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There are many cultures that make up our world and when it comes to weddings, there are thousands of different rituals celebrated by each one. For example, an Indian marriage ceremony is completely different from a Catholic one.
To explain what a wedding ceremony in India is like, we have gathered photos by photographer Yogi Trivedi, who has spent part of his career taking photos of Indian couples. Check out the gallery and immerse yourself in this culture which is rich in colors and meanings!
In India, people are divided at birth into social groups called castes: Brahmins (religious and nobles), Xatrias (warriors), Vaixas (peasants, artisans and merchants), Sudras (slaves) and Dalits (category below slaves).
A man from one caste cannot marry a woman from a different caste to his.
Most Hindus believe that a single person has no social status.
The Indian wedding is held in several stages and lasts for weeks.
The groom goes to meet the bride at the altar.
The bride must be lavishly dressed, every detail shows that she has a higher social status.
One thing that is not lacking is henna painted on the skin, also known as Mehndi.
The bride is painted with henna on her hands and arms up to her elbow. Also on her feet and on her ankles.
The most common months for weddings in India are in September and March.
It is also at this time that jewelry stores are crowded with the richest women. When the bride has enough jewelry to cover her entire body, then she is prepared for the ceremony.
The nose ring, known as 'Nath', is one of the most commonly worn pieces for the ritual.
Nath, the nose ring.
Paizeb is an anklet with bells and silver rings on the feet.
Indian women choose red for the wedding dress, as it is the color of the goddess Lakshmi, symbol of beauty, abundance, generosity ,and especially wealth and fortune.
On the day of the wedding, the bride and groom are bathed in a special substance while reciting mantras that will purify them for the marriage.
The groom arrives with a turban on his head and in some cases, he also carries a sword. Members of the bride's family can challenge him to a fight, which will show the family that the groom is fit to defend the honor of his bride.
While the guests welcome the couple, the bride's parents wash the groom's feet before the ceremony.
This ritual serves to make the groom as pure as the bride.
During the ceremony, the bride and groom are separated by a silk curtain so they can't see each other. After some mantras, the curtain is removed.
When the groom approaches the bride she serves him honey and yogurt and the two exchange necklaces.
After the bride's father officially hands her over to the groom, the couple exchange rings.
The bride can only remove the wedding cord if the husband dies. The cord also has a pendant that is believed will bring even more luck.
After the vows, the groom sprinkles red powder on the parting of the bride's hair to represent her new condition as a married woman.
Guests throw rice on the bride and groom.
After they get home, the couple must stay speechless until the evening. After that, they begin a new sequence of rituals of offerings to the gods and their ancestors.
The most important moment of an Indian celebration is the so-called Saptapadi, when the bride and groom go around a sacred fire singing positive mantras for the new family.
The tradition of paying a bridal dowry is still practised in India. The only material goods that women possess are their jewelry.
The rituals of an Indian wedding
Find out what happens at an Indian wedding ceremony!
LIFESTYLE Ritual
There are many cultures that make up our world and when it comes to weddings, there are thousands of different rituals celebrated by each one. For example, an Indian marriage ceremony is completely different from a Catholic one.
To explain what a wedding ceremony in India is like, we have gathered photos by photographer Yogi Trivedi, who has spent part of his career taking photos of Indian couples. Check out the gallery and immerse yourself in this culture which is rich in colors and meanings!