Marriage

Men washing bridal couple's hands during ceremony

Hindu sacraments are called samskars and the sacraments performed at the time of a wedding are called Vivah Samskar.

This samskar marks the start of the second and the most important stage of life called the Grihistha Ashrama, which involves setting up of a new family unit.

Hinduism teaches that marriage is an important duty for men and women; choosing to stay single (celibate) is not encouraged. A marriage does not just join together a man and a woman, but two extended families. Because of this, arranged marriages have been common in Hinduism with parents introducing people to each other.

Hindu weddings take place at a time chosen according to the horoscopes of both partners. A horoscope is an astrological forecast of a person's future based on the position of the planets and stars at a given moment. In India it would take place at the bride’s home, but in the UK it is just as likely that a hall or reception room would be booked, as large numbers of people would be expected to attend.

The bride and her family welcome the groom and his relations. The groom is brought to a specially decorated mandap (canopy).

The bride is given away by her parents who join her hands with those of the groom.

The priest lights a fire to honour the god Agni, and recites mantras in Sanskrit (sacred language of the Hindu scriptures). He invites the groom to make offerings to the fire as certain prayers are said. The groom asks for the marriage to be blessed with children. The bride shares in this act by touching the groom’s shoulder.

The end of the bride’s sari, which hangs over her shoulder, is tied to her husband’s scarf to show that they are joined together. Often the bride puts her foot on a stone to show that she is willing to perform her duties as a wife.

The couple take seven steps around the sacred fire, with the groom’s right hand on the bride’s right shoulder. This is the main part of the ceremony and is called saptapadi. As the couple walk around the sacred fire they say a prayer at each step asking forthe blessings of:

• food
• strength
• wealth
• wisdom and happiness
• children
• good health
• friendship

The groom and his family make offerings of barley to the fire, and the guests and the priest bless the couple.