Mandap Puja
The mandap is the altar where the wedding takes place. The priest who is in charge of conducting the ceremony reads out verses from the holy scriptures. This practice purifies the venue and ensures that the event happens without any hiccups.
Jaimala
Jaimala is a tradition where the bride’s face is covered with a fan made of peacock feathers. A curtain is then placed between the bride and the groom at the beginning of the ritual. The curtain is then drawn as the priest begins reciting the mantras. The bride and the groom then exchange garlands as part of the wedding rituals.
Saptapadi
Saptapadi is a tradition like the Saath Phere in North India. In this practice, the end of the bride’s saree is tied to the end of the groom’s scarf after which they circle the sacred fires. Each round around the fire signifies a particular vow. This ritual strengthens the bond between the bride and the groom.
The Wedding Vows
Wedding vows are a fundamental part of Christian weddings across the country. Traditionally, the bride and the groom write their own vows and they are recited by the priest to which the bride and groom acknowledge with an “I do”. The bride and groom have to hold the right hand of each other while reading the vows. The vows depict the bride and groom to love, respect and care for each other throughout their lives.
The Exchange of 'I dos'
Once the wedding vows are exchanged, the priest asks both the bride and groom for their consent to marriage in front of the guests who are the witnesses to the marriage. This is when the couple says ‘I do’ as a commitment to each other.
The Nikah
The Nikah is the main wedding ceremony that is practised by Muslims across the country. In this ceremony, the couple is seated next to each other at the altar along with the priest. The priest reads out a few verses from the Holy Quran, following which the bride and groom to agree to the marriage and sign the binding agreement.
