A paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is applied to the bride and groom’s body by married women (known as Suhagans—women whose husbands are alive). Why turmeric? India is hot and humid. Turmeric is an antiseptic and a skin coolant. Beyond the spiritual purification, the Haldi physically sterilizes the body from bacteria and gives the skin a "golden glow" before the wedding. The groom is often smeared by his sisters-in-law, who sometimes demand money to release him from the paste.
The wedding takes place under a Mandap—a four-pillared canopy representing the universe. The four pillars represent the four parents who raised the couple. The priest recites Vedic mantras in Sanskrit, and the fire (Agni) is the divine witness. Without fire, a Hindu wedding is invalid. www indian suhagrat com full
Once at the groom’s home, the bride is greeted by her new mother-in-law with a plate of Aarti. A playful custom called Aeki Beki involves a plate of colored water and rice. The couple has to fish a ring out of the water. Whosoever finds it first wins the title "head of the household." A paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is
This is the loudest tradition. The groom does not simply walk to the altar. He rides a decorated horse (or a vintage car, or an elephant) while his family and friends dance in front of him to the beat of a Dhol (drum). The Baraat is a public declaration: "The king is coming to claim his queen." At the entrance of the venue, the bride’s mother performs Aarti (a ritual of light) and places a Tika (red mark) on the groom’s forehead, officially welcoming him as a son. After the seventh step, they are legally and spiritually wed
Before the fire is lit, the families must bond. Indian weddings rarely last just one day; the preamble is often more extensive than the ceremony itself.
Considered the highest form of charity in Hindu scriptures, the father of the bride places his daughter’s hand into the groom’s hand. He then pours holy water into the groom’s palm, symbolically washing away his rights as a father and transferring the responsibility of her protection to the groom. The ritual chant is heavy: "Today, I cease to be her father."