On the Sangeet night, usually  music bands and professional singers are hired to entertain family and friends. Music adds sparkle and creates the perfect mood for celebrations and weddings.     Family and friends enjoy sumptuous meals and celebrate by dancing and singing.

During the mehendi ceremony, the bride has her hands and feet intricately patterned with a paste of henna, oil, lemon juice and tea. The application of mehndi or henna takes about four hours to complete.  The bride should not wash her hands until the paste has completely dried. Female friends and relatives also design each others hands with mehndi. Mehndi signifies the strength of love in a marriage. The darker the mehndi, the stronger the love.

The tilak ceremony is regarded as a very significant prenuptial ceremony. Tilak (dot) is the sign of auspiciousness and signifies prosperity. According to Hindu beliefs, the offering of 'Tilak' in the forehead of the groom assures a loving husband for bride. The tilak ceremony usually takes place at the grooms residence and the male members of the groom's family apply Tilak (dot) on the groom's forehead by using Sindhoor (the paste of red vermillion).The father of the bride adorns the Groom with a garland of fresh flowers and offers gifts to the him. The groom's father offers coconut, sugar, rice, jewellery, clothes and henna to the bride's family members. The bride and her mother does not attend this ceremony.

This is a cleansing/purification ritual that is celebrated a day before the wedding day. A haldi (turmeric) paste is applied on the brides skin by female friends and relatives. Traditionally, a Hindi bride has to wear yellow colored clothes (Sari) for the haldi ceremony. In India, the haldi ceremony is also known as Uptaan. Haldi (turmeric) has healing properties as well as it nourishes the skin and leaves the bride radiant on her wedding day.

The Wedding

The wedding usually is hosted by the brides’ family and takes place at the bride's residence.  But today, elaborate wedding venues are used for convenience. The marriage take place under a decorated canopy  called 'mandap' which is exquisitely decorated because the rituals and customs of the wedding ceremony are performed in the Mandap.  The sacred fire in the Mandap symbolises the illumination of the mind, knowledge and happiness as well as witness to the sacred ceremony.
 
A Hindu marriage or «Vivaha» is incomplete without the blessings of a spiritual or divine element. The ceremony commences with a series of  rituals which is performed by the bride, bridegroom and their respective parents and close relatives. “Sacred sanskrit Mantras”  from the Vedas are chanted by the brahmin (priest).

The Hindi Wedding Ceremony:

Ganesh Puja: The wedding commences with a prayer worshipping Lord Ganesha whose divine grace dispel tribulations and removes obstacle ensuring a blessed and peaceful wedding ceremony.

Grah Shanti (Worship to the Nine Planets): Ancient Indian research indicates various celestial bodies have a major influence on the destiny of every individual. Therefore, a special prayer is observed to appease the nine planets of our Solar system. During this puja (prayer), the Gods associated with these planets are asked to bless the couple and their families.

The Welcome (Parchan): The bride’s mother welcomes the bridegroom at the door of the wedding venue by making him wear a garland of fresh flowers and she then escorts him to the mandap. The father of the bride washes the right foot of the bridegroom with milk and honey. This concludes the welcome of the bride groom and a white sheet is held in front of the bridegroom to prevent him from seeing the arrival of the bride.

Arrival of the Bride: The bride walks down the aisle escorted to the mandap by her brother, female cousins and friends. In some wedding ceremonies she may be carried down the aisle in a dholi (small carriage) to the mandap.

Kanyadaan (Entrusting of the Daughter): Consent of the brides’ parents are obtained for the wedding to proceed. The father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom. The bride’s parents joins the bridal couples right hands (Hastamelap, joining of hands) while reciting sacred mantras (versus).
The couple exchange garlands made of fresh flowers. The elders in the brides family place a piece of auspicious white cotton around the couple’s shoulder’s to protect them from evil influences. This also symbolises the couple’s bond. The groom holds the bride’s hand and they both take vows to love cherish and protect each other throughout life.

Ganthibandhan (tying the knot): The priest ties the wedding knot as a symbol of the permanent union between the bride and groom as husband and wife.

Agni Puja (evocation of the holy fire): The priest sets up a small fire in a hawan kund (cooper bowl). Agni (fire) symbolises the illumination of mind, knowledge and happiness. The rest of the ceremony is conducted around the fire.

Shilarohana (stepping on the stone): The bride places her right foot on a grindstone symbolizing that she will be a strong support system for her husband when faced with adversities. She will stand by his side in difficulty.

Laja homa (putting parched rice into the sacred fire): Three offerings of parched rice is made to the sacred fire. The brother of the bride fills the bride’s hands with the rice, half of which slips into the bridegroom’s hand. While sacred mantras are chanted the bride prays to Yama, the God of Death, that he grant long life, health, happiness and prosperity to the bridegroom.

Mangalfera (walking around the fire): The couple walk around the sacred fire four times. Each time they stop to touch with their toe a stone in their path. This symbolises obstacles in life that they will overcome together.

These four rounds stand for the four basic human goals:

• Dharma – righteousness
• Artha – monetary accomplishment
• Kama – energy and passion in life
• Moksha – liberation from everything in life.

The groom leads the first three rounds around the fire. This symbolises his contribution in helping the union to attain dharma, artha and kama. The bride leads the last round signifying their constant journey of spiritual liberation.

Saptapadi (seven steps): This is one of the most significant ritual of Hindi wedding. The seven rounds or sapta padi taken together, around the sacred fire, by the bride and the groom, while the seven vows or promise are read by the priest. In Hindu philosophy it is believed that if a couple walk seven steps together around the sacred fire then they will remain lifelong lovers. At the end of each round, the brides hands are filled with puffed rice by her brother signifying wealth and prosperity.

The seven steps and their promises are:

1. Let us take the first step to provide for our household, keeping a pure
diet and avoiding those things that might harm us.

2. Let us take the second step to develop our physical, mental and spiritual powers.

3. Let us take our third step to increase our wealth by righteous and proper means.

4. Let us take out fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect and trust.

5. Let us take the fifth step so that we may be blessed with strong, virtuous and heroic children.

6. Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.

7. Let us take the seventh step to be true companions and remain life-long partners by this wedlock.

These seven promises taken together by the bride and groom build's the foundation of their relationship and marriage. It speaks of the loyalty, love, and commitment they would share in their marriage.

Saubhagya Chinha (blessing the bride): The bridegroom adorns the bride with sindhur (vermilion powder) at the parting of her hair (or on her forehead). The groom also blesses the bride by adorning her a with necklace (Mangal Sutra). The Mangal Sutra represents the couple’s togetherness, love and sacred union.

Haridaya-Sparsha (touching of hearts): The bride and groom symbolically touch each other’s heart. They both make a vow to each other saying… “I touch thy heart unto mine. God has given thee as my husband/wife. May my heart be thine and thy heart be mine now”.

Aashirvaad (blessings): The priest calls the immediate family of the bride and groom to the mandap to blesses the bride and groom by showering them with flower petals and rice. Thereafter the wedding guests give their individuals blessings to the bride and groom and once completed, the marriage ceremony ends. Guests then share a meal with the newlyweds.

Biddai (Bride’s departure): This is a very poignant moment of the wedding, when the bride takes leave from her parents home. The farewell to the bride by her family and friends is very emotional and sad, especially for the mother of the bride. The bride leaves her parents home to build a life with her husband and his family.