wedding steps

Wedding Steps And it’s Significance

Wedding ceremony - It’s significance and meaning.👇

• Pre-ceremony

Baraat (Groom’s processions)

The Baraat is a festive procession to the wedding venue (traditionally a procession from the groom’s home to the bride’s home), where the two families will be united. The groom travels to the wedding on a white horse, accompanied by his family and friends; the crowd celebrates the wedding on the way, typically with music and dancing.

After arriving at the wedding venue, the groom’s family is greeted by the bride’s parents. The bride’s mother welcomes the groom into her family with a small ceremony (Aarati).

The bride’s family accompanies the groom to the Mandap, a canopied altar where the ceremony will be performed, which represents the home the bride and groom will make together.

• Ceremony

Ganesh puja

The ceremony begins with the worship of Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles and god of wisdom and good fortune. The priest leads the prayer to ensure the wedding runs smoothly and to ask for Ganesh’s blessing for the couple.

Kanya Aagaman (Arrival of the bride)

The bride is accompanied by her father to the Mandap, signifying that her family approves of the union.

Jai Mala (Exchange of garlands)

Once the bride arrives at the Mandap, she and the groom exchange garlands, a symbol of their acceptance and respect for each other.

Kanya Daan (Giving away the bride)

The bride’s brother places her hand in the groom’s then pours sacred water over them, symbolically giving the bride away to the groom and his family.

Hawan (Lighting of the sacred fire)

The priest lights the sacred fire and invokes Agni, one of the oldest deities in the Hindu tradition, god of fire and messenger between the gods and men. Agni symbolizes a divine presence as a witness to the ceremony; all commitments in the ceremony are then made in the presence of God.

Gath Bandhan (Tying the nuptial knot)

The bride’s and groom’s scarves are tied in a knot, symbolizing their eternal bond and commitment to each other.

Mangal Phera (Circling the sacred fire)

The bride and groom walk around the sacred fire, representing the four goals in life: Dharma (duty to each other, family and God), Artha (prosperity), Karma (earthly energy and passion), and Moksha (spiritual salvation and liberation). The couple walks around the fire seven times; the bride, representing divine energy, leads the groom three times, while the groom leads the last four, signifying balance and completeness.

Sapta Padi (The seven steps)

The couple takes seven steps and recites a vow with each step. These are symbolic of the first steps of their journey through life together.

With the first step they vow to respect and honor each other; with the second they vow to share each other’s joy and sorrow and ask to be blessed with physical and spiritual strength; with the third, they vow to share each other’s accomplishments and ask to be blessed with wealth and prosperity; with the fourth, they vow to achieve happiness and knowledge through mutual love; with the fifth step they vow to honor their family and familial duties; with the sixth step they vow to remain faithful to each other; and with the seventh step, they vow to be lifelong friends and partners.

Mangalsutra (Sacred necklace)

When they return to their seats, the groom places a sacred necklace on the bride, representing the groom’s pledge to give the bride lifelong protection. The couple will then exchange rings.

Sindhoor Daan (The holy mark)

The groom applies a small amount of red powder to the bride’s forehead, which indicates her status as a married woman and the groom’s devotion to the bride.

Aashirvad (Blessings for the married couple)

The priest offers a blessing to the couple, and the newlyweds receive their final blessings from their parents.