Culture Quest India Weddings in India

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Culture Quest India-Weddings in India!

• Shannon Cyr
• 2007 SIFT program
• ECSU
• email bibaby08_at_yahoo.com
• This presentation is also found at
• http//www.geocities.com/stoloffdavid/SIFT/project
  info.ppt

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Eastern Connecticut State University

• Teaching in the 21st Century
• Summer Institute for Future Teachers
• July 2007

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Presentation Introduction

• After reading this presentation, you, the viewer
  will be able to describe the attire, the history,
  the different traditions, the legends, and the
  type of weddings that take place in India.

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Introduction to Weddings in India

• The marriage ceremony is one of the oldest
  customs of mankind and the Indian culture is no
  exception, and it is considered one of the most
  important events of one's life. In India, the
  Kanyadana (literally meaning, donating a virgin)
  or giving away one's daughter in marriage, was
  considered the greatest sacrifice a man could
  perform. It was also a duty performed by the
  bridegroom to perpetuate his lineage. By making
  marriage a sacrament, the Hindus elevated the
  physical union to spiritual dimensions 1. Many
  in India consider marriage an integral part of
  human condition, binding not only in this life,
  but in the afterlife as well.
• From Z\marriages.htm 2.htm

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Marriages in India

• History of Weddings in India
• Significance of Marriage
• Arranged Marriages Today
• Process of Arranged Marriage
• Role of the Matchmaker

• Wedding Ceremonies
• The Wedding Ensambelage
• Wedding Attire
• Wedding Rituals
• Symbol of Marriage
• The Legends

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The Weddings in History of India

• In previous times brides were married even in
  childhood.
  
• Most references to marriage in ancient texts
  suggests that the Aryans were monogamous however,
  some references to polygamy and polyandry have
  been found in the Hindu epic of Mahabharata.
• In medieval India, marriage was compulsory for
  all girl except those opted asceticism.
  
• Today Both divorce and remarriage are completely
  illegal.
  

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Significance of Marriage

• In the Hindu dharma, marriage is a sacrament
  between two souls and no a contract between two
  human beings.
  
• In Hinduism, marriage is a life-long commitment
  of a man to his wife and a women to her husband.
  
• Also in Hinduism, marriage is the strongest
  social bond that can take place between a man and
  a women.
  
• The only way to continue the family and thereby
  repay his debt to his/her ancestors.
  
• In Hindu view, marriage is not a concession to
  the human weakness, but a means of spiritual
  growth.

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Arranged Marriages Today

• Quite common even in todays India.
• More and more are now taking into account the
  preferences of brides and grooms.
  
• Age, caste, and dowry play important roles
• Considered a marriage of families rather than the
  marriage of individuals.
  
• Families are trying to solder bonds with their
  friends by arranging marriages between their
  respective children.

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Process of Arranged Marriage

• Broadcast of Availability- when guardians of
  groom or bride announce that they eligible for
  alliance.
  
• Horoscope Matching- parties that are interested
  exchange their zodiac sign in order to show
  interest.
  
• Photo Exchange- pictures are exchanged for the
  two to first see one another.
  
• Interview-if in agreement the two met for the
  first time face-to-face (elders are present)
  
• Background Check- inquiries are held to dig past,
  bad habits (done through family)

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Process of Arranged Marriage cont

• Dowry and Contract Negotiations- logistics of
  marriage are discussed (who pays how much, the
  gold, girls and boys net worth, where they will
  live, etc.)
• Engagement- if all agree, sweets are shared to
  announce the engagement (AKA eating of the
  sugar). Gifts then are exchanged.

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Role of the Matchmaker

• Middlemen could help in the arranged marriage who
  are commissioned by the arrangers.
  
• Sometimes professional institutions counseling on
  resume altercation, broadening of selection
  criteria, and other important marriage matters.
  
• There are a lot of matrimonial agencies on the
  web.
  
• Matrimonial classifieds are very popular.

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Wedding Ceremonies

• Date Chosen by time of year and couples
  horoscopes.
  
• Usually takes place at brides home, temples,
  parks, hotels, or in marriage halls.
  
• Singing, dancing, and eating occur through out
  the night.
  
• Celebrate vast diversity of culture through out
  the land.
  
• Day before the wedding the bride and her friends
  and female relatives gather for ceremony of
  Mehendi.
  
• The gathering showers bride and groom with flower
  petals.
  

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The Wedding Ensambelage

• She is considered to be more than a princess,
  shes considered to be a goddess, goddess
  Lakshmi.
  
• He is the prince of the occasion.
• He is also the master of the occasion and figure
  of power and strength.
  

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Wedding Attire

• Brides clothes and ornaments are usually typical
  of the area.
  
• Most brides wear saris, usually in shades of red,
  pink, or mustard.
  
• Most grooms in the north wear a shervani with a
  churidar pyjama, a bandha-gala suit, or a
  western-style suit
  

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Wedding Rituals

• The pre wedding rituals vary according to the
  region.
  
• On the main wedding day a wedding altar or
  mandapa is built on the wedding venue within
  which the marriage is conducted.
  
• The ritual of putting sindoor or vermilion powder
  in the parting of the bride's hair by the groom
  is the ritual followed mostly in the northern and
  eastern part of the country.
• Complicated due to unnecessary customs like
  dowry.
  

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Symbol of Marriage

• Marriage symbolizes not just a bonding of two
  individuals but also the bonding of
  understanding, commitment, mutual love and
  spiritual growth.
• In Hindu tradition marriage is not just about
  celebration and fun it demands sacrifice,
  companionship, dedication, and surrender by both
  the partners.
• Sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by
  married women as a symbol of their marriage

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The Legends

• Legend says that during the wedding of Lord Shiva
  and Parvati, Shiva asked Parvati to come to his
  left after agnie pradakshina, symbolizing that
  they had been married. Parvati said she would not
  accept this marriage until Shiva granted her
  seven wishes. Shiva did so, and then made seven
  atipulations, which Parvati accepted, therefore
  the seven steps came about.

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Bibliography

• http//weddings.iloveindia.com/indian-weddings/hin
  du-marriage/mangalsutra-significance.html
  
• http//www.interchurchfamilies.org/journal/2001jan
  06.shtm
  
• http//india.mapsofindia.com/culture/indian-weddin
  gs/
  
• http//weddings.iloveindia.com/
• http//www.matrimonialbank.com/indianmarriage.html
  
  
• http//www.indianslivingbroad.com/matrimonial/hist
  ory-customs.asp