Photo Courtesy of the Knot

Good morning and welcome to the last full week of January 2010! Whew, time sure flies when you’re having fun. The Simply Jubilee team met so many beautiful brides of all backgrounds and cultures at the Bridal soiree this weekend.  It’s an awesome pleasure to live in an international city such as Houston.  Our rich population helped to inspire today’s entry, Indian wedding traditions.

 
Indian wedding traditions have a long history with meaning woven into every detail. Here we explore some of these beautiful traditions and what they mean.

 
The Ceremonies

In India the couple doesn’t choose their wedding date. The wedding date is chosen using a priest, fortune teller, astrologer or wise family member. This lucky day is chosen using factors like birthdays and phases of the moon. If this day falls on a weekday many couples in the US will hold two wedding ceremonies; one with close friends and family during the week and one larger celebration on the weekend.

Mehndi Party
The mehndi painting party usually happens two or three days before an Indian ceremony. Henna is painted on the female friends and family of the bride. The artist also paints the bride’s hands and feet to protect them from evil. The darker the henna, the more luck the couple will have.

Agni
In Hindu ceremonies a fire is lit and the officiant gives thanks to the fire god, Agni. In a Hindu tradition called saptapadi, the couple will take seven steps around this fire.

Tying it All Together
The hasthagranthi is a Hindu wedding tradition which involves typing the couple’s hands together with string. This is followed by Shakhohar, when the parents place their hands on the couple’s to represent their union as family. Then the couple is wrapped in a scarf to show their unity as husband and wife in a custom called gathbandhan.