Indian Weddings

Indian culture has many traditions that influence or lead to other traditions even in other religions. Many of their traditions may seem strange, some of them might still seem strange after you hear the origin, but they that way for a reason. Of all cultures the Indian has, the most wedding traditions and they are all preformed every wedding. Their wedding traditions are some of the most important traditions of the Indian culture, which is why there are so many.

In Hindu culture, there are eight different types of weddings, most with their own traditions, and each are performed in a different way. First is the Brahma marriage the religiously most appropriate marriage the father finds an educated man and proposes the marriage of his daughter to him. The groom, bride and families willingly concur with the proposal. The two families and relatives meet, the girl is decorated ceremoniously, the father gifts away his daughter in betrothal, and a Vedic marriage ceremony is conducted.

Next is the Daiva marriage. In this marriage, the father gives away his daughter along with ornaments to a priest as a sacrificial fee. This form of marriage started in ancient times when yajna sacrifices were the majority. Then there is the Arsha marriage. With this marriage, the groom gives a cow and a bull to the father of the bride and the father trades his daughter in marriage. The groom takes a vow to fulfill his responsibilities to the bride and family life. Finally is Prajapatya marriage. A couple agrees to get married by exchanging some Sanskrit mantras or vows to each other. This form of marriage was similar to a civil ceremony.

Arranged marriages are very big in India. Arranged marriages have been part of Indian culture since the fourth centu...

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...ally, the next ceremony is Sangeet. This is a joyous nighttime party held the night before the wedding and is an opportunity to enjoy the moment with music, dancing and food.

With so many traditions there is no way I can cover them all so I went with the most cultural and respected traditions in India. Their traditions all have very deep meaning and go back centuries, which is why they are done with care and respect. Though the traditions did not really change with time, so they seem old fashioned, it is those traditions that really started the modern day wedding ceremony. Before the Indian culture influenced others, a simple currency deal or trade was all it took to get a woman's hand in marriage, and it was not up to her even if she did not want to. Therefore, the Indian culture and tradition is very important and sacred, that is why they have not really changed.