INDIAN PRE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Engagement Ceremony

Deemed one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies not only in Hindu weddings but in other religions as well, the event of engagement is mostly an intimate one with close relatives and friends from both bride and groom's side. This event usually takes place a few months before the wedding. During the ceremony, the fathers of both about to be married individuals vouch for the virtues of their child and make a formal wedding announcement of their children to the invited guests. The bride and the groom then exchange rings to solidify their engagement.

Mehendi Ceremony

Mehendi Ceremony is about applying Henna to the bride's hand and feet (in some states it is applied to the groom as well). This beautiful event takes place usually in the evening amidst a lot of dancing and music by the family members and friends. While the bride has to sit for hours to get the Mehendi art done, many of the female guests also get the Mehendi art done on at least one hand. This joyous celebration is often seen in its complement with the singing of traditional songs as well as the playing of traditional music instruments like dholak.

Sangeet Ceremony

Seen as a women-centric event, Sangeet is probably the most fun Hindu pre-wedding ceremony. Traditionally, the Sangeet Ceremonies should be a part of the formal engagement event, however, in recent times, it is conducted individually. Thus the fun of wedding extends one more day with this celebration. Earlier sangeet ceremonies were only the part of North Indian Hindu weddings, now this fun event has made its presence felt even in South India. It is worth noting that not only this event is fun but also wedding planners swear by it stating it truly helps the two sides forget about the wedding jitters for some time. Therefore, one can see that special themes are chosen for this occasion and dance performances are prepared.

Tilak/Sagan Ceremony

Tilak Ceremony is reckoned as the first step to the bond between the two families. This auspicious event takes place mostly in the groom's residence, where the male members of the bride's family visit to put Kumkum or vermilion on his forehead. Though there are many versions of the Tilak ceremony in different parts of the state, the one mentioned one is commonly witnessed. Apart from this, music and dance are also a major part of this ceremony in many states of the country.

Haldi Ceremony

Amongst the most fun events during an Indian wedding is the Haldi Ceremony. One can find variants of this auspicious event in different parts of the country. In this ceremony, a paste of Haldi is applied to the bride and the groom's body before or on the morning of their wedding day. In few states of India, this ceremony is held after the Mehendi ritual. The mixture used in the ceremony is known by different names in different regions, like ubtan, mandha, tel baan etc. Haldi ceremony is directly connected with beautifying the bride and the groom for their big day. The color yellow is also considered auspicious and thus is said to ward off the evil.

Roka Ceremony

Roka ceremony is considered to be the first step towards marriage. It is like an official announcement of the consent of both the bride and the groom to get married to each other. In this ceremony, the families of the two sides gather for the first time and exchange sweets, gifts, and dry fruits with each other. In some traditions, a puja is performed by the priest.\