Bengali Wedding
A number of interesting and colorful ceremonies mark a traditional Bengal Wedding. Read on to know all about pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding customs of a typical Bengali wedding.
Engagement Ceremony
There are specific rituals for engagement in a Bengali Wedding. At first a family priest reads the ancestral lines of the to ensure that marriage does not take place between close relatives or persons having the same gotra or lineage. The custom is known as Adan Pradan (give and take). Thereafter, groom's family visits the bride's family and finalizes the dates for marriage. The ritual is called Paka-Dekha. This is followed by an Aashirwad or Patri Patra ceremony, which involves confirmation of the marriage alliance. It takes place a couple of days before the wedding. The ceremony is conducted by a purohit at the residence of the bride or the groom.
Pre-Wedding Rituals of a Bengali Wedding
A typical Bengali wedding involves following rituals:
Wedding Piris: The piris are brought to the bride's house a day before the wedding or on the wedding day. These piris are used to seat the bride and the groom during the wedding ceremony. A relative or friend paints and decorates the piris, conch shells are blown and ululation taken up.
Vridhi: Vridhi ceremony is performed a day before the marriage and is attended by all family members. Rituals for Vridhi involve offering of puja to the ancestors of the bride and the groom. Following the rituals, alpana or rangoli is done and on it is placed a ghot with amra pallab. All puja items are arranged in a baran dala (silver plate) with a 'Sri' symbol made on it. The priest brings an idol of Bhagwan Narayan to the puja. The idol is worshipped by lighting of agarbattis (incense) and diyas (lamps). The vridhi is usually performed by a paternal uncle. Custom demands that the uncle and the bride/groom be on a liquid diet.
Dodhi Mangal: Dodhi Mangal is performed in the house of the bride and the groom at the crack of the dawn of the wedding day. About ten married women accompany the bride/groom to a nearby pond. This is done to invite the Goddess Ganga to the wedding. Women bring back a pitcher of water from the pond to individually bathe the bride and the groom. They then offer food to the bride/groom. The meal consists of macher laija bhaja (fried fish) followed by jal dhala bhaja (rice cooked in water). Curd and chiruya complete the meal.
Gae Halud Tattva: A relative of the groom arrives at the bride's house with Gae halud tattva (gifts) for the bride. The gifts include at least six saris and cosmetics to go with them. Also among the gifts are fish, assorted sweets, curd, paan, dhaan and durba. Incense is lit to welcome them and conch shells are blown. The bearers are given sweets and gifts.
Adhibas Tattva: Adhibas Tattva are gifts coming from the bride's house. These include a saree for the groom's mother, fish, sweets, curd, paan, dhaan, and durba. The gifts come on a brass plate or kasar thala borne by servants.
Kubi Patta: Kubi Patta is a ceremony to revere Saint Kuber. This takes place in the houses of the bride and the groom on the day of the marriage. Carrying out the ritual family members place three metal glasses filled to the brim with dhaan, khoi (pulses) and crushed rice at the altar of the Saint.
Snan: The snan takes place in the late afternoon or evening, the bride and groom must individually follow on the day of the wedding. A few married women apply turmeric and oil on the hair and body of the bride/groom. After bathing, the bride and groom must wear the new set of clothes that have been presented to them by their in-laws.
Sankha Porana: In her maternal home the bride follows the tradition of wearing sankha pola or conch shell which are white and red bangles that have been dipped in turmeric water. Ritual goes that after a bath bride wears a new sari along with the sankha pola.
Sringar of the Bride: The bride adorns herself in all her bridal finery. Her hair is tied into a bun and covered with a veil. The mukut is placed on her head and secured in place by pinning it to the veil. After her bridal makeover, a design of the mukut is traced on her face using the chandan paste. The bride must sit with the gaach kouto and kaajal laata for the ceremonies that follow.
Mandap: The mandap is the place where the wedding ceremony is conducted. In a typical Bengal wedding two banana trees are planted at the mandap and a large alpana is made with rice paste. The mandap is decorated for the event with flowers and lights.
Wedding Rituals:
Here, we shall present a brief description of the various steps of Bengali Wedding.
Welcoming of the Groom: At the bride's house, the groom and his relatives are greeted with the ceremonial ringing of bells, blowing of conch shells and ululation. The baran dala is held by an elder female relative of the bride's and the plate is first touched to the groom's forehead, then to ground, and back again to his forehead in a gesture of part blessing, part-reverence. The groom is offered sweets and sherbet. Water is sprinkled on the doorstep as the groom steps into the house to mark the auspicious moment.
The Wedding Ceremony: An interesting feature of the Bengali wedding is that the bride is carried to the marriage altar on the shoulders of her uncles amidst much revelry, conch-blowing and clapping. The purohit conducts the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom exchange garlands while the purohit chants mantras. Following the custom called sampradhan paternal or maternal uncle gives the bride away.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Given here is a description of some of the most commonly observed post-wedding rituals of a Bengali wedding.
Basar Ghar: The bride and groom are welcomed inside the bride's home. There is merry making and the couple is served dinner. Jokes and poetry recitals by friends and relatives keep the couple awake all through the night.
Bashi Biye: The next morning, the groom adorns the forehead of his bride with vermillion. He does this by looking into a mirror. The newly wed couple visits the mandap and worships the Sun God in the presence of a priest.
Bidaai Ceremony: This ceremony marks the departure of the bride and groom. From here they set off for the groom's home. The newly weds are blessed by the elders.
Bou Baran: This ritual is performed to welcome the bride and groom to the latter's home. The women of the house pour water on the ground beneath their vehicle when they alight. The groom's elder brother's wife holds a plate containing lac dye and milk under the bride's feet. Having imprinted the soles of her feet thus, she leads her by the arm into the house. The elders of the house bless the newly weds.
Bou Bhat: The first meal served by the new bride is called bahubhat. This is a time of accepting her with respect in her new family and for her to know her new relatives. This ceremony is followed by a reception in the evening, hosted by the groom's father.
Phool Sajja or Flower Decoration: The last of the wedding ceremonies, this occasion sees the bride in a new sari and the groom in a new dhoti and kurta. Their nuptial bedroom is beautifully decorated with flowers, which is why the term, phool sajja. The flowers, clothes and sweets for the occasion usually arrive as gifts from the bride's house.
Dira Gaman: Dira Gaman ceremony is conducted when the newly-weds visits the bride's house for the first time after the wedding. The thread that was tied by the purohit on the bride's wrist during the wedding rituals is cut during this ritual. Conch shells are blown to the accompaniment of ululation to mark the auspicious moment.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Telugu Wedding
Telegu Wedding is an elaborate affair and comprises of a large number of rituals and ceremonies that spread over several days. It may be noted that there may be certain regional and caste variations regarding ceremonies related to Telegu wedding ceremony. However, what remains essentially the same is the highest regard of Telegu people for the institution of marriage.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Here is a short description of some of the popular pre-wedding rituals of a Telegu marriage ceremony.
Muhurtam: Muhurtam means determining the auspicious part of the day for the marriage. The period that is considered auspicious starts from 7.00 p.m. and goes on till the next day until about 11 am. Telegu Weddings don't usually take place in the months of Aashad, Bhadrapad and Shunya as these months are considered not auspicious.
Pendlikoothuru: This ceremony involves anointing the bride and the groom with oil and turmeric before bath. Following the bath, the couple don new clothes. The bride-to-be wears flowers in her hair. She also adorns her forehead with a bindi or vermilion dot and wears bangles on her wrists.
Snathakam: Snathakam ceremony is performed at the bridegroom's house before the muhurtam. It is a sort of thread ceremony that involves making the groom wear a silver thread on his body.
Kashi Yatra: This is an extremely joyful ceremony. Following the tradition, after the recitation of Vedic verses, the groom pretends to leave for Kashi, a pilgrimage center to become an ascetic. He carries a walking stick and other essentials to show that he is not interested in becoming a householder anymore. He relents and agrees to the marriage only after he is stopped and persuaded by the bride's brother to fulfill his responsibilities as a householder.
Mangala Snaanam: Following the custom, the bride and groom must take a Mangala Snaanam or an auspicious bath on the day of the wedding. The bath is believed to cleanse and purify them and make them ready for the sacred rites that are to follow.
Aarti: After the ceremonial bath, the bride and groom are anointed with oil at their respective homes. Their families perform aarti. The ceremony is significant as it carries with it the family's prayer that the mind of the bride/groom be illuminated by wisdom.
Ganesh and Gauri Pooja: The bridegroom performs Ganesh pooja in the mandapam or wedding hall just before the marriage ceremony. Worshipping the revered Ganesha who is the remover of all obstacles. Similarly, the bride performs Gauri Puja and seeks blessings for a blissful married life.
Wedding Rituals:
A typical Telegu Wedding is full of joyous and colorful rituals. Please read on to know more about Telegu Wedding traditions.
Kanyadaan: A significant part of Hindu weddings, the Kanayadaan is that part of the marriage ceremony in which the girl's family gives her away to the groom. In a traditional Telegu wedding, bride's maternal uncle carries her in a bamboo basket to the mandapam where a curtain separates the bride and bridegroom. They are not to see each other until after the marriage ceremony. The priest invokes the blessings of the ancestors belonging to the last seven generations of both families. The bride's parents wash the groom's feet in a gesture that symbolizes their belief that he is a form of God to whom they now offer their daughter's hand.
Jeelakarra Bellamu: After the priest recites the wedding shlokas from the Vedas, the bride and groom apply a paste of cumin seeds (jeera) and jaggery on each other's hands. This is known as Jeelakarra-Bellamu. This slightly bitter cumin and sweet jaggery when ground together turn into an inseparable mixture. The custom signifies that bride and groom are supposed to become inseparable through life's bitter and sweet times.
Madhuparkam: For the Madhuparkam ceremony the bride wears a white cotton sari with a red border, while the groom dons a white cotton dhoti with a red border. White signifies purity and chastity, while red color represents strength.
Sumangli: Under this ceremony, ten married women (Sumangalis) accompany the bride. Six of them hold plates full of rice and turmeric powder mixed together. The remaining hold plates with small lamps made from a mixture of rice flour, sugar and milk. Rice signifies abundance while lit lamps represent sweetness and light, two qualities that the bride brings with her to this new phase of life.
Tying of the Mangalsutra: To carry out this ritual, the curtain between the bride and the groom is removed. After offering prayers, the groom ties the two strings each with a golden disc representing the Mangalsutra separately around the bride's neck with three knots to represent the strength of their union physical, mental and spiritual.
Kanyadaan Akshata: After the mangalsutra ceremony, the couple exchange garlands. Those present at the wedding shower their blessings on the couple by sprinkling flowers and turmeric-colored rice or Akshat on them.
Saptapadi: 'Saptapadi' or seven steps are what the couple takes together. In this ceremony the bride's saree and the groom's dhoti are tied together at one end in a knot. In each step that he takes, the groom prays for life-long blessings. During this ceremony, saris, ornaments and other gifts are offered to the couple and to other family members.
Sthaalipaakam: In this sweet ceremony, the groom slips silver toe rings on the bride's feet. The girl is also adorned with a string of black beads, to protect her from the evil eye.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Given here is a short description of some prominent post-wedding rituals of a traditional Telegu Wedding.
Grihapravesh: When the marriage ceremony is over the bride is ceremonially taken to the groom's home for Griha Pravesh (entering the house for the first time). Here, the in-laws give the bride a warm welcome.
Uniting the Mangalsutra: As is customary in a Telegu wedding, the two mangalsutras are united on a common thread 16 days after the wedding. An elder member of the family or the husband himself can unite the two mangalsutras on a common thread. A few black or golden beads are slipped between the two plates so that they don't clash with each other. Signifying harmony between the two families. The bride takes a bath and wears a new sari before wearing the mangalsutra on this day. 16 days are symbolic of the time needed by the bride to understand her husband's family.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Here is a short description of some of the popular pre-wedding rituals of a Telegu marriage ceremony.
Muhurtam: Muhurtam means determining the auspicious part of the day for the marriage. The period that is considered auspicious starts from 7.00 p.m. and goes on till the next day until about 11 am. Telegu Weddings don't usually take place in the months of Aashad, Bhadrapad and Shunya as these months are considered not auspicious.
Pendlikoothuru: This ceremony involves anointing the bride and the groom with oil and turmeric before bath. Following the bath, the couple don new clothes. The bride-to-be wears flowers in her hair. She also adorns her forehead with a bindi or vermilion dot and wears bangles on her wrists.
Snathakam: Snathakam ceremony is performed at the bridegroom's house before the muhurtam. It is a sort of thread ceremony that involves making the groom wear a silver thread on his body.
Kashi Yatra: This is an extremely joyful ceremony. Following the tradition, after the recitation of Vedic verses, the groom pretends to leave for Kashi, a pilgrimage center to become an ascetic. He carries a walking stick and other essentials to show that he is not interested in becoming a householder anymore. He relents and agrees to the marriage only after he is stopped and persuaded by the bride's brother to fulfill his responsibilities as a householder.
Mangala Snaanam: Following the custom, the bride and groom must take a Mangala Snaanam or an auspicious bath on the day of the wedding. The bath is believed to cleanse and purify them and make them ready for the sacred rites that are to follow.
Aarti: After the ceremonial bath, the bride and groom are anointed with oil at their respective homes. Their families perform aarti. The ceremony is significant as it carries with it the family's prayer that the mind of the bride/groom be illuminated by wisdom.
Ganesh and Gauri Pooja: The bridegroom performs Ganesh pooja in the mandapam or wedding hall just before the marriage ceremony. Worshipping the revered Ganesha who is the remover of all obstacles. Similarly, the bride performs Gauri Puja and seeks blessings for a blissful married life.
Wedding Rituals:
A typical Telegu Wedding is full of joyous and colorful rituals. Please read on to know more about Telegu Wedding traditions.
Kanyadaan: A significant part of Hindu weddings, the Kanayadaan is that part of the marriage ceremony in which the girl's family gives her away to the groom. In a traditional Telegu wedding, bride's maternal uncle carries her in a bamboo basket to the mandapam where a curtain separates the bride and bridegroom. They are not to see each other until after the marriage ceremony. The priest invokes the blessings of the ancestors belonging to the last seven generations of both families. The bride's parents wash the groom's feet in a gesture that symbolizes their belief that he is a form of God to whom they now offer their daughter's hand.
Jeelakarra Bellamu: After the priest recites the wedding shlokas from the Vedas, the bride and groom apply a paste of cumin seeds (jeera) and jaggery on each other's hands. This is known as Jeelakarra-Bellamu. This slightly bitter cumin and sweet jaggery when ground together turn into an inseparable mixture. The custom signifies that bride and groom are supposed to become inseparable through life's bitter and sweet times.
Madhuparkam: For the Madhuparkam ceremony the bride wears a white cotton sari with a red border, while the groom dons a white cotton dhoti with a red border. White signifies purity and chastity, while red color represents strength.
Sumangli: Under this ceremony, ten married women (Sumangalis) accompany the bride. Six of them hold plates full of rice and turmeric powder mixed together. The remaining hold plates with small lamps made from a mixture of rice flour, sugar and milk. Rice signifies abundance while lit lamps represent sweetness and light, two qualities that the bride brings with her to this new phase of life.
Tying of the Mangalsutra: To carry out this ritual, the curtain between the bride and the groom is removed. After offering prayers, the groom ties the two strings each with a golden disc representing the Mangalsutra separately around the bride's neck with three knots to represent the strength of their union physical, mental and spiritual.
Kanyadaan Akshata: After the mangalsutra ceremony, the couple exchange garlands. Those present at the wedding shower their blessings on the couple by sprinkling flowers and turmeric-colored rice or Akshat on them.
Saptapadi: 'Saptapadi' or seven steps are what the couple takes together. In this ceremony the bride's saree and the groom's dhoti are tied together at one end in a knot. In each step that he takes, the groom prays for life-long blessings. During this ceremony, saris, ornaments and other gifts are offered to the couple and to other family members.
Sthaalipaakam: In this sweet ceremony, the groom slips silver toe rings on the bride's feet. The girl is also adorned with a string of black beads, to protect her from the evil eye.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Given here is a short description of some prominent post-wedding rituals of a traditional Telegu Wedding.
Grihapravesh: When the marriage ceremony is over the bride is ceremonially taken to the groom's home for Griha Pravesh (entering the house for the first time). Here, the in-laws give the bride a warm welcome.
Uniting the Mangalsutra: As is customary in a Telegu wedding, the two mangalsutras are united on a common thread 16 days after the wedding. An elder member of the family or the husband himself can unite the two mangalsutras on a common thread. A few black or golden beads are slipped between the two plates so that they don't clash with each other. Signifying harmony between the two families. The bride takes a bath and wears a new sari before wearing the mangalsutra on this day. 16 days are symbolic of the time needed by the bride to understand her husband's family.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Muslim Wedding (Nikah)
Muslim Wedding or Nikah is celebrated on a grand scale for a period of five-days. Muslim wedding can be conducted at any convenient time, as there is no concept of auspicious time. The Nikah ceremony can take place either at the bride or bridegroom's residence or at a place that is convenient for both parties. Just as in any other Indian wedding, here too marriage ceremonies can be divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding celebrations.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Here is a short description of the pre-wedding rituals followed in a typical Muslim Nikah.
Legan Chir: When the date of marriage is finalized, cash present is sent to the bride's father by the groom's father. The ceremony is known as Legan Chir.
Day 1 and Day 2 Ceremonies: On days one and two, first the bride's people and then the groom's, go to the other party's house, carrying mehendi paste in a plate. The children carry candles, which are lit before entering the respective houses. Dinner is served and songs teasing both the boy and girl are sung.
Manjha Ceremony: On the third day, manjha ceremony takes place. The prospective bride is seated on a small square table and anointed with haldi (turmeric) provided by the boy's family. Following this ceremony, a married friend will accompany the bride everywhere and at all times. This friend will also spread the turmeric over the bride's whole body before she bathes. For this ceremony the bride is supposed to wear yellow clothes and no jewelry. There is, again, much celebration and singing.
Mehndi Ceremony: The Mehndi ceremony is held at the home of the bride on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a couple of days before it. Following the tradition, the female relatives of the bride anoint her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her complexion. A relative or a mehndiwali applies mehndi on the hands and feet of the bride. The event has a festive feel to it with the women singing traditional songs. The bride wears sober clothes on the day. According to custom the bride must not step out of the house for the next few days until her marriage. The bride's cousins sometimes apply a dot of mehndi on the palm of the groom.
Wedding Rituals:
Muslims observe a unique set of rituals at the time of their wedding. Please read on to find out how Muslim Nikah is conducted.
Welcoming the Baraat: The groom arrives at the wedding venue with a wedding procession or baraat consisting of relatives and friends. A band of musicians strike up some traditional notes to announce their arrival. The groom shares a drink of sherbet with the bride's brother. The bride's sisters play pranks and slap the guests playfully with batons made of flowers.
Nikaah: It is on day four the actual Muslim Nikaah or wedding ceremony takes place. Nikah can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient venue. The nikaah ceremony is presided over by the qazi or law officer. The qazi appoints two men as witnesses (Gawah) on the groom's behalf, to receive orders for the nikah from the bride's family. In addition to the presence of two witnesses, the presence of the two 'Walis' (the bride's and the bridegroom's father) is also necessary. The bride's father is required to care for and protect her rights and the groom's father to endorse his rights.
In orthodox Muslim communities, the men and women are seated separately in Zenana (for woman) and Mardaana (for men). The Maulvi reads selected verses from the Quran and the Nikaah is complete after the Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance). The validity of the Nikaah depends on proposal on one side, usually the groom's (Ijab) and acceptance on the other side, the bride's (Qubul). The mutual consent of the bride and groom is of great importance for the marriage to be legal. Besides, the Islam marriage law demands that neither of the parties must be legally incapacitated from entering into the marriage.
On the day of the Nikaah the elder members of the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). In Muslim Nikah, Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom's family to the bride. The qazi personally asks the bride if she has agreed to marry the groom and whether she accepts the quantum of mehar. Once the bride gives her consent the qazi reads the marriage contract to the groom. After the groom gives his consent, the Nikaah-Nama or marriage contract must be signed by the bride, the bridegroom, their Walis, the witnesses and the Qazi. The Nikaah-Nama also contains certain terms and conditions, which are in accordance with the religion and agreeable to both parties. A noteworthy condition is that in case of a disagreement between the two partners, the girl has a right to divorce her husband.
After the Nikaah-Nama is signed, the Qazi delivers a sermon called Khutba, consisting of verses from the Quran which were recited by the prophet and which lay particular emphasis on obligations toward women. The Qazi explains the meaning of these verses to the audience with an explanation of the mutual rights and duties of the spouses.
Blessing the Groom: After the wedding ceremonies are over the groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam. The guests pray for the marital bliss of the newly wed couple.
Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf: Dinner is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sits together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each only through mirrors.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Post-Wedding rituals followed in Muslim Nikah are similar to what we see in other Indian weddings. However, here the customs are followed under different names and some cultural variations can be observed.
Ruksat: The bride's family bids her a tearful farewell before she departs for her husband's house. The bride's father gives her hand to her husband and tells him to take protect and take good care of her.
Welcoming the Bride: At the groom's house, the groom's mother holds the Islamic Holy book Quran above the head of her newly wed daughter-in-law as she enters her new home for the first time.
Chauthi: The Chauthi is the fourth day after the wedding. It is customary for the bride to visit the home of her parents on this day. The bride receives a joyous welcome on this day.
Valimah: The Valimah is the lavish reception that the groom's family hosts after the Nikaah. It is a joyous occasion that brings together the two families, their relatives and friends.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Here is a short description of the pre-wedding rituals followed in a typical Muslim Nikah.
Legan Chir: When the date of marriage is finalized, cash present is sent to the bride's father by the groom's father. The ceremony is known as Legan Chir.
Day 1 and Day 2 Ceremonies: On days one and two, first the bride's people and then the groom's, go to the other party's house, carrying mehendi paste in a plate. The children carry candles, which are lit before entering the respective houses. Dinner is served and songs teasing both the boy and girl are sung.
Manjha Ceremony: On the third day, manjha ceremony takes place. The prospective bride is seated on a small square table and anointed with haldi (turmeric) provided by the boy's family. Following this ceremony, a married friend will accompany the bride everywhere and at all times. This friend will also spread the turmeric over the bride's whole body before she bathes. For this ceremony the bride is supposed to wear yellow clothes and no jewelry. There is, again, much celebration and singing.
Mehndi Ceremony: The Mehndi ceremony is held at the home of the bride on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a couple of days before it. Following the tradition, the female relatives of the bride anoint her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her complexion. A relative or a mehndiwali applies mehndi on the hands and feet of the bride. The event has a festive feel to it with the women singing traditional songs. The bride wears sober clothes on the day. According to custom the bride must not step out of the house for the next few days until her marriage. The bride's cousins sometimes apply a dot of mehndi on the palm of the groom.
Wedding Rituals:
Muslims observe a unique set of rituals at the time of their wedding. Please read on to find out how Muslim Nikah is conducted.
Welcoming the Baraat: The groom arrives at the wedding venue with a wedding procession or baraat consisting of relatives and friends. A band of musicians strike up some traditional notes to announce their arrival. The groom shares a drink of sherbet with the bride's brother. The bride's sisters play pranks and slap the guests playfully with batons made of flowers.
Nikaah: It is on day four the actual Muslim Nikaah or wedding ceremony takes place. Nikah can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient venue. The nikaah ceremony is presided over by the qazi or law officer. The qazi appoints two men as witnesses (Gawah) on the groom's behalf, to receive orders for the nikah from the bride's family. In addition to the presence of two witnesses, the presence of the two 'Walis' (the bride's and the bridegroom's father) is also necessary. The bride's father is required to care for and protect her rights and the groom's father to endorse his rights.
In orthodox Muslim communities, the men and women are seated separately in Zenana (for woman) and Mardaana (for men). The Maulvi reads selected verses from the Quran and the Nikaah is complete after the Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance). The validity of the Nikaah depends on proposal on one side, usually the groom's (Ijab) and acceptance on the other side, the bride's (Qubul). The mutual consent of the bride and groom is of great importance for the marriage to be legal. Besides, the Islam marriage law demands that neither of the parties must be legally incapacitated from entering into the marriage.
On the day of the Nikaah the elder members of the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). In Muslim Nikah, Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom's family to the bride. The qazi personally asks the bride if she has agreed to marry the groom and whether she accepts the quantum of mehar. Once the bride gives her consent the qazi reads the marriage contract to the groom. After the groom gives his consent, the Nikaah-Nama or marriage contract must be signed by the bride, the bridegroom, their Walis, the witnesses and the Qazi. The Nikaah-Nama also contains certain terms and conditions, which are in accordance with the religion and agreeable to both parties. A noteworthy condition is that in case of a disagreement between the two partners, the girl has a right to divorce her husband.
After the Nikaah-Nama is signed, the Qazi delivers a sermon called Khutba, consisting of verses from the Quran which were recited by the prophet and which lay particular emphasis on obligations toward women. The Qazi explains the meaning of these verses to the audience with an explanation of the mutual rights and duties of the spouses.
Blessing the Groom: After the wedding ceremonies are over the groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam. The guests pray for the marital bliss of the newly wed couple.
Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf: Dinner is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sits together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each only through mirrors.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Post-Wedding rituals followed in Muslim Nikah are similar to what we see in other Indian weddings. However, here the customs are followed under different names and some cultural variations can be observed.
Ruksat: The bride's family bids her a tearful farewell before she departs for her husband's house. The bride's father gives her hand to her husband and tells him to take protect and take good care of her.
Welcoming the Bride: At the groom's house, the groom's mother holds the Islamic Holy book Quran above the head of her newly wed daughter-in-law as she enters her new home for the first time.
Chauthi: The Chauthi is the fourth day after the wedding. It is customary for the bride to visit the home of her parents on this day. The bride receives a joyous welcome on this day.
Valimah: The Valimah is the lavish reception that the groom's family hosts after the Nikaah. It is a joyous occasion that brings together the two families, their relatives and friends.
Muslim Traditions
Muslim Religion
Common misspelling(s): Muhammadan, Mohammedan
About Muslims: A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word 'Muslim' means someone who has submitted to the will of God (Allah). Islam is a monotheistic faith, considered one of the Abrahamic religions, and the world's second-largest religion. Muslims believe that God revealed his divine word directly to mankind through many prophets and that Muhammad was the final prophet of Islam. Muslims hold that Islam is essentially the same belief as that of all the messengers sent by God to mankind since Adam, with the Qur'an (the text used by all sects of the Muslim faith) codifying the final revelation of God.
The basic tenet of Islam is found in the shahadatan ("two testimonies"): la ilaha illa-llahu; muhammadu-r-rasulu-llahi. It means "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." A person who truly believes in the meaning of these words is a Muslim.
The Five Pillars of Islam:There are five basic tenets on which a Muslim's life is founded. These include:
1.The Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad is his messenger.
2.Establishing of the five daily Prayers or Salaah. These prayers are ritualistic in nature and adherence to the ritual practice is required.
3.The Giving of Zakaah (charity), which is generally 2.5% of the yearly savings for a rich man working in trade or industry, and 10% or 20% of the produce for agriculturists. This money or produce is distributed among the poor.
4.Refraining from eating, drinking and having sex from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadhaan.
5.The Pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca during the month of Zul Hijjah, which is compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has the ability to do it. This ability includes the financial means and the physical strength since the hajj can be strenuous.
Divisions of Islam: Islam is divided into two main groups - Sunnis and Shias. Majority of world's Muslims are Sunni. The split in Islam rose from an early dispute over who should be the leader of Islam after the death of Muhammad. The larger group, the Sunnis, argued that election and consensus should appoint the successor, as tradition dictated. (Sunni comes from the Arabic word Sunna, meaning "tradition.") The smaller group believed that Muhammad's successors should come from his family, starting with Ali, his son-in-law. These, the partisans of Ali, were named from the word Shia, meaning "partisan" in Arabic. The defeat of the Shi'ites by the Sunnis is thought to have determined some of the characteristic attitudes of the two groups, the Sunnis stressing merit and achievement, the Shi'ites appealing to the defeated, poor, and oppressed.
Founder: Prophet Muhammad
Time of Origin: Seventh century
Place of Origin: Arabia
Population: Islam is said to be the world's second-largest religion with over one-and-a-half billion Muslims worldwide.
Regional Spread: Researches show that only 18% of world Muslims live in the Arab world. About 20% are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, about 30% in the South Asian region of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Indonesia is said to house the world's largest single Muslim community (within the bounds of one nation). A significant Muslim population is present in China, Europe, Central Asia, and Russia.
France has the highest Muslim population of any nation in Western Europe, with up to 6 million Muslims (10% of the population). Albania is said to have the highest proportion of Muslims as part of its population in Europe. The number of Muslims in North America is estimated between 1.8 - 7 million.
Language: Arabic, Persian, Urdu
God: The fundamental concept in Islam is the oneness of God (tawhid). This monotheism is absolute. In Arabic, God is called Allah. No Muslim visual images or depictions of God are meant to exist because such artistic depictions may lead to idolatry and are thus disdained. Moreover, most Muslims believe that God is incorporeal, making any two - or three - dimensional depictions is impossible.
Religious Texts: The holiest book for Muslims is the Qur'an, or the 'Koran' in English. Muslims consider the Arabic Qur'an as the direct revelation of God. Though translations do exist to other languages but these are not regarded as the literal word of God. Other holy books of the Muslim include the hadith which are recordings of the life of the prophet made by the people who were around him.
Sacred Symbols: Muslims do not accept any icon or color as sacred to Islam, as worshipping symbolic or material things is against the spirit of monotheism. Many people assume that the star and crescent symbolize Islam but these were actually the insignia of the Ottoman Empire, not of Islam as a whole. The color green is often associated with Islam as well but this is a custom and not prescribed by religious scholars. However, Muslims often use elaborately calligraphed verses from the Qur'an besides, pictures of the Ka'bah as decorations in mosques, homes, and public places.
Food Habits: Traditional food items consumed by Muslims include olives, fish, lamb, wheat, rice, chick peas and other legumes, pistachios, dates, cheese, and yogurt. Bread typically accompanies each meal. Lamb is the most widely eaten meat. Pork is eaten only by Christians and not by Muslims or Jews. According to Islam, Muslims cannot drink alcoholic beverages or foods laced with alcohol.
Wedding Traditions: Among Muslims, it is the family of the groom who searches for a suitable bride. Islamic Marriage laws regulate marital relations and deal with marriage (nikah) and divorce (talak). The essential terms and conditions of Muslim marriage are proposal and acceptance, eligibility for the marriage contract, presence of two witnesses, utterance of the proposal and acceptance in the same sitting, and absence of impediments. Hence, in Muslims, the marriage is registered (nikaahnama). It is first signed by the groom and then two witnesses. The bride signs later.
Hindu Matrimonials
Hindu Religion
Other Spellings / Synonyms: Hindoo (archaic), Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Dharma) Brahmanism
History and Origin:Historically, Hindus can be referred to as the successors of Vedic Aryans and other tribes of India. Most of the Hindus today live in the Republic of India. Another popular name for India is Hindustan, meaning the land of Hindus. Hinduism is characterized by a diverse array of belief systems, practices and scriptures. It has its origin in ancient Vedic culture at least as far back as 2000 BC.
Hindi has no actual word for "religion" - Hinduism is not a compartmentalized belief system so much as it is a way of life. As a result, some argue that Hinduism isn't really a religion after all. It is, however, more like a religion than anything else, but it is important to keep in mind that it isn't a "religion" just like Christianity or Judaism are religions. It is because Hinduism has developed over the course of 3000 years that it is difficult to define, but scholars are able to distinguish several forms and stages. Among some of the categories are Vedic Hinduism, Brahmanic Hinduism, Philosophical Hinduism, Devotional Hinduism, and Reformed Hinduism.
Founder: The Hindu dharma is said to have no founder. The word 'Sanatana' implies that it always existed.
Time of Origin: Hindu dharma is said to be the world's oldest living dharma (religious philosophy and way of life). Historians believe Hindu dharma to be over 8500 years old.
Place of Origin: The root of Hindu dharma lie in the Indian subcontinent, in the Indus (Sindhu) valley which had 300 advanced settlements as early as 5000 BCE.
Population: Hinduism is said to be the third largest religion as it has more than one billion people across the world.
Regional Spread: The vast majority of Hindus, approx. 950 million, live in the Indian subcontinent, the birthplace of Hinduism. The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is the world's only Hindu nation. Besides, large Hindu communities, mostly expatriates from India, live in South East Asia, North America, the West Indies, Western Europe, the Middle East, East Africa and South Africa. The Hindus of Bali, and in other parts of Indonesia are indigenous Indonesian Hindus.
Major Gods: The Hindus worship many gods as varicolored forms of the same prism of Truth. Among the most popular are Vishnu (and its incarnations as Krishna or Rama), Shiva, Devi (the Mother as many female deities, such as Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Durga), Ganesha, Skanda and Hanuman. Worship of deities is done through the aid of pictures or icons (murti) which are said not to be God themselves but conduits for the devotee's consciousness.
Religious Texts: The Hindu Dharma primarily believes in the following texts:
Vedas: To all Hindus, the Vedas are the main source of religious social and religious practices in Hindu, and indeed Indian society.
Puranas: The Puranas are a wide collection of religious treatises, biographies and stories on the historical, mythological and religious characters in Hindu folklore, classic literature and sacred scriptures.
Mahabharata: The most popular Hindu scriptures are the Mahabharata, the holy war between good and evil.
Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gita contains Krishna's discourse to the warrior prince Arjuna. It is the guide book on life for the common Hindu.
Ramayana: This very important Hindu epic contains the story of Ram, the King of Ayodhya. To the Hindus, Rama is the image of Hinduism, the Perfect Man.
The Four Goals of Life: Common to practically all Hindus is the philosophy of purushartha, the "four goals of life". They are kama, artha, dharma and moksha. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all. Of course, the only goal that is truly infinite, whose attainment results in absolute happiness, is moksha, or liberation from Samsara, the cycle of life, death, and existential duality.
Major Sects in Hinduism: Contemporary Hinduism is traditionally divided into four major divisions - Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism. These sects shares rituals, beliefs, traditions and gods with one another, but each sect has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal i.e. moksa or liberation) and on their views of the Gods.
Varna System: The traditional Hindu society divides itself into four varnas on the basis of division of labor:
Brahmins or the priestly class
Kshatriyas or the warriors
Vaishyas or the merchants/craftsmen class
Shudras or the workers
Sacred Symbols: Two of the most revered symbols in Hinduism are:
Other Spellings / Synonyms: Hindoo (archaic), Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Dharma) Brahmanism
History and Origin:Historically, Hindus can be referred to as the successors of Vedic Aryans and other tribes of India. Most of the Hindus today live in the Republic of India. Another popular name for India is Hindustan, meaning the land of Hindus. Hinduism is characterized by a diverse array of belief systems, practices and scriptures. It has its origin in ancient Vedic culture at least as far back as 2000 BC.
Hindi has no actual word for "religion" - Hinduism is not a compartmentalized belief system so much as it is a way of life. As a result, some argue that Hinduism isn't really a religion after all. It is, however, more like a religion than anything else, but it is important to keep in mind that it isn't a "religion" just like Christianity or Judaism are religions. It is because Hinduism has developed over the course of 3000 years that it is difficult to define, but scholars are able to distinguish several forms and stages. Among some of the categories are Vedic Hinduism, Brahmanic Hinduism, Philosophical Hinduism, Devotional Hinduism, and Reformed Hinduism.
Founder: The Hindu dharma is said to have no founder. The word 'Sanatana' implies that it always existed.
Time of Origin: Hindu dharma is said to be the world's oldest living dharma (religious philosophy and way of life). Historians believe Hindu dharma to be over 8500 years old.
Place of Origin: The root of Hindu dharma lie in the Indian subcontinent, in the Indus (Sindhu) valley which had 300 advanced settlements as early as 5000 BCE.
Population: Hinduism is said to be the third largest religion as it has more than one billion people across the world.
Regional Spread: The vast majority of Hindus, approx. 950 million, live in the Indian subcontinent, the birthplace of Hinduism. The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is the world's only Hindu nation. Besides, large Hindu communities, mostly expatriates from India, live in South East Asia, North America, the West Indies, Western Europe, the Middle East, East Africa and South Africa. The Hindus of Bali, and in other parts of Indonesia are indigenous Indonesian Hindus.
Major Gods: The Hindus worship many gods as varicolored forms of the same prism of Truth. Among the most popular are Vishnu (and its incarnations as Krishna or Rama), Shiva, Devi (the Mother as many female deities, such as Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Durga), Ganesha, Skanda and Hanuman. Worship of deities is done through the aid of pictures or icons (murti) which are said not to be God themselves but conduits for the devotee's consciousness.
Religious Texts: The Hindu Dharma primarily believes in the following texts:
Vedas: To all Hindus, the Vedas are the main source of religious social and religious practices in Hindu, and indeed Indian society.
Puranas: The Puranas are a wide collection of religious treatises, biographies and stories on the historical, mythological and religious characters in Hindu folklore, classic literature and sacred scriptures.
Mahabharata: The most popular Hindu scriptures are the Mahabharata, the holy war between good and evil.
Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gita contains Krishna's discourse to the warrior prince Arjuna. It is the guide book on life for the common Hindu.
Ramayana: This very important Hindu epic contains the story of Ram, the King of Ayodhya. To the Hindus, Rama is the image of Hinduism, the Perfect Man.
The Four Goals of Life: Common to practically all Hindus is the philosophy of purushartha, the "four goals of life". They are kama, artha, dharma and moksha. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all. Of course, the only goal that is truly infinite, whose attainment results in absolute happiness, is moksha, or liberation from Samsara, the cycle of life, death, and existential duality.
Major Sects in Hinduism: Contemporary Hinduism is traditionally divided into four major divisions - Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism. These sects shares rituals, beliefs, traditions and gods with one another, but each sect has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal i.e. moksa or liberation) and on their views of the Gods.
Varna System: The traditional Hindu society divides itself into four varnas on the basis of division of labor:
Brahmins or the priestly class
Kshatriyas or the warriors
Vaishyas or the merchants/craftsmen class
Shudras or the workers
Sacred Symbols: Two of the most revered symbols in Hinduism are:
Aum - is the standard sign of Hinduism, and is prefixed and sometimes suffixed to all Hindu mantras and prayers.
The Swastika is an Arya, or noble symbol. It stands for stability within the power of Brahma or, alternatively, of Surya, the sun.
The Swastika is an Arya, or noble symbol. It stands for stability within the power of Brahma or, alternatively, of Surya, the sun.
Food Habits: The Hindu religion encourages vegetarianism as it says belief that all animals have Atman or soul and thus should not be killed. Though a lot many Hindus in present times consume non-vegetarian food, most Hindus abstain from Beef, as cow is considered holy in Hinduism. Many Hindus refrain from non-vegetarian food on holy days.
Marriage Preference: Wedding ceremonies and rituals vary in Hinduism. Usually, the marriages are arranged by the parents. When a boy or girl becomes eligible for marriage, Hindu parents look for a prospective match for their children from their own community or caste. The ritual of matching the jathakam or janampatri (horoscope) of the prospective bride and groom with the help of a priest is also widely practiced by many Hindus.
Wedding Ceremonies: Hindu marriage ceremonies are very colorful and elaborate. A lot of colorful rituals take place both in the bride and the groom's house before and after the wedding. Saptapadi or the saat phere is an important ritual performed during the wedding in which the bride and the groom circumambulate a sacred fire, known as agni, seven times. Dowry forms an integral part of Hindu marriage. It may be noted that in 1961 the Indian government made dowry illegal.
Indian Wedding
Wedding marks the coming together of two individuals. It is a bond not only between two individuals but also between two souls. Indian marriages are clad with rituals and customs. It is an elaborate concept in every Indian community. Nowadays Hindu weddings are celebrated on a large scale. Family and friends get together to celebrate the occasion. The marriage ceremony includes various pre wedding and wedding functions. Most of these functions take place mostly at the bride's place and some at the groom's place. The main wedding ceremony usually takes place at the bride's home. On the main day of the function a mandap is erected and the interior is beautifully decorated with flowers, colorful personal adornment, and decorative items. Mostly the wedding is held on a garden, courtyard of the bride's house, a blocked-off street or square. It is an elaborate affair. After the marriage rituals the guests are served with lavish dinner. Indian wedding is all about fun and feast.
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