest straight cotton skirts. Basically, of course, Indian women choose the second option: in the heat, the abundance of folds tires, not pleases.
But you can do without a petticoat at all, as they did in the old days: the edge of the sari is simply attached to a thread tied around the waist. Then folds are placed in the skirt: one on the sides and, as far as the fabric allows, up to ten folds in the front. The rest of the fabric rises up, wraps around the body, folds into a beautiful accordion on the chest and is thrown over the left shoulder. On the shoulder, as a rule, the structure is secured with a pin, but many experienced women do not need this. The remaining piece of fabric, about a meter long, is a “palla” scarf, which is used to cover the head like a shawl.
The way and what color the fabric is draped around a woman’s body speaks about her status, age, caste and place of residence. Photo by Ananta Vrindavan
Usually a choli is worn under a sari - this is a top that reaches to the waist or a little higher, with short or long sleeves. In earlier centuries, various forms of breastbands, scarves and bedspreads were used instead of cholis. Cholis today are sold ready-made: from knitwear or cotton. Or you can sew them to order: in every town in the markets and just on the streets it’s easy to find a Taylor - a tailor who will sew such a top according to your measurements in a day or a little more. And he will take very little: from 200 to 500 rupees. Many sarees are also sold with a choli cut in the same style so you don't have to select a fabric for it. As a result, you get a real costume.
There are many ways to wear a saree. None of them include fasteners, pins or clips. I have described how women wear saris in aristocratic Brahmin families. This style is called "nivi". Indian dancers wear a sari differently, passing the material between their legs. In agricultural regions of the country, women also pass the fabric between their legs, draping it over their backs, which ensures comfort while working. The way and what color the fabric is draped around a woman’s body speaks about her status, age, caste and place of residence. For example, white saris without any patterns are worn by widows - as a symbol of renunciation of the world; red saris, embroidered with stones, rhinestones, gold and silver threads, should be worn by the bride on her wedding day.
• How to celebrate a real Indian wedding
Three days of bright colors, bright smells and bright emotions.
Although there are a lot of photographs in this post - I hope viewing will not be boring at all - you will immerse yourself in another culture, in another aesthetic, and see how a real Indian wedding takes place in the real India
I’ll start in the chronology in which everything happened and was filmed. To make it clearer to you - what and how in Indian traditions.
Scene one. There is turmoil in the courtyard of the hotel where all the guests and relatives of the bride are staying. Someone is eating, someone is shaving their face with the help of a special barber, funny waiters are pouring coffee or masala tea to everyone...
Meanwhile, in a separate room, the bride and all the girls are decorated with special henna designs - mehendi. Bride Deepshika's drawings are, of course, the most complex and beautiful
Senior women sing songs and perform special rituals...
Children play with jewelry
The bride is ready for her first appearance. In the evening, her family meets with the groom’s family to get to know each other, chat, and just dance in an informal setting.
Party! The groom sings a romantic welcome song for the bride, and then of course everyone dances! This is India
Wedding invitations
The next day we go first to the gift-giving ceremony, where relatives do not skimp on gold, pearls and expensive jewelry. Indians generally love jewelry - and the more, the better.
And then an incredible performance awaits us all. Incredible - because all the numbers in it were performed not by professional hired artists, but by friends and relatives of the bride and groom
The bride's mother and her brother-in-law (elder sister's husband) sing for the bride
The bride was moved to tears... Why, even I was moved
And when they showed a slide show of children’s photographs, even the groom couldn’t stand it
And then the groom Utsav himself went on stage to sing a song for his beloved
First dance of the young
Ring exchange ceremony. It seems to be borrowed more from the European tradition - for Indians it is more of a spectacular nature. The main ceremony, after which the bride and groom become husband and wife, looks different and takes place on the third day of the wedding
Well, children, as usual, have no time for touching moments - they just get mad
The third day. Early morning. The bride is smeared with various mixtures of turmeric, kefir and something else unidentified, thus blessing her...
And this adorable baby is the bride’s favorite dog, Tyson. He has already appeared several times in other photos. Here he is preparing for the ceremony. Sits, waits. smart
But the bride is not ready yet. The best make-up artists in Kolkata work their magic on the look...
She puts on her best jewelry.
-Is it all gold? - we asked. “All gold and diamonds,” Deepshika answered.
In general, all these bracelets, earrings and rings are not some kind of glass, but real diamonds
Engagement ring
Ready!
With my favorite Tyson
Deepshika awaiting the ceremony and the arrival of the groom
The hall is ready for the celebration
Arrival of the groom. He is already greeted by friends and relatives with welcoming dances, noise and drumming.
The groom goes to the ceremony. They shower him with jewelry, sing him songs, dance around him and bless him. Everything is very bright and noisy
He walks onto a special pedestal. The climax comes. Now the bride should appear. This moment is key at Indian weddings, and every family tries to make it as impressive as possible.
And so - to the beautiful music, in a halo of flying confetti, SHE appears! She doesn’t just go out, but rides out on a throne, which slowly moves her towards the groom
It's starting! The bride and groom, standing on a pedestal surrounded by a crowd of relatives and friends, must exchange jewelry - special pearl necklaces, putting them around each other's necks.
Now they are husband and wife!
The final part of the ceremony is a brahmin (something like our priest) performing a blessing ritual. For about an hour and a half, prayers are read around the bride and groom, incense is burned, etc.
Well, the children are still frolicking
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Sari: how not to go unnoticed
The good thing about Indian saris is that there are so many ways to drape them. In literally every region, local beauties, without pins or clips, know how to create unique folds from saris. By looking at them, as well as at the details of the decoration, experts can tell in which part of India the owner of this sari lives. When creating a unique suit, everything is taken into account, from the type of fabric (silk, fine cotton, linen, chiffon, satin, organza, crepe, guipure, georgette, taffeta) to symbolic patterns or decorations - sequins, precious stones, embroidery.
You can buy both saris and Indian jewelry in Moscow today
Traditional ethnic clothing does not tolerate fashionable liberties. The lehenga (underskirt) must be at least five centimeters shorter than the sari. The choli is matched to the color of the sari. But under plain saris it is allowed to wear choli of other colors. The presence and length of the sleeve is not so important in these fitted tops. The main thing is that the stomach remains open.
Traditional clothing of India has not gone out of fashion for millennia.
Indian women learn the art of draping from childhood. For some, a minute is enough for a seemingly endless piece of fabric to turn into an elegant, bright outfit worthy of a goddess. Thanks to numerous lessons on How to Wear an Indian Sari, anyone can master the popular style of wearing a sari - nivi - without any problems.
Wedding ceremonies in India: three periods
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
The Hindu approach to marriage may seem archaic and outdated to Europeans. After all, virginity is still revered in India. An Indian bride is required to enter into marriage chaste, pure and untouched and to be faithful to the family principles.
Indian wedding rituals are divided into:
- pre-marriage ceremonies;
- the marriage itself;
- rituals after the celebration.
Even before the engagement, horoscopes of the future spouses are drawn up. This is the most important ritual before the sacrament of marriage. If the astrological forecast foretells only a good future, parents on both sides begin to prepare for the celebration.
Ceremonies before marriage
For the ashir-vad ceremony, people first gather in the house of the future spouse. Here the young people receive their parents' blessing. Then the ceremony is performed at the groom's place. After Ashir Wad, family and friends celebrate the engagement. They call it tilak. Only men participate in the ritual.
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
The bride's father and the elders of the family go to his daughter's future husband, where he puts a spot of turmeric and saffron on the future son-in-law's forehead. This mark is also called “tilak”. Then all the men present also decorate their foreheads with similar spots. Of course, the ritual is not complete without refreshments. However, only vegetarian dishes are offered to guests. The visit ends with the presentation of gifts to the groom.
The women's sangeet ritual is very beautiful. It's like our bachelorette party. This ritual takes place with songs and dances, jokes and treats.
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
The mehendi ceremony takes place in the house of the future wife. Only the closest relatives are invited there. After it, the girl does not leave her home and does not take part in household chores.
Marriage
Nowadays the groom no longer has to come to the bride on a horse or elephant. Modern realities allow wedding processions of cars. However, many rituals remain the same.
For example, on their wedding day, young people show off their hands and feet, shining from a special paste made from turmeric. And at the threshold, the mother of the bride, upon meeting, protects her son-in-law from evil with a marked tilak.
In the wedding tent decorated with lush flowers, banana and coconut leaves, the groom waits for the appearance of his betrothed. A sacrificial fire is lit here, around which the wedding will take place.
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
First, the newlyweds present each other with garlands of flowers, which signifies their agreement to get married. Then the relatives stand in 4 columns - this is a symbol of the support of the future family. During Kanya Daan, the father of the bride, while the guests chant mantras, gives his daughter’s hand to the future husband. He accompanies this action by appealing to his son-in-law with a request to help his future wife achieve religious perfection.
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
After the son-in-law makes his promise to fulfill his father’s order, the brahman enters into an alliance - he ties the hands of the spouses with a cloth. Although today's Hindus do not refuse the beautiful European ritual of exchanging rings between newlyweds.
@ you & me
@Bhargav & Varun Bhatt
The ritual of sacrifice to Yamaraja, the god of death, is unusual and beautiful. It is performed with the help of rice, which spills through the fingers of the young people into the fire. Then the guests make a circle around the sacrificial fire, thereby calling for grace to be given to the young family.
The groom expresses his consent to marriage by decorating the parting of the future wife's hair with turmeric dye and presenting her with a gold necklace. Now it's time for treats. The sweets that the husband offers to his chosen one symbolize a sweet future life together.
Rituals after marriage
The celebration itself takes place in the groom's house. Therefore, the bride says goodbye to her family. The newly made husband takes her away with him. Following the young wife is a rich dowry collected by her parents.
On the threshold of the new house, the young wife is greeted by her husband’s sisters or aunts with a jug filled with salt water. They break the vessel in front of the newlyweds. It is believed that this can protect them from harm.
The young wife must tip over a vessel filled with rice grains and money with her right foot to attract wealth. The husband's mother places a tray of red paint in front of her daughter-in-law. Only by stepping into it can the young housewife walk into the house along a white, clean path, leaving footprints on it - a symbol of good luck.
Guests sit down at the festive table, where a wide variety of dishes are presented in abundance. They treat themselves, have fun, joke, sing and dance. And the young people modestly sit at the head of the table, allowing everyone to admire and admire their beautiful outfits.
@Ranjini Jhini
@Ranjini Jhini
@Ranjini Jhini
Indian style jewelry and accessories
No Indian girl gets married without an abundance of colorful accessories. Researchers attribute Indian women's love for jewelry to the fact that earlier, when wives were highly dependent on their husbands, the latter had the right to kick the woman out of the house at any time. The only things that the girl could take were those that were already on her. Nowadays this phenomenon is not observed, but Indian women still wear a lot of accessories. There is another explanation for this phenomenon: according to ancient beliefs, the more jewelry a bride and groom wears, the happier her life with her husband will be.
Indian women use large ear and nose earrings, bracelets, and necklaces generously decorated with stones as wedding decorations. It cannot be done without the traditional bindi - a dot decorating the forehead of the hero of the occasion. According to an ancient custom, the newlywed's arms, shoulders, back, and legs are painted with henna - this beautiful pattern is called mehendi, each type of it has a specific meaning.
Child marriage
Yes, in India a girl of 10 years old can already know who her husband will be. But we are not talking about child molestation, but rather about traditions. Parents agree that their children will become spouses in the future. After this, the families communicate, visit each other, and the children treat each other like husband and wife, but purely platonically. The girl learns to serve her husband, and he learns to protect and take care of her.
However, early marriages still occur in India. Mahatma Gandhi himself married at the age of 13 with a girl of the same age. But in 1955, the age of marriage was limited - for girls it was 14 years old, and for boys - 18 years old. It was only in 1978 that Indians came closer to the civilized world and prohibited marriage before the age of 18.
Extraordinarily beautiful Indian saris
Indian saris can safely be called one of the symbols of India, because the history of this traditional clothing goes back several thousand years. There is a whole culture of wearing a sari, which includes dozens of different types of draping, symbolic meanings of complex patterns and shades of fabric. Now this attire of Indian beauties can be found in our latitudes, because beauty has no geographical boundaries, and such an outfit perfectly emphasizes feminine sophistication and grace. Moreover, now it is not difficult to buy a real Indian sari both in Moscow and in any other city in Russia.
What is an outfit
When you see a girl in a sari, it is difficult to imagine that her incredibly beautiful decoration is only a strip of fabric from five to nine meters long and about a meter wide. This maximum simplicity of cut is more than compensated for by complex ornaments, rich handmade embroidery, and fabric decoration with stones, rhinestones and sequins. The wedding sari deserves special mention. The bride's clothing in India is usually red, which symbolizes marital happiness in India, and is all decorated with sparkling embroidery.
Artful draping of a sari
If you put on a sari correctly, this piece of material will magically highlight the waist, hips, and seductive curves of the female body and at the same time give the majestic look of an Indian goddess. Moreover, in a properly draped sari it is incredibly comfortable to move and even dance. The draping technique is not as complicated as it might seem:
- to start, put on a tight skirt and a short choli;
- tuck one edge into the waistband of the skirt around your waist;
- lay out five to seven folds of fabric about 15 centimeters wide and also tuck them into the belt so that these folds are slightly to the left of the center;
- Cover your back with the rest, pass it under your arm, and then across your chest;
- Place folds on the shoulder again, and throw the palu (remaining end) over the shoulder or over the head.
Watch videos on the Internet, practice several times and you will be able to master this task in just a few minutes.
Various fabrics
Indian saris are also attractive due to the many types of high-quality fabric from which they can be made - from thin muslin to mesmerizingly beautiful silk. For example, silk produced in Varanasi is famous for its richness and quality, so it is worn only on special occasions. You can often find light chiffon saris and organza products that give the silhouette transparency and weightlessness.
If you are tired of the sari, you can always use it as a piece of gorgeous fabric to make a dress, skirt or even use it in interior decoration.
Several reasons to buy a saree
Indian clothing has long ceased to be perceived as something unusual: Aladdins, tunics, and oriental jewelry have become part of Western fashion. Recently, Indian saris have also moved from exotic to the category of clothing for any celebration, when you want to impress, surprise and be remembered. Indian themed parties, original photo shoots – there are many reasons to buy a sari, so don’t refuse the opportunity to feel like a mysterious oriental princess.
Indian wedding ceremony: the beginning of the celebration - the arrival of the groom
The wedding celebration begins in the evening at the bride's house. The groom arrives there at the appointed time, accompanied by a crowd of friends and relatives. Usually about 700 guests are present at the celebration.
The bride's parents are obliged to provide everyone with housing and food. Traditional bright red bracelets are placed on the bride's hands, which she must wear for a month after the wedding.
Before the arrival of the groom, the bride's parents build a small temple (“Vedi”), which is intended for the wedding ceremony. It is covered with an awning and decorated with four palm trees installed in the corners of the building. The temple is decorated with many yellow flowers, symbolizing the sun and wealth.
The groom usually arrives at the bride's house on horseback - his wedding attire is lavishly embroidered with gold embroidery, he is belted with a fiery sash, and has a bright turban on his head. Behind the groom, on a decorated horse, sits his young friend in the same outfit.
The groom enters the temple, stands on a flat stone placed in the center, and waits for the bride to appear, who will soon be carried out in a wooden palanquin.
Lehenga Choli
A lehenga is a long flowing skirt that starts from the hips, while a choli is a short blouse. An indispensable detail of this wedding dress is the dupatta. Mostly wedding attire is made of brocade, silk, organza, and chiffon. Precious stones, hand embroidery with gold threads, glass beads, and rhinestones are used as decoration.
Wedding in India - like in the movies? No, this is Indian cinema - almost like a wedding!
Look into those eyes and maybe you will understand why Indian grooms save themselves for the one and only. She's beautiful!
What kind of guy is there, an adult and mature man of about 34 years old, saving himself for his one and only. Don't believe me? Is it true. You say: well, why such details, we are not Indians, we just want to make a stylized wedding evening. So here it is; the wedding will not be completely “Indian”, no matter how luxurious the surroundings are, until you are imbued with a special spirit of chastity, the joy of finding each other and faith in an endless happy future. In India, you see, there is no other scenario: divorces are very, very rare. It is not customary to exchange an old wife for a young beauty.
An Indian wedding is a celebration of a lifetime!
An Indian wedding is a grandiose celebration, a coveted moment that is anxiously awaited for decades (until the money is collected, and until the bride is wooed). They prepare seriously for the first night, guests are invited - half of Mumbai! Before choosing flowers, decorations and setting tables, be imbued with this exciting anticipation of the unity of flesh and spirit for the rest of your life. Ready? Well, then let’s start the wedding “Indian style.”
The image of the groom. Slight carelessness and emphasis on natural materials
First of all, you should pay special attention to the color and texture of fabrics; the boho-chic style provides a wide choice in this regard and is not limited to a few options. Pastel colors are perfect: beige, powder, gray, sand, various shades of brown and others. Avoid classic suits and tailcoats
Pants, vest and shirt are the perfect combination. Light natural materials will help you feel the spirit of freedom and ease. You can add a little casualness to your look by slightly rolling up your trousers or shirt sleeves. An exquisite and original boutonniere will complement the groom’s boho style look.
Where to have your wedding
Do you dream of concluding a sacred union in an ancient Indian temple according to the canons of the Hindu religion? Ancient rituals and traditions of Tamil Nadu await lovers. See the impenetrable jungle while traveling on elephants, get acquainted with the “Pink City” of Jaipur, visit the unsurpassed Taj Mahal - a symbol of eternal love - the choice is up to you.
In Goa
The pearl of India, a wedding Mecca for tourists from all over the world – Goa. Snow-white beaches, azure ocean, ancient traditions are at the service of those wishing to hold a wedding ceremony. A traditional tent, a Brahmin wedding, generous gifts from the rich Indian soil will leave an unforgettable experience. Most tour operators offer to organize the ceremony based on Indian or European style..
In Kerala
The southern state of Kerala is home to miles of stunning beaches, lakes and tropical wilderness of India. There is nothing more romantic than wearing a pearl-gold sari (which is different from the traditional red outfit) for the bride and becoming an oriental beauty. The wedding night spent by the lovers on a “floating house” will make hearts beat faster many years later.
In Tamil Nadu
Do you want to have a quiet, romantic wedding ceremony? The state of Tamil Nadu, rich in exquisite architectural treasures, temples and lush blooming, fragrant greenery, provides such an opportunity. “The golden city of a thousand temples of India,” Kanchipuram has become a haven for three religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Quiet, clean, cozy streets of small resort towns will give you an unforgettable experience.
In Jaipur
Carrying out a Maharaja style wedding ceremony in the city of the current Maharaja - Jaipur - will be remembered for its richness of colors and vivid impressions. Majestic palaces, ancient temples, on the territory of which it is possible to organize a wedding, will turn lovers into “representatives of the highest caste”, for whom the whole world was created. Chic outfits, luxurious apartments, rich food are available to those wishing to organize a wedding ceremony in Jaipur.
In Udaipur
In the middle of arid Rajstan, at the confluence of three lakes, long ago Maharaja Udai Singh founded the “snow-white city of India” - Udaipur. The ancient architecture of palaces, green parks, numerous hotels and... the magnificent expanse of water rightfully gave this city a second name - Venice of the East. Delightful photos of the wedding ceremony, a boat trip to the Pihkola Palace will be a happy start to your family life, giving you an unforgettable experience.
To Delhi
The contrast of a large metropolis, the fusion of religions and cultures, ancient rituals and symbols are intricately intertwined in the capital of India - Delhi. Most residents of large cities choose a “wedding for love,” gradually moving away from the customs of their ancestors. However, the legacy of generations is so great that a wedding is impossible without the “classical” Indian attire of the newlyweds, the Brahmin and the fundamental ceremonies.
In Agra
To hold a wedding ceremony in one of the wonders of the world, built in Agra as a sign of recognition of unfading feelings - the Taj Mahal - is the dream of any bride. Snow-white marble, airy architecture, exquisite patterns and stucco molding - the splendor of what you see blinds your eyes and takes your breath away. Walk barefoot along the ancient slabs with your spouse, absorbing the energy and all-conquering power of love. Leave your confession on the steps of the temple, because the ancient legend of India says that then your feelings will be as strong as the great love of the great Shah.
