So, I was away from WordPress and blogging for a couple of weeks. While I missed the cornucopia of posts of my blogger friends, I was actually celebrating one of the most precious occasions of my life, my sister’s wedding.
Well, as my Indian readers know, Indian weddings start a week before the auspicious day and, the celebration continues for another seven days post-wedding. It’s a family get-together in the largest scale where all the relatives from both the bride and groom’s sides join and enjoy to the fullest accompanied by music, dance, delicious cuisines and traditional rituals.
So, it started with a music session where the bride, bridesmaid and every other woman present use mehndi or henna to make designs on their hands. Mehndi is a paste created from the powdered leaves of henna plants (Lawsonia inermis). A Mehndi artist attended the ceremony and wonderfully made intricate designs on our hands. The arabesque patterns made on the bride’s hands were fascinating.
We, Bengalis, have another ritual where we apply a paste of turmeric and milk to the bride and the groom. According to the Vedic custom, turmeric is considered as a plant representing the sun and, application of the paste symbolizes good luck to the couple. Every single rite and ritual has a meaning of its own and is performed with austerity and tradition.
Of all the customs and rituals of Hindu marriage, perhaps the most important are the Sanskrit mantras (chants) and the Seven Vows (Saptapadi in Sanskrit) taken in front of the sacred fire. On the marriage day itself, in presence of a priest, family, all the relatives and guests, the bride and the groom make seven promises to each other taking seven steps together encircling the sacred fire. All along, they say the ‘mantras’ and asks the Gods and Goddesses to bless them with food, strength, fidelity, progeny, wealth, comfort and health.
The ritual of applying vermillion or sindoor daan (a symbol of married Hindu women) is then followed. The groom applies the vermillion on the bride’s forehead for the first time chanting the mantra,
यदेतद्धृदयं तव
तदस्तु हृदयं मम ।
यदिदं हृदयं मम
तदस्तु हृदयं तव ॥
Loosely translated as, “The heart of thine shall be mine, and this heart of mine shall be thine.”
The bride and groom, after this, exchange the wedding rings and all the guests present, wish them. This ring-exchange ceremony often happens a day before marriage in some families.
Now, at this moment, my sister and brother-in-law are on their honeymoon to Egypt. My sister has promised me to write a guest post for my blog on her trip. So, stay tuned for that.
I’ve missed a lot of posts during the time. I’ll soon catch up with you all. #HappyBlogging
Congratulations Maniparna, blessings to the couple and waiting for the post on Egypt!
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Thanks so much, Mridula… 🙂
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This must have been truly amazing!:)
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Thank you so much! 🙂 ….
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Oh! I’m so happy I did not miss this post, Maniparna!!! OMGosh…you are both so beautiful! And what a beautiful wedding steeped in tradition! Wow!
Have a wonderful week, friend ❤
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Thanks so much, Lorrie…
You too, have a prosperous week ahead… ❤ ❤
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Congrats to your sister! Pretty colorful indeed. Both the bride and groom look amazing. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Anoop 🙂
Where are you these days???
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Hi Mani,
I’m in South India. Mostly in Bangalore and few days in Kerala.
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Oh..so you are back..that’s great! Try to write at least once a month…I miss your photos and writing…
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Definitely 🙂
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OH WOW!! how beautiful you both are Mani.. So lovely of you to share these precious photo’s of your sisters wedding.. I loved each of them, and found it so interesting about the turmeric paste Turmeric is so good for you in many ways and can see why this is used to represent the life of the Sun..
Loved reading the customs of your wedding.. And will look out for updates from Egypt. 🙂 a fantastic place for a honeymoon.. 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Thank you so much, Sue. I’m really glad that you liked reading about the customs and rituals. It was a pleasure sharing those wonderful moments with you all… 🙂 ❤ ❤
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And I loved reading them. 🙂
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Opurbo! Onek shubhechha roilo. Choto choto explanations gulou kuub bhalo laglo ❤
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Thank you! Khub khushi holaam bhalo legechhe jene… tomar blog Taao khub sundor…I’m exploring it at the moment… 🙂
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Aw, you both look beautiful! I’m glad you had a wonderful time, but I’m glad you’re back. xo
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Thank you so much! ❤
Yeah..I'm happy to be here again..enjoying the posts of my friends… 🙂
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Congratulations on your sister’s wedding. Wish her all the happiness in the world 🙂 Lovely post and beautiful pictures.
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Thanks a lot, Nabanita…
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Wishing both of them a happy marriage life, nice photos with post.
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Thank you so much for your wishes… 🙂
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Lovely wedding pictures and narration. Best wishes for the newly wedded couple. We too had the wedding of our niece in Kolkata, last week that my husband attended alone. 🙂
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Thanks a lot… 🙂
Ehhh… the weather here is nice at the moment… kakhono aashle jaanio… 🙂
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Nischoyi. Husband praye yi jaaye…aamar ei jaoa hoye na. ☺
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😦
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Hmm… That explains the dreamland you had vanished to! Here is a bouquet of blessings for the freshly bloomed bride and the bridegroom!
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Thanks a lot for your wishes on behalf of the family… 🙂
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You’re looking very beautiful too 👍👌☺️
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Most memoriable pictures of their life…☺️💐 best wishes…
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Thank you so much, dear… 🙂
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It is such hard work! Not to talk about the married life, even the ceremony and rituals of marriage demand energy and stamina 😀
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But there’s so much fun and frolic all around, one is likely to gather energy automatically… 🙂
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Great
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Thanks!
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Wow!! Both you and your sister are beautiful!!! Send my congratulations and blessings to the happy couple.
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Thanks so much, Kally. Surely I’ll convey your wishes to the couple… 🙂
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Both of you are so pretty!!❤❤ Beautiful pictures!! Wishing your sister a very happy married life ahead☺☺ Lots of love!!
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Thanks so much, dear… ❤ ❤
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Most welcome😚😚
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So candid and gorgeous 🙂
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Thanks a lot, Joshi… 🙂
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