01. Vara Satkaarah
The bride’s family welcomes the bridegroom’s party. To start the Hindu Wedding, the bridegroom arrives at the bride’s house in a palanquin carried by men. He stands outside the gate of the house facing east. Then, a company of women bearing lamps and jars full of water welcome him. The mother of the bride receives the groom by applying a tilak on his forehead to bless him. The tilak is made of red kumkum powder and uncooked rice and means good luck.
02. Achaman and Angasparsha
The bride offers the bridegroom a small amount of water for him to drink (Achaman). This step is purificatory. It elicits peace of mind. After, the Angasparsha takes place. In this step, the groom dips his middle and index finger in water and touches his limbs with them. The purpose of Angasparsha is to pray for physical strength and alertness.
03. Madhuparka Ceremony
The bride’s parents offer madhuparka to the bridegroom. Madhuparka is a combination of honey, curd, and ghee, or clarified butter. This stage is symbolic of the sweetness and joy the bridegroom hopes for his married life. Honey symbolizes the sweetness of eternal love. The curd and ghee represent the bridegroom’s good health and nutrition. After receiving the madhuparka, the bridegroom spirits away part of it. He uses his fourth finger and thumb and does this three times.
04. Kanya Daan
Kanya means daughter and Daan means giving away. During Kanya Daan, the bride’s parents entrust their daughter to the bridegroom. As they do this, the priest recites eight hymns from the Vedas to invoke the blessings of various deities.
05. Vivaah-Homa
This stage is the start of the Grahasthashrama – the second life stage – for the couple. It consists of the performance of Homa, which is a sacred fire ceremony. During Vivaah-homa, the couple lights the Agni, a holy fire that symbolizes light, power, and knowledge. Agni serves as a witness to the ceremony. The bride and groom repeat the sacred pledge of marriage to Agni, who then serves as a messenger for their prayers to several Gods. These are:
The Homa is done to start the auspicious undertakings in an atmosphere of purity and spirituality. During it, the bride and bridegroom engage in Achaman and Angasparsha.
06. Pani-Grahanam
The bridegroom accepts the bride as his wife. He raises his hand and promises to protect her and their children, follow a righteous path, and overcome all obstacles, so that they may live a happy life and meet their spiritual goals together.
07. Shila Arohan
Shila means stone and Arohan means stepping upon. During this step, the mother of the bride helps her step on a stone and gives her advice for her new life. The bridegroom encourages his bride to be strong as a rock as they face difficulties together. Friends and family sprinkle rice and flowers on the couple.
08. Laja Homa
The couple presents offerings to the sacred fire. The brother of the bride puts puffed rice in the bride’s hands as an offer to Agni. Half of it slips onto the bridegroom’s hands, which are under the bride’s. Then, they pour the puffed rice into the fire. They do this three times. The bride prays to Yama, the God of death, for her husband’s long life, happiness, and prosperity.
09. Agni Pradakshina
The couple walks clockwise around the fire four times. They do this to honor Agni, who acts as the bride’s custodian after the first fourteen years of her life. Hindus believe that the moon protects the bride for the first seven years of her life. The sun protects her the following seven and Agni guards her afterward.
For the first three rounds, the bridegroom guides his bride, seeking God’s blessings and help. The couple promise to take care of their children. Then, in the last round, the bride leads the groom around the sacred fire, promising to live her life according to Dharma and Satya (devotion and truth). Finally, they sit down, with the bride to the left-hand side of the bridegroom. The Agni-Pradakshina, along with the Saptapadi, legalizes the marriage.
10. Saubhagya-Chinha
The husband puts a sacred necklace around his wife’s neck, which represents their happiness and prosperity. He then applies sindoor (vermillion powder) in the parting of her hair and asks the audience to bless them. The priest sprinkles water on the couple, who ask the sun for power to lead a creative, useful, and meaningful life. Husband and wife then meditate on the Pole Star and the Arundhati Star. The Pole Star symbolizes the couple’s strength and firmness in keeping their vows. Arundhati was the devoted wife of the sage Vashishtha. The couple meditates on the Arundhati star to consolidate their devotion for each other.
11. Annaprasham
The couple makes food offerings to the sacred fire while chanting Vedic Havan Mantras. Afterward, they feed a morsel of food to each other. This is a sign of mutual love and affection.
12. Ashirwad
The final step of the Hindu Wedding. During Ashirwad, the priest blesses the newlyweds, followed by other elders. This stage is very emotional, as the parents of the bride wish her a harmonious and long married life. From now on, their daughter no longer belongs to them.
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